Self-Care Isn't Selfish: It's the Greatest Gift You Can Give

I came across a video on Instagram the other day that stopped me in my tracks. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t dramatic. But it carried a message so powerful that I knew I had to share it with you.

Nicole Roggow, a fitness coach I admire, posted a simple clip of herself walking on a treadmill—with her two young daughters right there beside her. They weren’t just watching. They were doing it too—mimicking their mom with big smiles on their faces. Along with the video, Nicole wrote something that hit me straight in the heart:

"So you can keep calling it selfish, and you can keep saying you don't want to take time from your kids. Or, you can see exercise for what it actually is: the most life-giving gift you can give to your kids from an early age."

Whew. Let that sink in.

As Nicole stepped off the treadmill, her daughters eagerly hopped on. No hesitation. No resistance. Just pure excitement to move their bodies because they had seen their mom do it first.

Her post continued with a stat that deserves way more attention:

"A mother's fitness level has a direct relationship to the health of her children. According to the American Journal of Pediatrics, the less active the mother is, the less active her children are—especially when they are very young."

Read that again. And then maybe one more time for good measure.

Our habits are shaping our kids before we even realize it.

Yet somehow, somewhere along the line, so many of us were made to feel guilty for taking time to care for ourselves. Sound familiar? How many women do you know who say, “I just don’t have the time,” or “I can’t take time away from my family,” or “It feels selfish”?It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.

Statistics show that up to 75% of mothers experience barriers to physical activity after having children (SIRC, 2022). Seventy-five percent! That’s not a small number. That’s most of us.

And trust me, I get it.

I vividly remember when my youngest son was around 18 months old. I decided it was time to reclaim my health—to move my body, to feel strong again, to be me again. And it was hard. I wrestled with guilt. I hadn’t seen my kids all day. Was it wrong to spend another hour away from them? What would people think if they saw me at the gym instead of glued to my kids 24/7?

But deep down, something shifted.A quiet voice inside me whispered, "You’re not leaving them behind. You’re leading them forward."

Taking care of my health wasn’t about being selfish. It was about being strong enough to show up for my family in the ways that truly matter—patient, present, joyful, and energized. It was about breaking a cycle and creating a new legacy.

And ladies, it’s time we all start breaking these old barriers.

We need to stop seeing self-care as a luxury and start seeing it for what it truly is: a necessity.Because when we prioritize our own well-being, everyone benefits.When we exercise, we’re not just toning muscles—we’re managing stress, boosting our moods, reducing health risks, improving our sleep... and yes, rumor has it, even spicing up our sex lives a little too. 😉

Taking care of YOU is one of the best gifts you can give to your family.

You are not just worthy of that time. You are setting the example that self-love, health, and happiness are normal, expected, and non-negotiable.

And that, my friends, is how we change the narrative for generations to come.

‍