When It’s All Too Much
I wrote this blog essay after a really long and trying day as a Mama to three littles. I’m sharing it with you all almost one year later. I hope it provides you some comfort, perhaps you can relate to my words and maybe, just maybe, it will make you smile.
“It’s Their Day, Too”, a quote I came across as I was scrolling Instagram after what felt like the longest (and hardest) parenting day I have endured thus far. My day started off with being woken by a crying baby at 5:00 a.m. Not completely out of the ordinary for having a baby in the house, however, we had just finished sleep training and my youngest finally started sleeping (mostly) through the night. It wasn’t the 5 a.m. alarm clock that bothered me (setting my alarm early and waking well before my three children did was a practice I instituted months ago), however it was the abrupt crying through my bedroom camera that got me.
If I’m being honest, the day sort of spiraled after that. It was hard to get ready with a baby that wanted to be fed and I just needed to get dressed and somewhat presentable to drop off my two oldest to Preschool. Not long after, my two toddlers came out of their room, slightly grumpy and hungry. Breakfast is typically a bit of a spectacle around here, but today it felt more chaotic. My daughter dropped her glass of milk on the floor, I didn’t cut my son’s toast in the right shapes, and you know that crying baby that woke me up? He refused to let me spoon feed him so I gave up and just let him self feed himself from the bowl (I’m sure you can just imagine the outcome). After I tried to clean the kitchen disaster, it was time to get dressed, brush teeth and get out the door so we wouldn’t be late for Preschool. My daughter refused to let me help her get her shoes and jacket on (as I kept staring at my watch realizing we should have been loaded in the van 10 minutes ago). We finally get loaded, and arrive only a few minutes late (I’m usually always early). Say goodbye, and rush home to get my youngest down for his morning nap. He falls asleep on the way home (a mother’s nightmare) and the transfer did not go well…there goes my to-do list for the short 2.5 hours I had in the morning before picking up the big kids from Preschool. Back in the van to pick the kids up from school, and here we are again, in the kitchen for another meal time disaster. How did afternoon naps go? Don’t even ask. I look at the clocks, it’s only 2:00 p.m, three more hours until my husband arrives home. I load my youngest up in the stroller and let the toddlers ride their bikes to the park. That trip was relatively uneventful until it was time to come home (remember that nap they all missed?) I look at the clock again thinking three hours at least must have passed…it’s only 3:05 p.m. The rest of the day’s events included a huge mess of Play-Doh in the basement, an irritable teething baby that only wanted to be held, and two toddlers who wanted the same toy at the exact same time. As soon as my husband came through the door, he jumped right in – I didn’t even need to say anything, the look on my face said it all. After what felt like an eternity, I found just enough energy to get through supper and bedtime routine (barely). I plop my body on my bed, and instead of closing my eyes, I grab my phone and mindlessly start scrolling Instagram – “It’s Their Day, Too” I read. I stopped, scrolled back, and read again.
Just like that, my perspective changed. What felt like the longest, hardest and possibly the least fun day of parenting I have experienced, actually was probably a really great day from my children’s perspective. I think as parents it’s too easy to get wrapped up in the “hard” of your own day and forget that it’s not just your day…it’s their day, too. As I replayed the day in my head I slowly started picking up the pieces and realizing what a good day it truly was. My youngest got comforted the moment he woke up when he wanted extra cuddles. My toddlers were laughing at the breakfast table as my youngest was making them laugh with his baby giggles. I got to hear about all the great things my oldest learned at Preschool, and how excited my daughter was that it was her “special day” at Preschool. Since there was no nap, that meant an impromptu park visit which included the best kind of squeals and laughter! While I fed the baby, my toddlers got to have fun making a mess in the Play-Doh! Pasta for supper is always their favourite, and I surprised them with a new bath toy at bedtime. There were lots of cuddles, hugs and kisses at the end of the day. And even though I felt so exhausted and on the verge of tears, my babies went to sleep with smiles on their faces and lots of love in their hearts.
So Mama’s, remember this when you’re having a similar day like the one I had above, “It’s their day, too”, and I bet it was a pretty great one!