( CNN ) -- When did it become a crime to admit that you -- as a parent -- put yourself first ? Sure , supermodel Gisele Bundchen 's haters are ready to pounce no matter what the gorgeous , successful , wealthy wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has to say . But the backlash surrounding her most recent comments about parenting -- how important it is as a mother to take care of yourself -- really got our attention because the issue is a powerful one in today 's parenting . `` You know how they say on the plane you have to put the oxygen mask on first and then put it on your child ? '' Bundchen told `` The Sunday Times '' in an interview about why she believes motherhood is her most important job . `` So I think it is the same , as a mum , to take care of myself . '' `` You can feel a bit guilty , '' she said . `` But if I put my oxygen mask on first , if I 'm feeling fulfilled and present and good about myself , then I 'm going to be a much more patient , loving , understanding mother and wife . You have to fill your glass so that everyone can drink from it . That 's how I feel . '' Why are we so quick to pass judgment the minute a mother professes to take time for herself ? Is there something wrong with that ? Admittedly , I have failed miserably when it comes to putting myself first ever since I became a mother more than eight years ago . Now , though , I see that `` me time '' has a direct correlation not only with my own mental health but my ability to be a good , loving and patient mother . So I say , `` You go girl , Gisele . '' I only wish I had the same clarity years ago when my kids were small that she seems to have now . But removing Gisele from the debate , why are we still as a society so quick to roll our eyes and say `` bad mother '' when a mom admits to making herself a priority ? `` Of course moms need to take care of themselves first , '' said Cecily Kellogg , a mom of a 7-year-old who writes for Babble.com and hosts a blog at Uppercase Woman . `` I am an individual first , and I happen to be lucky enough to have the job of also being a mom . But yes , self-care is critical . '' Kellogg said the Gisele controversy brought to mind a recent article titled `` How American Parenting is Killing the American Marriage , '' about how parenting has almost become a religion in the United States . That , she said , is part of the problem . `` I think motherhood in particular has been elevated by some elements of society to a religion full of zealots . '' We are too often told by society that we , as mothers , must be `` the martyr '' and put everyone 's needs and desires before our own , said Jennifer Bosse , a mom of two small children and founder of the blog Defining My Happy . `` We are supposed to go without for the sake of our family . It is implied that we have to give up our needs and passions to make room for others , '' she said . `` And unfortunately there are a lot of women who are guilted into believing that this is just the way it is . '' But what makes us better parents , said Micky Morrison , a mom of two and founder of BabyWeightTV , is taking time for ourselves . `` It 's not selfish . It 's as much a gift to our children as it is to ourselves to make ourselves happy . '' `` If I 'm sad , depressed or not feeling good about myself , ( it ) reflects on my kids . My daughter can sense when I 'm unhappy and then she gets sad , '' said Trina Small , mom of a 4-year-old and founder of the blog The Baby Shopaholic . `` Why should n't a mom take time for herself ? So many women , like Rebecca Hughes Parker , a mom of three , including 9-year-old twins , and an editor and attorney , admitted learning the `` hard way '' that taking care of one 's self does not preclude taking care of the children and being good at a job . In fact , as Hughes Parker says , `` It enhances both things . '' `` When I first had my twins and was working full time , I did not make time for myself at all , '' said Hughes Parker , who also has her own blog about parenting . `` I did not see friends , exercise , sleep or eat enough . It led to a back injury . '' After physical therapy , yoga and realizing `` more hours does not always mean better work , '' Hughes found herself much more centered when she had her third child six years later . Avital Normal Nathman , editor of the motherhood anthology `` The Good Mother Myth , '' said , `` We ca n't fully take care of others , if we 're not devoting time to ourselves , especially in a world that prescribes so many roles to women in particular -- worker , mother , wife , daughter , caregiver , homemaker , etc . '' That said , Norman Nathman and other mothers across the country said that while Gisele and other women of privilege have the means , which could include a `` bevy of help , '' to ensure their `` me time , '' that is not the case for most women today . `` The average woman simply does n't have the same support in terms of childcare and also lacks the funds for various forms of self-care that Gisele values , '' said Norman Nathman , a mom of a 7-year-old and host of the blog The Mamafesto . `` So , while the sentiment is lovely , the reality is very different for those not making a reported $ 128,000/day . '' Jennifer Alsip , a mom of two girls , ages 18 and 22 , said she never took care of herself before her kids . As a single mom on a budget , there were plenty of times when she would forgo buying new clothes for herself , and sometimes eat less when food was scarce , so that her kids could be taken care of . `` I do n't think Gisele Bundchen has ever been put in a position of being hungry ... or needing to clothe your kids for school but not having enough money to do it , so she would n't know that sacrifice of putting your kids first . '' There is no question that hearing the `` put yourself first '' parenting advice from someone who has every resource on the planet to put herself first strikes people as out of touch , but regardless of the source , I still think it gets to a core problem of modern parenting . The debate reminded me of the firestorm of criticism that erupted after author Ayelet Waldman , in a 2005 column for the popular `` Modern Love '' feature in `` The New York Times , '' said she loved her husband more than her children . Can you imagine what the response would have been if Bundchen admitted loving Brady more ? What do you think people are so quick to criticize parents who put themselves first ? Tell Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook .
Gisele Bundchen was criticized after saying she puts herself first in a recent interview . Taking care of herself , Bundchen says , makes her a better mother and wife . Many women across the country say the supermodel is 100 % right . Some women find it hard to take parenting advice from a woman who makes $ 128,000 per day .