Normalize “Mom Days”: A Love Letter to Being Left Alone on Purpose

It’s not selfish. It’s survival

We talk a lot about self-care as moms. Bubble baths, yoga, an extra hot coffee that no one microwaved six times. But let’s be honest—most of those moments come with background noise. Literal background noise. Like someone screaming “MOM” through the door while you’re trying to exfoliate and emotionally recover from grocery shopping.

So here’s a radical idea:

Let’s normalize “Mom Days.”

Not self-care. Not “me time.”

Not fitting in joy between errands and preschool pickup.

We’re talking full-blown, unapologetic, no-kid, no-partner, no-demands days.

Where you exist as a person. Just you.

What Is a Mom Day?

It’s not a spa day (unless that’s your thing).

It’s not a Target run in disguise.

It’s not hiding in your car with french fries and pretending you’re fine.

A Mom Day is a pre-approved, guilt-free block of time where you can breathe, sit, walk, stare into space, or go do that extremely specific thing that fills your cup. Quiet bookstore? Solo movie? Window shopping with headphones in? Wandering a grocery store without someone asking for snacks every 90 seconds?

Yes, please.

Mom Days are not a treat. They’re a reset.

Why We Need Them

Because we’re constantly “on.”

Because our brains are overloaded with mental checklists, school forms, and snack negotiations.

Because sometimes we forget what we even like anymore unless it comes in a pouch or screams from YouTube.

And honestly?

Because being needed every second of the day—even by the tiny humans we love—is exhausting.

Taking a day doesn’t mean we love our kids less.

It means we remember we’re people too.

Let’s Drop the Guilt

This isn’t about escaping our lives. It’s about protecting our ability to show up in them. No one questions when a job gives someone a lunch break or PTO. Moms need that too—but we have to stop waiting for permission.

You don’t owe anyone an explanation. You don’t need to earn it. You don’t have to prove how “hard you work” before someone lets you take 24 hours to go to a flea market alone.

Your sanity is a valid reason.

Your wholeness is the goal.

Your peace doesn’t require a permission slip.

What a Mom Day Looks Like (AKA: Whatever You Want)

• Going to a thrift store and touching every mug like it’s your spiritual calling

• Driving without a destination and playing music that doesn’t feature talking animals

• Sitting in your car and doing absolutely nothing

• Reading a book without having to reread the same paragraph 12 times because someone yelled “MOM” again

• Having a meal that is not interrupted, microwaved, or shared with sticky fingers

Final Thought: Let It Be Ordinary

You shouldn’t need a birthday or a breakdown to get a day off.

Mom Days should be normal. Boring even.

Like oil changes or dental appointments—but for your emotional transmission.

So schedule one.

Put it on the calendar. Don’t wait until you’re teetering on the edge of burnout.

Take the day. Take the breath. Take the version of you that isn’t just “Mom,” and go spend time with her.

She’s probably really cool.