The Doughnut Dilemma: Mum Said Eat It Before It Finds You in Your Dreams

Phew—we made it.

Summer's been a whirlwind of snacks, screen time negotiations, and “Mummy, can I…” on repeat. And now, school’s about to resume. So to every busy mum out there: well done. You showed up, you juggled, you survived. And if you’re anything like me, you might be craving a little treat to celebrate.

For me? It was doughnuts. It started innocently—just a glimpse of a pack during handover. I picked one. It had custard (which I don’t even like), but I was craving it so much I ate it anyway. And it wasn’t bad. In fact, I had to caution myself not to go for another.

Then came my mum’s voice:

“If you crave it too much, you might eat it in your dream. That’s not good. Better eat it now before someone starts feeding you spiritually.”

Plate of doughnuts – humorous self-care symbol for busy mums

Classic African mum logic. Equal parts hilarious and terrifying. So naturally, I blamed her. If she hadn’t said it, maybe I wouldn’t have felt compelled to eat the doughnut. Perhaps I’d still be craving it in peace.

But here’s the more profound truth: Sometimes, we deny ourselves small joys because we think they’re “not good enough,” “not healthy,” or “not productive.” Especially as mums, we’re experts at putting ourselves last. So I’m reclaiming the doughnut—not just as a snack, but as a symbol of self-permission. Of saying yes to small pleasures. Of choosing presence over perfection.

And while I may not sell doughnuts (yet), I do create soulful tools that help busy women pause, breathe, and reconnect—with themselves. Whether it’s colouring for five minutes, journaling a thought, or laughing at a blog post like this… amazing things happen when you try.

So here’s to us.

To the mums who made it through summer. To the ones who crave doughnuts and deserve peace.

To the ones who are learning to choose themselves, one small act at a time.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find that photo of the doughnuts. For research purposes, of course.