2025.7.16 (Wed) My nails are currently on a break.

2025.7.16 (Wed)

In front of the copier, my eyes caught the fingertips of a colleague who is also a mom.
Her nails were a calm, lovely color, and I couldn't help but say, 'Wow, that's wonderful. It's nice to have that kind of breathing room.'

She smiled a little shyly and said,
'My child asked me, "Mom, why don't you wear nail polish?" So, for the first time since giving birth, I tried it out.'
Come to think of it, she used to keep her nails well-groomed before she had her baby. She said it had been a long time since she'd worn polish.

I nodded deeply, thinking, 'That's so true.'
Once childcare starts, you're always just cutting your nails. You can't keep them long, you're doing water chores for the kids, and I had almost forgotten that nail polish even existed.

In fact, I felt a little pang in my chest remembering that I had just been trying to declutter my nail supplies last weekend.

Work, housework, childcare.
It is truly difficult for a so-called 'working mom' to secure time.
Places that require reservations, like hair salons or the dentist, are things I tend to put off, thinking, 'Now isn't the right time.' Since starting daycare, there have been sudden fevers and illnesses. And since I catch them too, my plans have been wiped clean many times.

While I feel like my child's health has finally stabilized recently, I also find myself nervous about making future plans, thinking, 'What if they get a fever again?'

Even though I have a husband and family support services, I end up taking everything on myself.
I want to reduce the things that 'only Mom can do.'I know that in my head, but my body just keeps moving on its own.
Maybe I just haven't practiced 'delegating'after all.

In a casual conversation, I felt that'the luxury of taking care of yourself' is something a bit special in the midst of childcare.It might be painting your nails, or it might be quietly drinking a cup of coffee.
How do you return just five minutes of 'margin' to yourself?

For a working mom, 'time to reclaim yourself' isn't a luxury item; I think it's like breathing.
You don't always have to be perfect. In fact, it's fine to just say, 'I'm amazing for getting this much done today!'

As for me, I did a career consultation for a working mom yesterday, and I deeply feel that 'how to move forward without pushing yourself too hard' is an important theme for adults, too.

I'm leaving this snippet of today here, hoping it might lead to a realization for someone.

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