💗 From Mom Guilt to Peaceful Rhythms – Blog 2 in the Series

There was a time when even the thought of wanting time to myself made me feel selfish.

Thoughts that went through my head–

“I can’t take a break, what if they need me?” 

“I have too much to do.”

“I don’t have time.”

“I have to do everything for them.”

But “later” never came. And all I did was wear myself out more. 

I Love My Hubs and Kids—But I Was Running on Empty

Being a wife and a mom is a gift I deeply cherish. But there were days I felt like I was falling apart.

I began not to recognize the woman staring back in the mirror. She was exhausted. She was stretched thin. And she was running on empty.

And yet…I kept showing up, no matter what I had left to give.
Even when I was depleted..

I thought that made me a “good mom.”
But slowly, I realized I was wrong. I wasn’t showing up for myself and I wasn’t showing up for my family. 

Why We Feel Guilty for Needing a Break

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught that “good moms” give 110% all the time. We’re not allowed to rest and if we do, it has to be earned. That quiet time is indulgent. That asking for help is a weakness. Moms have to do it all or we’re failing as a mom.

But none of that is true.

What I’ve learned—through prayer, reflection and honestly… burnout—is this:

“You don’t need to earn rest. You need it to be who God created you to be.”

God never asked us to run ourselves into the ground. God rested on the 7th day. He asked and wants us to abide in Him.
And even Jesus took time away to pray, to be alone, to rest.

What if we took the time to rest in God? What if we truly abide in Him? What if we rested in God’s holiness? 

What Helps Me Release the Guilt

1. I Started Listening to My Body and My Spirit
   When I was irritable, constantly exhausted or snapping more than I wanted to… that was my signal. Not to try harder, but to pause and refill. There are days I will be honest and say I need a few minutes to myself, so I can come back and be the mom you need.
2. I Built Pockets of Time Into My Day – Everyday
   It wasn’t about big getaways, because I would miss my family too much. It started with five minutes. Now some days this is a few hours. A walk outside. Going to get a cup of coffee alone. Sitting with a journal outside by myself. It turns out, small moments of stillness matter more than we think. They make a difference.
3. I Remembered That I’m Still a Person—Not Just a Role
   I’m a mom. But I’m also a woman, a wife, a business owner and most importantly a daughter of God. When I take care of each part of me, I show up as a better mom. A more grounded one. A more joyful one. One that can make a huge difference.
4. I Trusted That God Fills the Gaps
   I don’t have to hold everything all the time, in fact I don’t have to hold everything. I can give it to God – because He wants me to. I can rest—and He can carry what I set down and give him.

To the Mom Who’s Afraid to Rest…

You are not selfish.
You are not lazy.
You are not a bad mom.

You are human. You are tired. You are worthy of rest. You are supposed to rest. You are allowed to create space in your day for breath, for stillness, for joy, for laughter, for hope that isn’t dependent on someone needing something from you.

💗 Final Thoughts

If you’ve been carrying guilt for wanting space and time for yourself…it’s time to let it go.

You can be a loving, present mom and a woman who rests. A mom who needs stillness.
You can serve your family and your soul and take 5 minutes to yourself.
You can step away—not because you’re failing—but because you’re faithful to care for what God entrusted to you…including your own heart.

Need Help Creating Space to Rest?

I offer free 15-minute clarity calls to help moms reset their routines, drop the guilt and find rhythms that bring peace.
💗 👉 [Book your free call here]
Or explore The Simplify and Reset VIP Day—where we build rhythms rooted in grace, not hustle.