Valentines Day

This Valentine’s Day, let’s ditch the guilt. There’s so much pressure on working parents during COVID to be everything at home and everything at work, that we don’t need more stress right now.

Here’s my Valentine’s Day love poem to all working parents:

 

A Guilt-Free Valentine’s Day

 

This Valentine’s Day,

blame COVID,

please.

 

It’s not because of you

that the little shoeboxes

of tear-apart valentines

taped with yellow lollipops

didn’t come home in a backpack

this year.

 

It’s not a shortcoming

of yours

that you can’t get a babysitter

and go out for a

too-expensive dinner date.

 

valentines-day

 

You did nothing wrong

if cards didn’t get sent

or flowers didn’t get bought

or dishes didn’t get washed

or life got away from you

or you wound up too tired

and simply crashed

at the end of the day.

 

The COVID wall is real

for us.

The Primal Scream is real

for us.

If that one last little

Valentines Day-related task

is about to push you

over the edge,

don’t do it.

 

Your family needs you

on this side

of the cliff.

“Oh well,” you can tell yourself.

 

Blame COVID, please.

Then drop the guilt

into a gutter

and in its place,

scoop up in your hands

the love –

for yourself,

your family,

your friends,

the ones who really matter –

and sit with it for a hot, glowing minute.

That’s what this Valentines Day is meant to be about

anyway.

 

Back to Work After Baby

Want more practical tips on working parenthood?  Check out my book, Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave

Our Gift To You

At Mindful Return, we know that calm, thoughtful planning, and time for reflection, are keys to success in working parent life. Our FREE guide, 99 Questions to Ask Yourself Before, During, and After Maternity Leave, is our gift to you and your new bundle of joy.

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