Where I’ve Been (and Why My Fingers Looks Like a Hot Dog)

So… I disappeared for a bit.

And no, I didn’t go on a peaceful retreat.

I went roller skating.

With a bunch of very confident 11- and 12-year-olds.

And for a brief moment, I thought,
“I still got this.”

I did not, in fact, still got this.

It took one fall... just 1!

Not dramatic. Not slow motion.
Just quick, humbling, and very effective.

My wrist and fingers immediately swelled up like a couple of hot dogs.
Purple. Puffy. Impressive, honestly.

So I’ve been on a forced break… typing slower, moving slower, and being reminded that 40 does not bounce like 12.

But here’s the part that stuck with me…

That fall forced me to do something I usually avoid:

Rest.

And it made me think about something most parents feel but don’t say out loud.

The Guilt of Wanting Time to Yourself

Be honest.

Have you ever needed a break…
but felt bad for even thinking it?

Like needing space somehow means you’re doing parenting wrong?

So instead, you push through.

You stay “on.”
You keep giving.
You ignore the part of you that’s tired.

And then slowly… everything feels heavier than it should.

Here’s what I want you to hear:

Wanting space is not rejection.

It’s regulation.

When you never step away, your patience shrinks.
Your energy drops.
And small things start to feel big.

But when you take even a little time for yourself?

You come back calmer.
Kinder.
More like yourself.

That’s not selfish.

That’s sustainable.

So instead of waiting until you’re overwhelmed (or injured like me), try this:

>> Schedule one “protected personal time” block this week. <<

Not when everything is done.
​Not when you’ve earned it.

But like a real appointment.

Put it on your calendar.
Give it a start and end time.
And keep it.

Because if it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t happen.

And if it doesn’t happen, you keep running on empty.

Most parents are trying to run their lives on willpower.

But willpower fades.

Systems hold.

That’s the shift I keep coming back to.

Not doing more.
But building small structures that actually support you… even on chaotic days.

So here’s your question this week:

When is your next protected hour?

Not someday.
This week.

Start there.

(And if you need motivation… I don’t recommend waiting until your body forces you into it at a roller rink😉 .)