It’s hard to accept the loss of self sometimes as a mother, and by no means does motherhood require a complete and utter sacrifice of our own individuality, but I don’t think that I should come before baby/child, or we as a family.
In my own little world, it’s ‘Happy Baby = Happy Mum.’ Even when I’m struggling and occasionally miserable because I have set aside my own wants and needs and happiness for my son’s, all it takes is one smile from him, or to have him lay his head on my shoulder and nuzzle into the side of my neck, or to watch him sleeping peacefully, or squealing with joy at the wall, to get over myself and realize how good I have it and how worthwhile it is to put his happiness before my own.