Hey mama, choose you

A gentle, honest guide for tired mamas ready to start 2026 more regulated, intentional and finally included in their own lives.

- Nobuhle Radebe

(Nobuhle Radebe Photo: Supplied)

f I were to ask you how you are right now, I already know the answer. You are tired.

Bone-deep tired. The kind of tired that rest does not always fix. I know that Dezemba came and went, and instead of slowing down, you had to be everything to everyone; the planner, the cook, the emotional anchor, the safe place. And you know what - that is totally valid. I get it.

But mama here’s the truth we don’t talk about enough and that is, at some point you have to choose yourself. And what does that look like in 2026?

Grab a coffee and let’s dig. Here are five Dos and Don'ts to help you set yourself up for a better year ahead, one where you are no longer last on the list.

Please DON’T wait for “quiet time” to magically appear because it won't. I say this gently, while holding your hand. Your peace lives in the hours when no one else is awake. Even 30 minutes before the house wakes up can change everything for you. Your nervous system, your patience, your clarity.

This is the time to pray, journal, stretch, sit in silence or simply breathe without being needed by any of the people that I know you love. Listen when I say that waiting for rest later in the day rarely works out.