Why I broke my 3-year, No-Fast-Food Streak
in the Name of Self Care

As an anxiety-ridden new mom to a colicky newborn baby girl, I took my rare, baby-free moments outside of the house very seriously. 

Maybe it was #mombrain or maybe it was the sheer excitement to be free of my new appendage, but I would usually forget at least one thing on these scarce outings. 

Like that time I ran to Target to return something. I jumped out of my car and right into the line of Starbucks inside my Target. I proceeded to peruse Target and head home… my return still sitting in my backseat.

One time, I was two minutes away from parking my car and splurging for the “rose water pedicure” when the hunger pain hit. I was so excited to get an hour out of the house that I forgot to eat. Which is easy to do when you have a newborn at home. But as a constantly hungry, breastfeeding mama, there was no way I would survive out in the wild without food.

There were NO restaurants in sight. Not even a Chipotle or Chick-fil-A. (Which we all know are the “healthy” fast food restaurants, amiright?)

Desperate to maximize my scant, one-hour-out-of-the-house sans baby, I did something I hadn’t done in 3 years.

I went through a McDonald’s drive-thru.

Sure, that might not sound crazy to any of you. But you guys, THREE years! That’s kind of a big deal.

I took my number 3 combo meal, parked in a nearby Walgreens parking lot, and binge-ate that fast food with the voracity of a rabid raccoon. That’s right. I binge-ate McDonald’s in a Walgreens’ parking lot. I then proceeded to go into said Walgreens and buy a bag of Sour Patch Kids. Then I walked into my pedicure appointment and rotted my teeth with sugar while I closed my eyes and had my feet rubbed. Heaven.

All parents, but especially new moms, need to hear what I have to say next.

You are an adult separate from your child. 

You are more than just a mom. You deserve freedom and independence outside of your child and your family. 

You need to take time for yourself doing something that makes you happy. Doing something that makes you feel like you. The you you were before you had kids. 

Parenting changes us in the most challenging and beautiful ways. It’s transformational. And I’m not here to tell you to ignore the growth you’ve experienced since becoming a parent. I’m telling you to always have a pulse on your personal identity. To make the time to do the things that make you happy. Or at the very least, to do something that is just for you.

For me, something as small as getting one hour out of the house every once in a while to pamper myself, or browse the aisles of Target, was enough to recharge my batteries. It was enough time and space to regain my mental clarity and fulfill some much needed self care.

For other new moms, it might look like taking a hot bath, sitting on the porch ALONE for 20 minutes, running to Trader Joe’s, reading a book, or cooking a homemade dinner without holding the baby at the same time.

I challenge you in this phase of life to do one small thing for yourself everyday in the name of self care.

Whatever small act of “self care” means the most to you, do it. Everyday. One small thing, just for you. Make this time sacred. Build it into your daily routine. Mark it on the calendar! This small act of self care should be a non-negotiable. You’d be surprised what as little as 20 minutes a day can mean for your overall well being.

And for the record, I don’t necessarily consider binge-eating McDonald’s “self care” (but I also don’t regret it.) Any chance as a new mom to get a pedicure, or run to Target alone, was my go-to. Find your go-to and protect it with the voracity of a rabid raccoon.

*COVID-19 EDITION: So maybe right NOW you can’t go to Target and Trader Joe’s for self care – but you CAN find ways to treat yourself, even for as little as 20 minutes, during this time. Soak in the tub, wear a face mask, binge an episode of that show you’ve meaning to watch, journal, read a book, make a meal (a REAL one this time, not PBJ survival sandwiches), go for a walk, sit on the porch… the weather is unbeatable right now. Let’s face it, it’s not hard to find an excuse to put yourself last. I challenge you to put yourself FIRST, once a day. At least. You can find the time. If you need help, check out this blog post all about finding an extra hour in the day.

And if you’re real ambitious this quarantine season, there is always time for sleep training! Check my services page for details on how I can help make sleep a priority for your family and get you ALL sleeping through the night.