Ditch the Mom Guilt & Take a Day Off
There’s a lie I tell myself that goes something like this: Resting is lazy. Taking a break is for the weak. Stay-at-home moms love motherhood, so we don’t need time off. Thanks to this lie, I feel guilty for taking even a moment to pause. Hence, I immediately clear my empty lunch plate instead of lingering over the rest of a magazine article. I quickly set down my phone when the kids come over or start doing sit-ups when my husband walks in on my nap. I snap out of a daydream and instead plan out meals for the week. After all, down time isn’t compatible with my lie. And yet, I know that making time for regular rest is an essential rhythm for a joyful, sustainable life. Therefore, I’ve been experimenting recently with what it could look like to keep a weekly sabbath—a day off from work (including the unpaid kind that defines life as a mom of four young kids). I realize full well that parents can’t just take 24 hours off from mom and dad duties. But there is definitely room for experim