How I found permission to pause (and why you can, too)

Last weekend, I went to a friend’s party — which gives me a chance to catch up, laugh, and just be me for a little while.

My toddler wasn’t exactly thrilled about being surrounded by a room full of adults, so I made the call to let him watch TV for a bit while I connected with friends.

To be honest—I felt that familiar twinge of guilt the moment as I played cocomelon for him.

“Am I giving him too much screen time?”
“Am I failing as a mom right now?”
“Will this affect him negatively?”

Those thoughts spun in my head.

But then, something shifted.

I realized that what I was really giving myself was permission—a permission I think many of us struggle to grant ourselves—to pause.

Parenting is a beautiful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming journey.

And part of that journey is recognizing when we need to step back, recharge, and fill our own cup so we can pour out love and patience more freely.

Sometimes, what we really need is a break.

A moment to breathe.

A moment to recharge.

And to remember that taking care of ourselves helps us take better care of our kids.

And that, I decided, was worth the guilt that tried to sneak in.

Letting my toddler watch TV for a little while wasn’t about “checking out.”

It was about showing up—to my friends, to myself and to my kids—as a more present, rested mom.

If you ever find yourself torn between wanting to be “perfect” and simply needing a break, I want you to know-

It’s okay to take that moment for yourself.
Taking care of YOU is one of the most loving things you can do for your family.

So the next time guilt creeps in, remind yourself—it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to rest. You’re doing an incredible job.

If you're ready to take your parenting to the next level, or feel stuck in your parenting journey, message me directly or a book a free Parenting Roadmap call.

Best,
Dr. Sarita