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AdobeStock 120012429 tired mom sleepy e1537805897154 - Motherhood Center

Has becoming a mom made you tired. All the time? A tired that no amount of sleep or coffee or rest seem to cure? If so, you’re not alone.

Motherly has a great post on the never-ending mom fatigue and how to escape it, well, most of it:

Why is mommy tired?

I’m tired.

A phrase I’ve said almost every day since becoming a mother. I’ve said it to my kids, my husband and myself. It’s a shock to the system, how tiring motherhood is. There is truly no way to prepare.

And I’ve sure looked the part. That stereotypical stay-at-home mom in her pajamas, shuffling her feet though the produce section of the grocery store, shushing babies, appeasing toddlers, shoulders hunched and face ashen in exhaustion, looking like she’s completely given up—I’ve been her.

“Why are you tired?” Someone might say in return.

Why? Here’s why Mommy is tired.

At 3 a.m., one of you rustles in your sleep. Pushes off a blanket. I am jerked awake immediately.

Which one of you moved? Is something wrong? The neighbor was puking the other day, I’ll recall. Is one of you going to puke? What if you all get it? What if I get it? Next weekend is the baseball tournament and the school talent show. Oh no.

No. You’re all quiet now. No puke tonight.

But now that I’m wide awake, let’s think about stuff.

Did I make flu shot appointments? The 8-year-old needs new shoes before the talent show. And the 6-year-old needs a gift for that birthday party Saturday. Can’t forget. Maybe I should get up and write that on a post-it. And might as well check on all the kids while I’m up. Oh look, this one peed the bed.

Being a mom is a 24/7 job. Children require your attention mentally, emotionally, and physically. Even when they’re sleeping, there’s much needing tending.

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Somewhere in there is a line and its one that’s hard to keep sight of, that often times much of what we worry ourselves about is not as important as we make it out to be. Far more important is being present. Is enjoying our littles — their giggles and snuggles and quirks.

Sometimes, oftentimes, life is a much easier place when we surrender to the chaos of motherhood and just enjoy our lives, the mess, the dust, the piles of laundry, for the wonderful gifts they are.

I am tired of competing with the unrealistic version of who I think I should be.

I am tired of realizing at the end of the day that I was too tired to enjoy the giggles and tickles and hugs and snuggles.

But I vow to be less tired tomorrow.

Because I don’t want to look back and realize I missed it all.

I just need to go to bed early tonight.

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