When Mom Burnout Hits: Learning to Put My Own Mask on First

There was a time not long ago when I woke up every day already exhausted.

I felt like I was drowning in the endless cycle of caregiving — meals, diapers, messes, school drop-offs, meltdowns, laundry piles that seemed to multiply overnight.

It became a daily ritual to feel upset about how much I was doing. I loved my children more than anything in the world, but I also felt trapped by the constant demands.

I was giving everything — and there was nothing left for me.

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The Breaking Point

At first, I thought I was just tired. Every mom gets tired, right?

But this was different.

This was deep, emotional exhaustion.

I started researching what I was feeling, and what I found was shocking — caregiver fatigue.

The symptoms lined up exactly:

Emotional numbness

Irritability

Exhaustion that doesn’t go away with sleep

Feeling disconnected

Losing joy in things you once loved

They were the same warning signs as PTSD.

And the cause?

Never putting your own needs first.

It hit me hard.

I had become that person — the one who cares for everyone else until there’s nothing left to give.

The one holding it all together but silently falling apart.

You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup

As moms, we are the backbone of the entire show.

When we fall apart, everything wobbles with us — the routines, the energy, the happiness in our home.

We’ve been taught that putting our needs first is selfish.

But it’s not.

It’s essential.

Just like they say on airplanes: put your own mask on first.

If you can’t breathe, you can’t help anyone else.

My Reset: Moving to Belize

For me, change had to be drastic.

Moving to Belize wasn’t just about the adventure — it was about survival.

I needed to create a life where I wasn’t the only one carrying the load.

Where I could get help, rest, and space to remember who I am outside of motherhood.

Here, I can afford a nanny.

Someone helps with laundry and cleaning.

And for the first time in years, I have support.

Building a New Routine Around Me

Now, my mornings look completely different.

☀️ I take the baby for a walk on the beach while our nanny helps the older two get ready for school.

🧘 I come home and head to yoga or the gym.

🎶 Sometimes I write, sometimes I play music (badly, but joyfully).

🩵 Then I pick up my older two from school and spend the afternoon with them, not for them.

I’m calmer.

I’m happier.

I’m present again.

It took almost breaking down to realize I was allowed to build a routine that included me.

What I Learned

Motherhood can swallow you whole if you let it.

It’s a beautiful, sacred role — but it’s not supposed to erase you.

Take care of yourself.

Ask for help.

Build systems that make your life lighter.

You are not failing if you need support — you are showing strength.

Because when you show up for yourself, you show up better for your kids.

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So, Mama — Put Your Mask on First

Take that walk.

Sign up for yoga.

Drink the coffee hot.

Read the book.

Take the nap.

Ask for help.

Say no.

Whatever it takes to keep your spark alive.

Because when you thrive, your whole family thrives.

And that’s the kind of motherhood that changes everything. 💛