If you want to feel better about your parenting skills…keep on reading.
I love being a mom.
LOVEEEE it.
It is one of the hardest but most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life.
— I have cried while getting dressed.
1. because everything had baby spit up on it
2. because I don’t know what fits or what doesn’t fit at this point.
3. because I look in the mirror some days and only see a tired mommy
and not the young fresh faced girl I feel like I used to be.
— Sometimes I feel like I say….
no. stop. don’t do that. time out. slow down. don’t put that in your mouth. don’t fight. get out of the cupboard. don’t lick that. no your brother isn’t a motorcycle. talk quieter. get out of the bathroom. don’t pull her hair. go to sleep. put your clothes back on. go to bed please…….
WAY too many times a day.
It makes me want to go bonkers. seriously bonkers.
–I have felt overwhelmed.
–I have felt incapable
–I have felt like a failure
–I have felt like my brain was going to burst from the noise in this house.
–My laundry room has a mountain of dirty laundry.
–My bedroom has a mountain of clean laundry.
–at one point this week every single room had laundry in it.
–Many mornings I choose keeping the kids alive and the
house from burning down instead of showering.
–I have texted my husband,
while he is at work, that I was losing my mind.
the text sometimes starting with “blah sdhfjkhsjdkfdhjs”
this happens more often then I want to admit.
–Sometimes I don’t have time to wash my hair for a couple days.
thank goodness for dry shampoo.
–I’m TIRED. a lot.
I always wanted to be a mom. since I was a little girl!
One thing no one ever told me…was how TIRED you will be as a parent.
Think cramming for finals times a million……haha.
But the crazy thing about “parenting exhaustion”…
is that it can suddenly be easy to handle in one sweet moment with your child.
a hug.. a giggle.. a reach for you.. it makes you forget how worn you feel…
and gives you the biggest feeling of peace.
Just knowing you are everything to that child. and this is what God is wanting from you.
THREE KIDS.
Sometimes it’s easier to stay home… sometimes it’s easier to take them out!
I just have to prepare myself mentally before I go.
I will be slower than I WANT to be.
I will probably think at one point I wish I didn’t make this decision. haha.
BUT… I have gotten better at taking the whole gang out.
We once went to target. I didn’t have my k’tan wrap… So I was carrying micah on my hip and the girls were in the cart. we got a lot of stares. and a lot of “you are brave!” “you have your hands full!” “do you need help?”…. my reply was “oh they are being angels right now! this is a good trip.” ;) which they were. I think silly straw bribery worked.
I have learned how to juggle them better.
Micah goes in the wrap. each girl gets a hand.
We have our system down, even though sometimes things get a little crazy and I’ll be holding a melting down sienna while micah is in the wrap.
And that is when I get chuckles and stares from passerby’s. soo fun!
Cure to any hard day… baby giggles.
You can’t help but be happy when you hear them and see a jolly face.
I am learning to accept and not be so hard on myself.
But many days I wish that I could have been a better mommy…a better wife..
Sometimes I wish I trusted in God more.
Every day I pray for more patience.
I have the peace of knowing this is exactly where God wants me to be…
Now I just need to be realistic in my expectations that I set for myself.
I can do this. with HIS help. and maybe a case of diet dr pepper.
Tiera Smarr
May 8, 2013 at 11:48 pmI just loved this! I have seen your website and liked your facebook. my thoughts are mom of three and so cute. you always look up beat. but it is nice to know there are other moms out there that feel the same as me lol thanks for sharing!
Doing It My Way
May 8, 2013 at 11:56 pmThanks for writing this and letting me know Im not alone!
Brenda P
May 8, 2013 at 11:57 pmAww, your kids are too cute! It’s amazing how you can go from exhausted and frustrated to extremely happy with a little giggle or smile from your kids! :-)
Brenda P
May 8, 2013 at 11:59 pmI think moms need to be more honest with each other every day! Mothering can be hard, but the giggles are worth it. :-)
Rainy Dawn
May 9, 2013 at 12:04 amThanks for sharing, I’m a new mom as of about 7 months ago and it’s nice to hear from other mothers. I can tell that you’re a wonderful mother just from how much you clearly love those three cuties. You are beautiful and you have a beautiful family!
Lauren and Joe O'Brien
May 9, 2013 at 12:19 amThis is my favorite post that you have written because it is so honest and I can totally relate. Especially to when you say most days you wish you were more patient and a better wife and a better mom. And in spite of the hard times, you know this is where God wants you to be. I feel that way all the time. You are such an inspiration having 3 little ones.
Olga Mcdowall
May 9, 2013 at 12:38 amYou are not alone! I am not far behind you, catching up with just two little ones (did I REALLY just say JUST TWO!?!), so I am close to understanding the extend of your tiredness! I will advise you, just like I advise myself, “Hang in there! It’s worth it!”
Angela
May 9, 2013 at 1:34 amIt is darn hard! But you are doing it. I always say… my house is not a dollhouse, there’s actual kids living in there so it is impossible to get it all clean and done! I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old, both girls and will have a baby boy in sept just like you, and I will probably save this post to read again when “I’m in trouble” !! Thnx for sharing and being so open!
xxx
Caroline @ chocolate and carrots
May 9, 2013 at 6:20 amI don’t know how you do it with three munchins. With just one, I’m feeling all of those same feelings. I agree with you though, as soon as Liam smiles at me or does something cute, I forget about it all. It makes it all worth while. Thank goodness for naps and smiles. :-) You’re an INCREDIBLE mother and your children are so blessed to have you.
Diana
May 9, 2013 at 6:23 amI agree that dry shampoo can be a life saver. I always wanted to be a stay at home mome until I was on maternity leave. I truly enjoy going to work and coming home to Kate. You seem to be handling this really well, dirty laundry and all. Your family is beautiful.
