I try to do everything right, but there are days when I just can’t handle it all. It frustrates me when my son needs something and I’m too tired to play with him or even help him with little things. Sometimes I just hand him my phone so I can get a break, and then I feel guilty. I look at other moms who seem to have it all together and wonder why I struggle so much. I want to be better for my son, but sometimes I feel like it’s just not enough
Omg, I could have written this myself. The guilt is so real, and it feels like no matter what we do, it’s never enough. I’m constantly looking at other moms who seem to be handling things so much better than I am, and I wonder what’s wrong with me. But I also know we only see their highlight reels, not the moments when they lose their patience or feel exhausted too. You are not alone in this. Being a mom is hard, and sometimes just surviving the day is enough. Your little one loves you, even on the days you’re running on fumes
I hear you. Some days I feel like I’m killing it, and other days I’m just barely holding on. The exhaustion is real, and it’s not just physical, it’s mental, emotional, all of it. I don’t have an answer or a fix, but I just want you to know I get it. You are not a bad mom. You’re a tired, loving, trying your best mom. And honestly, that’s all our kids need
Oh man, this is hitting me hard. I do the same thing with the phone and feel awful about it. I see these moms who plan out arts and crafts and sensory activities, and I’m just over here hoping I can get through the day without losing my patience.
I keep wondering, do those supermoms ever struggle too? Are they just really good at hiding it? Or am I actually just worse at this than I thought? Like, where do they find the energy? I love my kid more than anything, but I’m so drained all the time. Do any of you actually feel like you’ve got this figured out, or are we all just winging it??
I’ve been exactly where you are, and I want to tell you something I wish I had believed earlier: You are a good mom. The fact that you care this much, that you worry about being enough, means you are enough.
A therapist once told me something that changed my perspective, kids don’t need a perfect parent; they need a good enough parent. Giving your child your phone for a little while so you can breathe doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you’re human.
One thing that helped me was setting small, guilt, free boundaries. I started telling my kid, Mommy needs 10 minutes to rest, and then we’ll play. And I actually took those 10 minutes without feeling like I was failing. When I came back, I was a little more patient, a little more present. It’s not about doing everything perfectly; it’s about doing what you can, when you can. And that’s enough
I used to feel exactly like this, and I still do sometimes. But I started making a few small changes that helped a lot. Maybe they can help you too?
Screen Time Without Guilt: Instead of feeling bad about using the phone, I started using it with my child. We watch a short video together or pick an interactive game. That way, it feels more intentional and less like a bad mom moment.
Quality Over Quantity: I used to think I had to entertain my kid every second, but I realized that even just 10, 15 minutes of focused, engaged play means more than an hour of distracted time together. I started setting a timer and giving my kid my full attention, no phone, no chores. He loved it, and I felt way less guilt.
Self, Care in Small Doses: I don’t mean spa days who has time for that?, but even just drinking a coffee while listening to a podcast or taking a shower with the door locked made a difference.
Ask for Help Even If It’s Hard: If you have a partner, friend, or even a neighbor who can step in for just 20 minutes, take it. You don’t have to do this alone
You are NOT failing. You are just tired, and that is okay