by Jessica Kwerel, School Counselor

By this point in the school year, everyone is feeling particularly burnt out, especially parents. The finish line is near, but still many weeks away. It's exhausting to get your child fed, dressed, and out the door on time. It's exhausting to come home after a long day of work, and face the "second shift" of shuttling your child or children to after school activities, preparing dinner, and getting through the evening routine. Is there any uninterrupted time or energy left for yourself to decompress? Or connect with your parenting partner? Probably not. That's why it's so important to allocate time for self-care.

Often when we hear the word "self-care", many of us hear it as a luxury and not a necessity. I strongly encourage you to think of it as an absolute necessity. In the On Parenting section of The Washington Post, the article "Why self-care is an important part of parenting, and how to make time for it" highlights this point:

Self-care is not selfish; it's one of the best things you can do for your kids. Taking a break from family can cause guilt and anxiety in mothers and fathers alike. But a few hours away can re-energize you so you can get back to playing with Legos, making dinner and taking care of everyone else.

I invite you to take the steps towards thinking about self-care as an absolute necessity and see for yourself how much better you can feel when making space for your own needs.