Jodi
May 9, 2013 at 6:56 amI honestly don’t know how you and all the other moms do it. Such a hard job! And in top of parenting there are so many other chores that I hardly have time to do w/I kids!! :)
Your kids are adorable and your honesty is wonderful!
Rachel K
May 9, 2013 at 6:58 amlove this, 100% where I am at too. Some days I cope, some days I don’t.In fact, I have post-natal depression and am on a (very low dosage) anti-depressants. And I only have 2… my 6-month old Micah’s smiles also keep me sane!! So much to relate to and I every day I remind myself that God loves my kids more than I do but He still chose me to be their Mamma so I will trust Him to give me the wisdom, patience, grace & extra love I need to raise those boys!… ps. I actually have started freaking out when I run out of dry shampoo – thinking of bulk buying!
A Mom's Journey of Faith
May 9, 2013 at 7:14 amThank you so much for sharing! It’s so easy to forget we are not alone in this motherhood journey! It was a great reminder to start my day!
Anonymous
May 9, 2013 at 8:22 amBravo! The world will be a better place because there are children raised by you two in it! Peeps raised with love and creativity and faithfulness…Thanks for sharing. God Bless!
-Lauren
May 9, 2013 at 8:25 amThis was beautifully written and so perfect. It sometimes just makes me feel better to know I am not alone and somewhere out there another mom is feeling just as crazy as I am!
jimmie lee
May 9, 2013 at 8:42 amI think you are beautiful! And even though you feel tired, you don’t look it, like at all. Keep up the good work momma! This gig is not for whimps :) You got this!
Christina
May 9, 2013 at 9:08 amI needed to see this today. I have 2 children, Tyler is 6 and Shelby is 2. They are a handful! I work outside of the home and some days I wish they would go to bed early! There’s just not enough time to cook, clean, do laundry, give baths, put both of them to bed (several times) and then still have some quiet time! It’s rough and I also look in the mirror and think about how much I’ve changed and how tired I look. Following your blog I think how can she make it look so easy and my life is so chaotic and out of control sometimes–well now I know that it’s not always like that for any mom! Thank you.
Stephanie McPherson
May 9, 2013 at 9:39 amYou are such an inspiration! I absolutely love your blog. You have a beautiful, awesome little family. And you are stunning!
I only have one crazy 2 year old and I work full time outside of the home and she still drives me bonkers some days!! Bless her. I’m hoping if The Lord ever blesses us with another that she will calm down just a tad. I feel like she and your Sienna would be fast friends! ;)
Trisha Millward
May 9, 2013 at 10:29 amI only have one son at this point and I already know how you feel! You’re doing a great job!
Anonymous
May 9, 2013 at 10:40 amAmen!! I have three kids too! 4,3, and 18 mos (still not walking). We’re a Catholic family too!
I loved this! Thanks!! So very true. Every point, especially the laundry.. mine is currently taking over my living room (clean) and dirty is mating as I speak in all bedrooms and down the hallway…. My husband has been away for almost two weeks for work and he did receive a sobbing crying phone call at 2am… which then woke up the two oldest, so we all cried on the phone with Daddy at $.50 a minute. It was worth it!
Very true on going out and staying in. Wow… now I don’t feel so crazy. We are normal. I’m sure of it! ps. I use flylady.net to help me control my house (wouldn’t know it this week though…)
Have a great day! Thanks again for the chuckle!
Mandy@ a sorta fairytale
May 9, 2013 at 11:18 amLove your honesty! I feel this way a lot, too, and only with 2 kiddos. So for that, you are my hero!
BTW, I miss your face so much!
Olivia
May 9, 2013 at 11:31 amWhat a gorgeous family you have! Thanks for your honesty about the joys and struggles of motherhood- your devotion to your family is obvious! And yes, the Good Lord and a good beverage does a world of good for the soul! :)
Andrea Worley
May 9, 2013 at 12:41 pmloved reading this. thanks for sharing your honest heart today, i think a lot of moms can relate to this. i know i can, i know i needed to read this today.
Valerie Scott
May 9, 2013 at 1:34 pmI absolutely LOVED reading this post. I feel these same things almost daily some days more than others and I only have one little boy, 16 months. I am learning to just go with the flow but its hard sometimes. Those smiles and hugs definitely make you forget the rough moments.
Laura @ The Everyday Joys
May 9, 2013 at 2:23 pmOh, can I ever relate to this post, with a toddler and a newborn. I don’t recall the “tired” part so much with the first, but the newborn is much worse at sleeping… ;) So, I’m feeling it. In fact, my eyes were burning from lack of sleep as I read this. Baha. :)
Vivi
May 9, 2013 at 3:56 pmThank you!!
Camille DiPaola
May 9, 2013 at 9:36 pmreally good post, Natalie. I only have one and I feel like all of the above often- I may be coming back here when I have 2+…crying and asking you what the heck am I supposed to do?? haha. Oh man. Motherhood. Quite the journey. x.
Mandy Rose
May 9, 2013 at 9:50 pmI love you Natalie! I think this sums up exactly how I feel day in and day out. So tired, but so worth it! XOXO Great post friend!
Anonymous
July 6, 2013 at 7:03 pmHi Natalie, i´m a mom of two boys (3 and 6) and you´re from Portugal. I really love your blog (sorry my english) and its funny to see that in differente countries and cultures it´s everything the same – hard work and hapiness. I always thougth that your life was perfetc (your pictures show that), but today (and what a day) i saw this post that show me that we all have BAD days, but at the end of the day i always feel guilty because the things i said and do…i really need to be more patient…
Ashley Lassetter
July 15, 2013 at 2:44 pmAMEN! :) that is all!