Before everyone jumps off their high horse to beat me with a guilt stick for writing about this I want you to know this doesn’t mean I’m ungrateful or that I don’t love the tiny little humans that I’ve created. It just means that there are days I’d rather come home from a long day at work and sit on the couch with a bowl of cheez-its and watch Dr. Phil than put on my mom hat and deal with toddler tantrums. So, with that said, here it goes…
One Of Those Days
Have you ever had days that you just didn’t feel like being a mom or mom-ing? The days where your mind, body, or heart just isn’t in it? The days that you’re so damn tired, overwhelmed, or just feeling down for whatever reason that you’d rather just give your kids cereal for dinner and let them hit each other than actually make dinner and enforce table manners. I’ve had a few of those lately, and hundreds more since becoming a mom. There are days I get the kids home and it’s like the gates of hell have opened and the kids unleash the fury that they’ve bottled up inside of them all day at school. Those are the days I don’t feel like mom-ing.
By the time I get home from work some days I feel like I’m already in my final round of the fight. At that point I’ve been up for what feels like 45 hours and I’m physically and mentally spent and then I come home and continue to get beat down by my kids. We get home and they throw their jackets on the floor and their shoes remain wherever they were when they took them off. Meanwhile I’m following behind them picking up their things like I’m Anne Hathaway working for Miranda in the Devil Wears Prada. As I continue to pick up each article of clothing a little part of what’s left in my soul falls onto the floor. All I can think about is how badly I need a nap and want to catch up on one of my favorite shows.
Instead, I have to muster up the energy from God only knows where it comes from to quickly make the kids something for dinner. I would otherwise just eat cereal but I know the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I’ve been giving them all week for lunch doesn’t provide optimal nutrition. I also know if I don’t feed them shortly after getting home my son will turn into Jack Jack from Incredibles 2 and start screaming until his face turns red and I can see his tonsils vibrate. So, off I go to quickly heat up leftovers or make gourmet mac-n-cheese…and by gourmet I mean organic. Once dinner is ready my next objective is to get them fed as quickly as possible so that I can get them to bed. I love my kids to death, but I’m not sad when they go to bed.
I Miss Naps
Remember the days when you could come home from work, change into your high school sweatpants, and lay in bed or take a nap? I remember coming home to watch Dr. Phil. Or, I’d take a nap until about 6:30 or so and then get up to be a good wife and make dinner for my husband so he had something else to come home to besides his homeless looking wife. Naps are the #1 thing I miss the most about my pre-kid days. The luxury I once had that I took for granted of napping when I wanted for however long I wanted is something I long for now. There are a lot of days I wake up and immediately think about bed time. You can do this, I tell myself, only 14 more hours until you’re back in bed.
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Motherhood is Hard
How come no one tells you how mentally taxing motherhood is going to be? All I knew going into it was that sleep sucked and my boobs would hurt from breastfeeding. There are days that I just want to fall to my knees and surrender. I give up! Take me! Take me to my bed and let me nap! No matter how many times I tell myself that tomorrow I’ll be a “better mom,” it never fails that each day I have my moments I wish I could take back. It’s like the diet that we’ve all started over each Monday for the past few years. Monday. Monday I’m going to start eating better. It never fails that as the sun starts to set each night so does the mom guilt from that day. All I know is I’m doing the best I can, and I hope that my kids will grow up one day and remember that.
We’ve got this, mamas!
If you liked what you read, you can check out my post Dear Tired Mama.
Victoria says
Great read! We all have to talk more about days like this so we DOnt feel alone. Parenting is hard!
Dori Kennedy says
kristi kristi kristi – i’m pretty sure there isn’t a mom out there that hasn’t had the exact same feelings you are writing about. so, as you know, i was a stay at home mom. i’m sure there are plenty of working mothers who think i had it easy. to the contrary – i was home alllll day with the kids. i had to keep the activity going to prevent your brains from turning to mush. of course when you guys were little, there wasn’t all this social media nonsense that i had to deal with – thank goodness for that!! LIKE I’VE SAID SO MANY TIMES, BEING A PARENT IS THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD. YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND PRAY YOUR KIDS TURN OUT OKAY. I CAN SAY THIS FOR A FACT – I COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF THE WOMAN YOU HAVE BECOME. YOU ARE AN AMAZING, CARING, THOUGHTFUL, KIND, FUNNY, INTELLIGENT AND EXTREMELY TIRED TIRED WOMAN WHO DESERVES NOTHING BUT THE BEST. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK – YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!! LOVE YOU 🙂
Jennie from four to love says
I hear you! Being a mom can be so exhausting and demanding. how about the days when you are feeling sick? That is the worst! Motherhood is definitely an exercise in sacrifice. But it is also life-affiRming, in a way, to be so very needed!
