“Today was one of those days.
Nothing too out of the ordinary happened today. Just life. Normal things. But for some reason, it just felt overwhelming today. It just seemed like SO MUCH.
Somehow I ended up with pink eye two weeks after both kids had it.
Both of the kids cried the entire way home from the sitter. And not just whimpers – ear-piercing cries. The ‘I’m beyond being calmed down’ cry. You know the one.
Henry, my 3-year-old, had a temper tantrum in the front yard as soon as I got him out of the car. I was attempting to get to the door while carrying the baby, diaper bag, my purse, and my work laptop while walking up our cobblestone path in high heels. That is a job in itself. But then, I also had a tiny human lying in the grass kicking and screaming words I could not make out. I think I heard something about me being a bad mommy. Go figure.
So you know what I did? I completely lost it. LOST IT. I kicked off my high heels. I sat the baby carrier, computer, purse, and the diaper bag in the grass in the front yard and growled, ‘Get in the house. NOW!’ I even angled my body toward the door and pointed. He got the mom look. My mom eyes were out in full force. I probably looked like an angry cartoon with steam coming out of my ears.
It was then I looked up and saw the neighbor across the street watching me. Well, sh*t. She gave me a wave and yelled, ‘I remember those days!’
I honestly do want to thank you, neighbor, for reminding me we all go through this. And that one day I will miss my 3-year-old throwing a temper tantrum in the front yard because he can’t fit a dinosaur into his frog backpack.
The night continued on the track of hectic. But you know what, life is always hectic! I have two small kids. I work full time. My husband works full time.
I finally sat down after the kids were in bed and just put my head in my hands. I just felt defeated. There was so much to do and I was feeling totally exhausted and overwhelmed. The house was a disaster. We were leaving for vacation soon and the laundry wasn’t done. There was a pile of dishes in the sink. I hadn’t even thought about packing. I had work stuff I needed to get done before vacation. I could hear Henry jumping on his bed. Hospital bills from having the baby were starting to arrive and stare me down from the coffee table.
So, I took a deep breath and lay down on the couch for a minute. I went over everything I had to do and the overwhelming feeling caught my chest again.
And then I realized, what the hell are you so overwhelmed about?
The temper tantrum is over. It will happen again. That’s life. Your kid is three. He’s wild, but he’s healthy. Good set of lungs on that one.
The house is a mess. Big deal. The house is always a mess. It will be clean one day for about twenty minutes before it is messy again.
I was worried about the laundry that needed to be done for vacation. VACATION! I was about to go on a freaking vacation!
The dishes would take ten seconds to throw in the dishwasher.
Henry can jump on his bed. At least it will wear him out. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably not.
Yes, I have bills to pay. But those bills are from having a beautiful little baby boy who is sleeping peacefully in his crib. And, I have a great job that helps me pay those bills.
So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, mama, don’t give up. Because those things that overwhelm you are the things that make life worth living. You have babies that make you lose your sh*t sometimes. You have a home that needs to be cleaned. You have food to eat that makes those dishes dirty. You have bills to pay, and yes, you might be on a payment plan with the hospital but at least it doesn’t charge interest.
So, don’t give up. You will have good days. You will have bad days. You will have great days. You will have horrible days. Don’t ever let overwhelming feelings get you down. Because when it all seems to be falling apart, you will have moments of clarity to remind you how lucky you really are.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Jamie J. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
Read more stories like this:
Provide strength and encouragement for other parents. SHARE this story on Facebook!