11 Clues You're Giving Up Too Much Of Yourself For Your Kids
byAutumn Jones
It can happen slowly, without you even noticing. But when you look closely, the clues you're giving up too much of yourself for your kids were there all along. Stretches of days on end without making time to do anything for yourself. No memory of the last time you ran an errand without a little one by your side. All the signs were there, but you kept on giving to your kids — because that's what a mother does.
I don't think I've ever heard anyone say, "I really hope I'm a super crappy parent." Quite the opposite, everyone wants to be the best parent they can. And most parents I know (me included) tend to beat themselves up when they feel like they have been a less than stellar parent. But I have noticed a misconception —that I'll admit, I bought into in the beginning — that in order to be the best parent, you have to give up a lot of yourself and channel all that energy into your children. No one is OK with just being a good parent, when they can be the best.
But what happens is, this quest for ultimate parenting triumph turns into utter burnout, and leaves you feeling depleted. If these feelings sound familiar, consider these 11 clues you're giving up too much of yourself for your kids and start reinvesting in yourself ASAP.