Last night, I ran a ridiculously hot bath, grabbed a captivating novel and a glass of wine, slapped on a mud mask, and luxuriated in six glorious minutes of “Me Time” before a child’s wail echoed through the house. My husband was home too, but my little ones seem to believe I’m a magic eight ball, shaking my nerves until I reveal the answers to their every whim.
Yes, you can leap off the sofa and onto the dog.
Yes, you can devour all the ice cream.
Yes, you can binge-watch TV until your eyes feel like they’re about to pop out.
I don’t feel an ounce of guilt when, at least twenty times a day, I find myself eagerly anticipating the moment when my munchkins are tucked away in their rooms—far from me. Why? Because once they’re peacefully asleep, I have a fleeting chance to indulge in my own version of relaxation before diving back into preparing for another day of prioritizing their needs over mine.
Just like the age-old wisdom of “this too shall pass,” I savor these mom indulgences…
- Sipping on wine. (obviously)
- Enjoying cake. (of course)
- Not lifting a finger for at least an hour.
- Watching all the guilty pleasure TV I can handle.
- Scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, or my favorite mom blogs.
- Pampering myself with a mud mask.
- Staring blankly into the fridge for a few minutes.
- Relishing the rare moment of peeing alone.
- Going back for seconds at dinner.
- Googling questions like, “Vasectomy,” “Summer art projects for toddlers,” or “Is it too late for law school?”
- Painting my toenails a fun hue like Hunter Orange or Tiffany Blue.
- Ditching my bra (and pants!).
- Chatting with a friend.
- Writing down my thoughts.
- Eating a spoonful of peanut butter with a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
- Taking a long, relaxing bath.
- Letting my hair down without the fear of a tiny hand tugging at it.
- Swearing like a sailor.
- Venting to my partner about our kids’ antics.
- Flipping through gossip magazines.
- Pinning diet trends, recipes, craft ideas, and mom humor on Pinterest.
- Shopping on Amazon.
- Stealing batteries from annoying children’s toys.
- Telling myself I’ll hit the hay before the 11 PM news.
- When that doesn’t happen, giving myself a midnight pep talk for the next day.
- Briefly considering going vegan or trying yoga or volunteering.
- Looking up newfound interests in veganism and yoga online.
- Getting sidetracked by trendy stretchy pants that conceal muffin tops.
- Sneaking in one more spoonful of peanut butter (or ice cream).
- Finally, going to bed.
What are YOUR guilty pleasures? For more insights on motherhood and parenting, check out this post on our other blog here.
In summary, every mom deserves those little indulgences that help balance the chaos of parenting. Whether it’s sipping wine or enjoying a moment of solitude, embracing these guilty pleasures can provide much-needed relief and joy.