Feel Quote by Cecelia Ahern
““I know that. I just don’t feel it sometimes. Over there I felt like I hadn’t a care in the world. Things felt so good and it was almost as if every muscle in my body relaxed the moment I landed there. I haven’t laughed so much in years. I felt like a 23-year-old, Steph. I haven’t felt like that much lately. I know this probably sounds weird but I felt like the me that I could have been. I liked that I didn’t have to look out for somebody else while I walked down the street. I didn’t have the fifty near heart attacks per day that I usually get when Katie goes missing or puts something in her mouth that she shouldn’t. I didn’t have to dive onto the road and hold her back just in time from being hit by a car. I liked that I didn’t have to give out, correct people on their pronunciation or make threats. I liked laughing at a joke without my sleeve being tugged at and being asked to explain. I liked having adult conversations without being interrupted to cheer and applaud a silly dance or the learning of a new word. I liked that I was just me, Rosie, not mummy, thinking just about me, talking about things I liked, going places I liked to go without having to worry about nappy changes, bottle feeding or sleepy-head tantrums. Isn’t that awful?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, 2013
A mother reflects on brief freedom when her child is safe, longing for adult identity and relief from constant caregiving stress.
In simple terms: She misses being just herself without parental duties.
Seek personal time and self‑care.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- solo travel
- hobbies
- friend outings
- mental health breaks
- support groups
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can caregivers create regular personal space?
- What support systems reduce caregiver burnout?
Balancing caregiving with self‑identity is challenging and often feels impossible.