You’re balancing a toddler on your hip while your kindergartener declares they’ve forgotten how to put on their own shoes (again). The idea of ‘self-care’ feels about as achievable as a full night’s sleep. But what if I told you that caring for yourself doesn’t have to mean escaping from your littles?
Let me tell you about Brittany, a mom of three under seven, who discovered how to weave moments of joy and care into the beautiful chaos of young family life.
When Tiny Humans Run the Show Brittany used to think self-care meant spa days and meditation retreats (remember those?). But with a 6-year-old tornado of energy, a preschooler who thinks 5 AM is a reasonable wake-up time, and a toddler who’s convinced naptime is optional, she had to get creative.
Starting Small: The Morning Magic Window Brittany learned that self-care with little ones starts with tiny pockets of intention. She began setting her alarm just 10 minutes before her earliest riser – not for an elaborate morning routine, but for a few sips of hot coffee and deep breaths. Sometimes her toddler would wake up early and join her, and that was okay too. They’d snuggle and watch the sun rise together.
The Dance of Including Little Helpers Rather than waiting for alone time (which, let’s be honest, is rare with young kids), Brittany started including her children in her self-care rituals:
- Her facial moisturizing routine became “spa time” where the kids got to pat their faces with water and pretend to be at a fancy salon
- Her stretching became “animal yoga” where they’d all pretend to be different creatures
- Her deep breathing exercises transformed into “dragon breath” games where they’d pretend to blow out birthday candles
The Power of Parallel Play Brittany discovered that self-care could happen alongside playtime. While her kids built with blocks, she’d sit nearby doing gentle stretches. During art time, she’d have her own coloring book. The kids loved seeing Mama doing her own activities while staying connected.
Making Peace with Imperfect Moments Some days, “self-care” meant eating lunch while it was still warm (revolutionary!) or doing quick jumping jacks with the kids instead of a proper workout. Brittany learned that with young children, flexibility isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.
Creating Calm in the Chaos Simple rituals became anchors in their day:
- “Quiet time jar” where everyone picks a calm activity for 10 minutes (even if the toddler just looks at pictures)
- “Dance and freeze” games that let everyone shake out their wiggles (and mama’s stress)
- “Cozy corner” time where they all take turns sharing their favorite part of the day while cuddling
The Bedtime Wind-Down Instead of rushing through bedtime, Brittany turned it into a peaceful ritual for everyone. While the kids had their bath, she’d do a quick face wash and moisturize. During storytime, she’d do gentle leg stretches. These moments weren’t Instagram-worthy meditation sessions, but they filled her cup nonetheless.
Technology Tricks for Tiny Attention Spans Brittany used screen time strategically – not with guilt, but with purpose. When she really needed a moment, she’d put on a short educational show and use those 15 minutes for quick self-care activities, whether that meant having a proper bathroom break or doing some quick stretches.
Building Your Village Even with young kids, Brittany learned to ask for and accept help. Trading playdate hosting with other moms gave each parent short breaks. Sometimes self-care meant letting her partner take morning duty while she slept in, or accepting her mother-in-law’s offer to watch the kids for an hour.
The Little Victories Success wasn’t measured in hours of meditation or perfect workout routines. Instead, Brittany celebrated the small wins:
- Getting through a whole hot drink while it was still hot
- Finding five minutes to apply face cream
- Managing a quick shower with only minimal audience participation
- Eating lunch sitting down instead of standing at the counter
Your Turn, Mama Remember, self-care with little ones looks different – and that’s okay. Start small. Maybe today it’s just three deep breaths while changing a diaper, or taking time to actually taste your breakfast instead of inhaling it.
What matters isn’t the duration or perfection of your self-care moments, but that you’re showing your little ones that mama’s well-being matters too. And sometimes, the most powerful self-care is simply being gentle with yourself as you navigate these precious, demanding years.
Share below: What’s one tiny moment of self-care you can try today with your little ones? Remember, you’re not alone in this adventure – we’re all figuring it out together, one toddler tantrum and preschool drop-off at a time. 💜
The Balanced Mom
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