What's She Doing Now

Let’s talk about how completely overwhelming being a mom can truly be…it’s exhausting. It’s tough when you’re pregnant, when they’re little, and even when they are grown adults. Different, but still exhausting.

I feel like I have the authority to write this because I have a ton of kids and most of them are adults now. I really want to talk about the whole process and emotions that you go through.

Being pregnant is wild. It’s great for some, and awful for others. One thing is constant for all – the attention.

The attention isn’t always great – strangers talking to you and trying to touch your stomach and whatnot. You do get used to all the attention…and that can pose a problem.

Once you have the baby there’s a shift. Even if you don’t love attention, you do feel its absence. A lot of times it’s from the people you actually still need that attention from, even your partner.

That can be a really tough and confusing time for moms. You can get stuck in a really weird place of trying to find yourself and decide who you are now. You might even feel like you’re just someones mom now and no longer yourself.

It’s extremely important to communicate with your loved ones when this happens. Sometimes it’s going to suck, because it will change the way people view you. Let’s talk about how to work through it.

Therapy can work wonders. Couples therapy if you’re in a relationship. It’s a vulnerable time for you and you need the support.

Make sure you have some post ‘baby’ goals. Learning a new hobby, starting a new workout plan, anything! I think a lot of us get stuck because we don’t think of a next step. College, Marriage, Career, Baby…and we don’t see past it.

You shouldn’t be the only person handling all the things. You are also not responsible for everyone else’s feelings. As a mom we don’t have to fit everyone. Delegate and share some responsibilities.

The only thing you can do is try your best. Guess what? It’s never going to be perfect or good enough. It’s can’t be. Don’t beat yourself up – we have all been there.

I remember when I brought #3 home from the hospital. Two days later I got a call saying I missed #1’s doctor checkup. I totally cried myself to sleep.

Was it the end of the world? Of course not. Have I messed up a million times since then? Sure have. And I’m sure I’ll continue to do so.

If you’re out there and struggling, you’re not alone. The world puts a ton of pressure on moms, but it’s nothing compared to the pressure we put on ourselves.

Find a hobby, find a friend, and talk a jog. It’s all going to be okay. If you’re lucky you’ll do like I did and mess your kids up just enough to make them funny.