Did you yell too much today? Me too. My throat kind of hurts, actually.
When’s the last time you showered? I think it was Saturday for me. Honestly, I can’t remember.
Did you remember to brush your teeth today? I didn’t brush my teeth until bedtime last night.
I scolded my kids in Target for not listening. And despite the dirty looks, I couldn’t keep my composure.
Are you excited school has started back up? I am. Should I feel bad about that? Maybe. But I don’t.
Because mama, it’s hard. It’s hard when you’re on duty 24/7 without a break. Even if you have a break, you don’t really have a break. You’re always worrying about everyone’s well being and trying to keep yourself together in the process.
Truth is, motherhood isn’t easy. And while I love the snuggles, the giggles, and cute baby rolls, there are so many things that make it hard. The constant fighting. The back-talking. The disobedience. The “mommy be bad to me” or “I want a new mommy” when you’re trying to teach them a lesson.
The struggle between working and being present. Whether you work outside the home or at home, you’re never present enough, are you? You’re always facing that mom guilt at the end of the day when you tuck them into bed. Every mom knows that feeling. You’re counting down the minutes until lights out and then the minute all is quiet, you miss them. You question if you did all you could do or if you overreacted when they threw their peas or called you a ‘poopy face’. The struggle is real.
To all the strugglin’ mamas out there, you’re not alone. No one is expecting you to be perfect. You’ve got a lot on your shoulders and everyone appreciates you. Now you just need to appreciate yourself. Cut yourself some slack. Because as far as everyone else is concerned, you’re Superwoman. And even if you don’t believe it, you are.
It’s okay to need a vice. Maybe it’s time at the gym or sitting on your couch with a bottle glass of wine. You need time for you and you shouldn’t feel bad about it. I know people say “the house can wait” or “the dishes can be done later.” But you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to clean your house. There’s a time for being with your kids and there’s time to take care of the house. Plus, the kids need to learn to play by themselves too. Don’t feel guilty for wanting to pick up your house or do some laundry. I promise, that doesn’t make you a bad mom.
We’re all just doing the best we can. But motherhood is a struggle and I promise, you’re not alone. As long as you take care of yourself and love your babies something fierce, you’re doing it right. Never second guess yourself or let anyone else tell you otherwise either.
Because you mama, struggle and all, are doing a wonderful job.