My daughter was getting ready for her dance class and picked out a wrinkled shirt to wear with her pants. I asked her to iron it, but she shrugged it off, saying it didn’t matter. I insisted, telling her it would help her look more put-together. She still didn’t want to. So I asked, “What if your friend asked to borrow this shirt—would you lend it to her?” She immediately said, “No way! This doesn’t look good.” I smiled and said, “Then why are you okay wearing it? Don’t you value yourself?” She paused for a moment, then went to iron the shirt.

How often do we do the same in our lives? I’ve seen mothers eat leftovers, insisting their children deserve fresh meals. But shouldn’t they deserve the same? My father rarely buys new clothes for himself—he mends old ones instead, saying his daughters need new clothes more. At home, our best dinnerware is always reserved for guests, while we use the worn-out plates for ourselves. My daughter often waits for guests just to eat on those special plates.

Why do we believe we don’t deserve the best for ourselves? If we don’t care for ourselves, what lesson are we teaching our children? Self-care isn’t selfish. Let’s learn to prioritize ourselves because if we don’t, no one else will.

Are you treating yourself with the same kindness you show to others?