"My crying was endless. The daydreams of being childless and carefree overwhelmed me. Then the anxiety made it impossible for me to think of anything other than how I could cease to exist."
For many years, I've devoted myself completely to my children, believing it was
best for them. But you can't pull water from an empty well, and this past year my well went
dry.
For a few hours Kate didn't have to do our emotional labor or be the default
parent. No one asked her to make his brother return a toy or to check the tone in an email. She
didn't have to perform appreciation for a breakfast in bed we would have made wrong. For one day,
she didn't have to take care of anyone.
When you've given yourself permission to eat, including all those sweets and treats
that are normally off-limits, they suddenly lose their power over you. And when food doesn't have
power over you, you will have freedom to live a life that isn't bound by what you can and cannot
eat.
I remember telling myself over and over that we had our own story, our own journey, and that was okay. Removing that comparison aspect from my life helped me in more ways than I will ever know.
