The quiet cost of being a parent

A reflection on parental guilt and the quiet choices we make so our children get us at our best. Like getting up at 4 am to train before Leo wakes up…

Dear Leo,

It’s 04:40am.

I’ve started getting up earlier so I can train before you wake.
That’s one of the quiet negotiations of parenthood. Learning when to be away so that, later, you can be fully present.

There’s guilt in that question.
Should I be here now, or should I go and do the thing I need to do for myself?