There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a break from raising your kids. We all have our limits. We all need at least some privacy. We all want to spend some time on our other passions and hobbies, instead of giving 110% to raising a loving family, every single day for the next 18 years. Mother’s Day is a reminder about valuing moms all the time so that they don’t do the lion’s share of the chores.
Remember, parents aren’t just parents. And you can’t expect anyone to be enthusiastic about raising kids if they’re overwhelmed, exhausted, and dealing with so much anxiety that they’re finding it hard to get out of bed each morning. If you’re not sleeping, not eating well, and can’t find even a moment to exercise, work on your hobbies, or leave the house to meet a friend, something needs to change. And quickly!
Parents know that they perform at their best when they’re given at least some room to breathe. That will look different to different people. Some moms might have a brief heart-to-heart with their partners, asking them to pitch in more with the housework, for instance. Others might recruit everyone from their friends to their coworkers to help out with babysitting from time to time.
Others still may need to let go of their desire for being a ‘perfect’ parent, instead focusing on ‘good enough.’ Parenting should never be seen as a competition about who’s the ‘best’ mom in the neighborhood. Only burnout, frustration, and excessive expectations lie that way.
How are you celebrating Mother’s Day, dear Pandas? What traditions do you have at home? What gifts do you value the most on this occasion? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this, so feel free to drop by the comment section to share a few tidbits with the other readers.
