Free Yourself From Feelings Of Guilt Over Barn Time

Learn why taking time away from your family to be at the barn can be a benefit for your children and loved ones, too.

- Jenny Susser

Q I’m a busy mom and I have trouble escaping to the barn. When I do get there, I often feel guilty for riding rather than being at home with my family. My husband is happy to pitch in with the kids, but I can’t help but feel that I’m being a little selfish. The guilt makes riding much less enjoyable. Is there a way I can get back to enjoying what little time I have at the barn?

A You are not alone in this worry. Many athletes often feel selfish and sometimes believe that a life of training, traveling and competing is self indulgent. When I was swimming, I experienced some of these feelings as well. Parents can often have a faulty assumption that anything they do that doesn’t directly impact or support their children is selfish or bad for their kids. But there is actually error in this way of thinking and feeling, and it takes a little bit of work to address this and correct it.