7 Things To Remind Yourself on Hard Motherhood Days

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The hard motherhood days seem to be coming too frequently. Here’s what to remind yourself whenever they get to be too much.

Is it just me, or does it seem like most every day can easily be classified as a “hard” one lately? And even when it’s not the whole day, there are moments that test you further than any high school math test ever did.

For instance, I just tried to explain to Branden how to load a dishwasher the correct way, after he finally brought down the plates and cups he had been hoarding in his room (what it is with teenage boys and doing this?!) and his response was that I “had too much crack chicken” for dinner the night before. Yeah, those moments make a mom crazy.

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But even deeper than that are the moments where we are running on empty. The moments where it doesn’t feel like anything will change or get better. The moments when there isn’t an end in sight or a comical approach to school our child in the importance of respect.

Living amidst a global pandemic also means that those days are more frequent than ever and when the only choice is to “just deal with it,” we start to lose pieces of ourselves in the chaos.

Sound like something you’ve been going through, mama?

10 Things To Remind Yourself on Hard Motherhood Days

I promise that my reminders have nothing to do with essential oils (though, you all know my love runs deeps for them), just some things that I’ve learned and advice that has been passed down to me.

1. Most things can wait until tomorrow.

True story. And I say this as a total Type A personality that gets incredibly restless whenever things aren’t done during the very second that I feel they need to be done. Most things (I say most because there are things that exist with a timeline…ahem…work from home moms you feel me?) can wait until tomorrow if need be.

2. Manage your mental health first.

We can’t do anything for anyone else if our mental health isn’t in check. Do what you need to do to help yourself.

3. The kids are going through a lot, too.

On a normal day, kids are going through a lot, and right now it’s even worse. I know you don’t need to be reminded of this, but kids act out to show that they are experiencing things like anxiety, anger, and frustration. They need just as much grace as we should be giving ourselves.

4. It’s okay to take a break from the kids.

Just walk away. Seriously. I don’t mean out the door and never come back, but taking breaks from your kids is incredibly healthy and something most moms don’t do enough of. Remind yourself that it’s okay to give yourself a timeout.

5. Limit the alcohol.

I know, I bet you didn’t expect to see this one on my list, but it’s here. Now I love my glass of wine at the end of the night, but getting stressed out because of a hard motherhood day and pouring yourself a big glass is a bad example for our little ones. They are always watching.

6. Focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t.

Some things are just so extremely out of our own control and giving yourself permission to just let go is the biggest reward, I promise.

7. Hug them, even whenever they are acting giving you a hard time.

This is just my friendly reminder that a big hug whenever a child is acting out goes a long way. Think of how good it feels to hug someone you love or loves you whenever you’re having a rough go at it. Try it. It might just make your whole hard motherhood day wash away.