I’m Going To Have A More Selfish New Year and You Should Too!

I’m going to be more selfish in 2011 and if you are a parent, maybe you should be too.

I’m not saying you should go play golf or spend the day at a spa  if you can’t afford to buy groceries. But one of my New Year’s resolutions is to do something nice for myself every week.

In my world money is tight, so when I buy groceries for the week I generally have $150 dollars   to spend. If I go over $150 stuff has to go back on the shelf.  (I only carry cash when I’m shopping). And usually the stuff that goes back is mine, the shrimp, moisturizer, new mascara, pesto…I hold those things back unit I find out if  we can afford them. 

Well, next Saturday when I go shopping, I’m putting Sandor’s giant jar of dill pickles back instead of my olive oil. Sometimes, I’m putting Lexie’s lacy tank top back on the rack before I give up my twelve pack of Fresca and chipolte salsa. 

Alex walks 10-15 miles a day at work.  He really needed new pair of ugly chef  clogs two months ago but he put off buying them until after Christmas.  As a result his back is screwed up. Well that’s absurd and obscene.  The kids never would have noticed one less present under our engourged Christmas tree and they would be miserable if they knew he was in pain.  It’s time to be a little more selfish.

This week, on a whim, I got a pedicure and it made me so happy. It had been a long long time and that’s just goofy. I work hard, I’m a pretty decent mom, I should get a pedicure when I want one.  But there’s always that voice stopping me, reminding me of all the things the kids need.

Well, everyonce in a while I’m going to tell that voice to “shut the hell up”. I deserve pesto, shrimp, a new sweater and pretty toes.

And the truth is, the kids want me to get stuff for myself. Sandor likes it when I show up in his second grade class room looking nice. Lexie’s friends always get excited when they spend the night and Alex and I get dressed up to go out. 

Trust me, kids don’t want to see their mom in public with scraggly hair, wearing funky old sweats and flip flops. Nobody wants to see that.

So this year, I will be more selfish, just to make my family happy.  I’m such a good person.