I know why you are exhausted. It’s because you are giving. It’s because you are cleaning. It’s because you are watching. It’s because you are working.
You pour your coffee every morning knowing you’ll probably never get to finish it without microwaving it five times. Someone needs you, wants you, or is talking to you. Always.
You are inevitably pulled in several different directions as the sun slowly wakes from her slumber
Sometimes you get up early — in the darkness — just to take a hot shower or drink your coffee in peace. Sometimes you stay up way too late just so you can take a quiet breath.
I know why you are exhausted. It’s because you are worrying. It’s because you are questioning. It’s because you are confused. It’s because you are learning.
You struggle to get everyone to where they need to be on time. You often rush around like a maniac and then wonder what it’s all for.
You scold others for not doing as they were told. You sometimes cry in utter frustration, because no one seems to be listening. You feel like you explain the same thing over — a thousand times over.
You keep trying to do what you think is the best thing. You step up to the plate, again and again, to give it another shot.
I know why you are exhausted. It’s because you are negotiating. It’s because you are planning. It’s because you are arguing. It’s because you are yelling.
You wake up every day telling yourself you’ll be calm. You tell yourself won’t lose your sh*t or yell and scream. You tell yourself you’ll meditate or do yoga — find your “zen.”
But you don’t. You get busy. You have to go somewhere — be somewhere. You get distracted. You get frustrated. You yell.
You sometimes compare yourself to other moms thinking you’ve lost the race. You think you’ve lost the race of who’s the calmest, the most organized, or the most energetic.
But all the other moms are running their own race in their minds. They have their own battles, worries and torrential fears of failure. The other moms are exhausted too, even the ones who look flawless. Appearances can be utterly deceiving.
I know why you are exhausted. It’s because you are comparing. It’s because you are self-defeating. It’s because you’re having a bad week, day, hour, or moment.
You are a mom. You are everything to everyone. You get tired — as you should. You get scared — as you should. You get frustrated — as you should. Being a mom is not for the faint-hearted.
You’re not failing because you are exhausted.
You’re exhausted because you revolve your life around your family by planning, supporting, working, cleaning, driving, helping, hugging, kissing, mending, and bending over backward to adapt to every change, every challenge, and every choice.
You are a mom. A glorious, messy, smart, frazzled, wondrous, confused, determined mom.
More from Michelle: 3 Ways To Manage Conflicting Parenting Styles With Your Partner
You can visit Michelle at her blog, The Pondering Nook discussing relationships, marriage, divorce, parenting, step-parenting &more! You can also catch Michelle co-hosting at The Broad’s Way Podcast. Feel free to follow The Pondering Nook on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram & Twitter.