It's okay to be selfish

Yeah, that's right! Be a little self-centred, do a few things for yourself -
* Schedule that long overdue dentist appointment. You can act now and get it taken care of before those tingling sensations give way to shooting pain at 2 am followed by frantically looking for any available dentist who can see you, even if it means driving 25 miles from home.
* Get your hair trimmed/styled/colored - whatever it is you have been thinking of for a long time and just haven't gotten around to!
* Go for a jog, hit the gym or just go for that hike some friends keep bringing up in their conversations. Regular physical activity that you enjoy can make the day more manageable.
* Buy that top you so longingly keep turning over and over again in your hands at the store, yes the fitting room mirror said 'It looks good on you!'. It's okay to buy what you like even if your spouse, friend or that girl from the floor above you at work seem to disapprove of!
* Take those fifteen minutes to dress up every morning. In that time you could be watering the plants, replying to a couple of emails, fixing up a bit more in the kitchen or catching up on your voicemails. These are all important too, but go ahead and those few minutes you deny yourself wearing that lip gloss or eyeliner, doing your hair or looking for that matching bracelet to wear that day.
Taking a little time for your health, for your relaxation, for your grooming is not being selfish or superficial. Doing that bit for yourself will go a long way in preserving the health and happiness of those around you too. Especially motherhood is not martyr-hood. You set a great example for your kids when you take care of yourself. Taking care of family and home is very important, just don't lose sight of yourself in that family picture. Remember - Wear that oxygen mask yourself first before you can help others!
And in case you're wondering if I came up with all this introspection and deep thinking in a shrink's office, you're a little off the mark - it was at my long overdue visit to my dentist's office.