Self Care

In the world we live in today it is so easy to forget about yourself and get caught up in being a mom, a wife, a friend, an employee and so many other titles that we give ourselves. But the one we are forgetting is being ourselves. I’m a firm believer of taking care of myself. When I met my husband I told him from the start that I’m a pampered woman but I made it very clear that I don’t need him to pamper me. I do just fine myself. You see ever since I started working I’ve gotten my hair, nails and toes done on a regular basis. And for the last 7 years or so I’ve also gotten massages on a regular basis as well. 

And here’s the thing, he never once told me that will change once we get married or when we had children. Instead he said “don’t ever change, I love how you take care of yourself.” 

More often than not, woman get married or have children and they slowly start putting everything else in front of self care. For instance, some mothers go years without buying a new bra or new underwear because their children needed something. And ladies I am not saying you are wrong in any sense, you did what you thought was best. What I’m saying is don’t forget about yourself. 

You are important! And yes there will be times that you won’t be able to go get a massage, shoot since I’ve had my son, I’ve had three! He’s ten months!!!! And I’ve gotten my nails done once, professionally that is. Since I know how to do everything they do at the nail salon I have done my own quite a few times but we all know that’s not the same. 

We are role models for our children, we need them to see we care for ourselves. We need to send the message, that even thou they are our priority, we can’t and won’t forget about ourselves. Especially as women, we need to teach our little girls that we matter and we have worth and no one will give it to you, you have to do it for yourself. 

Growing up my grandmother would always tell me to not become so dependent on another person that you lose yourself. Meaning always take care of yourself first. It’s like if you are in a plane crash, what do they tell you, they always say put the mask on first, then help out others. Now as a mother your first instinct is to help put the masks on your kids, but by the time you get to putting your mask on, it may be too late. She would always tell me if you don’t take care of yourself then how can you take care of others?! 

This stuck with me through the years and as a single woman I got used to taking care of myself. I put myself through undergrad and grad school, moved to the city and paid for everything on my own and sometimes I had multiple jobs to do it. But I vowed to never become that dependent woman my grandmother told me about. If I wanted to be pampered and feel beautiful I didn’t need a man to do it. 

I’m a believer of that saying, if you don’t care for yourself, no one will care to take care of you.