Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First (Seriously, It's Necessary)

If you have ever traveled with a child on an airplane, you have heard this statement said by the flight attendants as they quickly walk by and smile and you and your little potential monster before the plane ever takes off. 

You may have also heard it from my mentor's mouth as she guided a group through breathing exercises and the importance of self-care. You may have even heard me say it a time or two during a coaching session. 

Here's the thing; I didn't know what this meant until a few months ago, the day after Thanksgiving, to be exact. My husband and I were flying with our two girls, it was choppy, and the captain had asked everyone to sit including the flight attendants, as they walked by they looked at each parent and reminded us, "Should there be a change in cabin pressure make sure you put your own oxygen mask on first." 

I turned to my husband and rolling my eyes said, That's not terrifying, and also, who is going to do that?!" 

He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "You will pass out." 

"Excuse me?" I said indignantly. 

"You have to put your mask on first because you will pass out." He shot back 

"Seriously." I was now feeling slightly flustered and confused. 

"Yes. You will pass out, and then you can't help anyone. That's why they say that, because you have to put your mask on first so you can help the kids." 

*** Lightbulb ***

I felt like someone had revealed a secret of the universe to me. A secret I have been talking about, writing about, trying to put more clarity around instead of all the hoopla, and at that moment, I understood.  

Since that day, months ago, I have not stopped thinking about this idea. We landed safely in Denver, everything was fine, but my mind was still blown... Put your oxygen mask on first because you will pass out!

Here I am to tell you that in this life, the reason self-care is so important and the reason we have to make ourselves a priority is so that we don't pass out. 

Amid COVID, learning how to be better allies to black and indigenous mamas of color, trying to figure out how to keep our kiddos engaged and aware during this new world we are living in, and all the other things we do as modern mamas on a day to day basis, making our self-care a priority doesn't seem so important. But it is. We have to take time to breathe. 

To choose self-care and make space for my mindfulness practice, to breathe and know that taking some time to care for myself is essential so that I can care for my family and ultimately for this world.

We can't change the world, and we can't be impactful mothers, without our oxygen mask first.

Here's to carving out a little time each day to breathe, to dive deep into our own self-care so that we are able to care for the world around us. 

Want to join me? 

We've created a simple self-care guide to help you get started!