Khusbu says
GirL i feel like this most days
Brandi says
Amen sister! I have those days too when I feel like I can’t “MOM” and need a break. I miss sleep the most too. Someday, we will sleep again. Ha!
Shannah says
Can totally telate on so many different occasions! But They will remember that You were dOing the best Especially when they have theri own kids!
Annie says
oh my goodness! I think we can all relate to not feeling like being a mom today at some point (many points?) In our lives. First of all, you are hilarious and captured the essence of motherhood so vividly. Thanks for making me giggle and providing humor and comfort on this crazy journey called motherhood.
Megan Beaver says
I can relate to this so mUch. This is why I stay up later than everyone else and just watch tv or read. HaVing that time to myself at has made those hard days easier to get throUgh. I realised that taking that me time also helps me Unwind so i can sleep. It does get better. Hang in there mAma.
Latoya says
Great read! I’ve definitely had one of those days. being a mom is an exhausting job, but it’s also so rewarding.
Sonja - Too Much Character says
I get it, mama. That pre-dinnertime meltdown time is a challenge for all mamas. It feels like kids are the neediest then and everyone is hangry. What I would give for naps!
Hollye says
This is such a real and raw post. I know if we are all honest we have definatelt felt this way more than once. Motherhood is the hardest Job there is!! Great post!
Abby says
exactly what all us mummas feel! it really is so tough and so rewarding at the same time. great post. i miss naps too. sleeping when they sleep isn’t always possible is it haha
Suhasini says
Yup we all need those break days
LAUREN says
I’VE HAD SO MANY OF THOSE DAYS RECENTLY LOL. MOM LIFE IS ROUGH SOMETIMES!
Monica says
There are a lot of days like this. sleep is what i long for most days. but you’re right, we got this. we’re moms. that means we’re amazing.
Mandy says
It is hard and tiring, but SOOO worth it!
Meredith says
I mean my kids watChed parts of both incredibles movies today. YiKes. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!
Alison | Moving Mountains With Motherhood says
Motherhood is hard! there are definitely days i do not feel like being a mom, but its all worth it at the end of the day.
Lisa says
I’ve only got 1 little man – a one year old. So I’ve had a few days like this, but I know there will be more when there are more kids. And it’s okay to feel that way sometimes! I hope the next day is better for you!
maria@everydaymomsquad.com says
Oh my god, yes! I feel like THIS TOO SOME DAYS! oBVIOUSLY I LOVE MY KIDS AND BEING A MOM, BUT BEING A MOM IS SUCH A ROLLER COAST OF EMOTIONS!
Lorena @ www.lorenaylennox.com says
I miss naps so much, well sleep in general. I am having an “I don’t want to mom day’ as we speak.
Christine says
I honestly think it does So much Good for us to be able To admit when We have These Days. Pretending To be SUper mom who IS always happy And Excited To have our life revolve around Someone else just isnt SUSTAINABLE, or realistic!! Thank you for sharing how you feel and in turn helping other mamas do the Same. We’re all in this TOGEther!
Elizabeth | Tired Mom Supermom says
Motherhood IS hard! Sometimes it feel like covering my head under the blankets and just tune out all the chaos. i currently battle a really destructive 3 year old! Cleaning one mess and another one pops up in a different room….its constant! but it gets easier, my oldest had the same stage and it got better by 4 so im not worried. i have great friends who i can rant to about the crazyness and they tell me the same kind of stories. we are in this together!
Alexa says
i feel you! Its like i wrote this myself. And it’s funny because I’m currently in my bedroom eating cheezits while hiding from my little mOnSters. I think maybe We’re the same person haha. Wonderful read!
Kbahgat says
Cheez-its are life!
Katie @ Teacher and the tots blog says
This is a great post! Thanks for hour honesty and for sharing the hard days, too. I know ive had these! It makes it easier to know other moms do too.
Ya says
Motherhood is one of the most mentally, emotionally and physically draining “job” ive ever had. I def have my days where i really dont feel like Being a ,Mom. Thats why it is important to get “me” time
Jessica says
I feel ya theRe all right! I have so many days like this. Being a mom all day eVery day without a break it just plain exhausting! Some days i feel like i do all the INVISIBLE things. If i didnt do them though, people would sure notice then!!
Brandy Wilcoxen says
I usually get that feeling about a dozen times a day. You are not alone!
anna says
Taking a mom break is important…being a mom is like a job that you cannot quit or be fired from. You just keep rolling, but take care of yourself first!
Megan says
I feel ya, mama! some days are definitely harder than others.
Melissa says
This job is surely not for the faint of heart. Gather a community of other moms and band together to support eachother on those super hard days.
Erin Apple says
I can totally Relate!! I think every mom has been there for sure. Being a mom is the best thing in the world but it can also be so exhausting and so haRd. I have been having those moments a lot lately whEre mom guilt sets in and i feel bad for feeling weAk. But i wouldnt trade it for the worLd.