Mum guilt and the juggle of mum life
Caitlyn Davey • April 2, 2025
It’s always there, lingering in the back of every mother's mind—“mum guilt.”
Most days, we feel it: the judgment we perceive as mums and as parents, the guilt for putting ourselves first, and the negative self-talk that creeps in.
We all experience the pressure:
- Trying to keep as many balls in the air as possible
- Racing around day after day
- Meeting everyone else’s needs: school drop-offs, pick-ups, after-school activities—the list goes on.
Why I Make Time for the Gym
Despite the chaos, there’s one thing I do for myself every day:
I
make the time to go to the gym and
train.
That hour is my time to be selfish.
Don't get me wrong—I still feel guilty.
Sometimes I have to:
- Wake my children early
- Rush them out the door
—just to make it to class on time.
But the other option would be to put myself last.
And honestly—why should I?
I Need This—For Me and for Them
It's simple:
- I need it for my sanity.
- I need to surround myself with others who are just like me—sometimes struggling with similar situations.
I’ve often heard comments like:
"You take the kids to the gym at 7am?"
"You have to wake them up just to go to the gym?"
And my answer is always: YES, I do.
Why? Because if I didn’t:
- My needs, my health, my fitness, my goals would be pushed further and further down the endless list of things I’m trying to squeeze into a day.
(FYI: School days are short!)
A Better Version of Myself
I am a better version of myself when I spend one hour a day focusing on me.
And honestly—who doesn’t want to be a better version of themselves?
Taking that time doesn’t make me a bad mum.
It makes me a
happier, healthier, stronger mum—and that’s something my children benefit from too.
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