I have three children under the age of three! Whenever I leave my house with the three of them alone – whether it be the library, grocery store, or anywhere in between – I hear the comment, “Wow, you have your hands full!”
This remark used to make my blood boil! I’ve heard it from both men and women, young and old, even from other moms surrounded by their children. Hearing those words made me feel like I was doing something wrong. Especially since I put much thought and effort into packing them all up to go out and planning my escape route to and from the car (ok, I admit it…the minivan!) I felt like people could see how out of control I felt.
When I mentioned my feelings to friends and family, the overall consensus was that I was being too sensitive. I blame my raging hormones and lack of sleep. But now that it’s a new year, I’m going to embrace that comment and accept that my hands are indeed full. My resolution for this year is to let go of some of my mommy guilt!
1. I won’t feel guilty about feeding my toddler macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets for dinner three nights in a row….especially if it is served with a bag of frozen veggies.
2. I won’t feel guilty that most nights, my playroom looks like a bomb went off, as long as there is a clear path to walk to the laundry room.
3. I won’t feel guilty that I sometimes put my kids to bed a little earlier, especially if my oldest has skipped his nap.
4. I won’t feel guilty that I haven’t responded to emails or phone calls because I was busy playing with my kids.
5. I won’t feel guilty about taking an extra five minutes longer in the shower because I know the door is locked.
Although my hands are full and I often feel completely overwhelmed, my heart is full of love. Each night I kiss my babies goodnight; I can honestly say I did my best for them. I might not be supermom, but as long as they think I am, I must be doing something right. So next time you see me out and about with my three kids, feel free to acknowledge how crazy my life might be!
Such a great post Michelle! You are definitely a Supermon!
Thanks Elysa! I think we feel so guilty as moms because of the pressure we put on ourselves. I need to acknowledge more frequently that I’m doing the best I can.
I can’t even imagine life with 3 under 3! I serve Annie’s mac and cheese at least twice a week. It’s called survival.