I walk through the door after a long day, and there he is, standing there, clutching his favorite toy, eyes full of excitement. It’s the best and hardest part of my day. I know he’s been waiting for me, and I want to be present for him, but I can barely keep my eyes open. I feel guilty even thinking about saying no, but I’m running on fumes. How do you all manage to give your little ones the time they need when you’re just completely drained?
Oof, this one hits deep. I swear, the second I step inside, my little one is shoving books in my face or asking me to be a dinosaur or something. And I want to, so badly, but my body is just like girl, we are done for the day. What’s worked sometimes (not always lol) is doing an activity where I can be present but also rest, like lying on the floor while he plays cars over me or cuddling up while he tells me about his day I try to remind myself that even if I can’t be 100% on, he just wants to be near me No need to force myself into high, energy play when a little snuggle or storytelling does the trick
Ugh, I totally get it. It’s this impossible mix of love, exhaustion, and guilt, right? Like, we work to provide for them, but then we’re too tired to enjoy them the way we want to. I don’t even have a solution, just solidarity. It’s rough
Yes! This is me too. By the time I get home, I’m basically a zombie, but my kid is full of energy like he’s been charging up all day waiting for me. I feel like even when I try to play, I’m not really playing because my brain is half shut down. Do you ever find that you just kinda go through the motions without really engaging? I hate that feeling but don’t know how to fix it
Something that’s helped me is creating a transition ritual. When I get home, I tell my kid, Mommy needs 10 minutes to change and rest her feet, then we can play! At first, he wasn’t a fan, but now he knows the routine. I also try to keep playtime low-effort, things where I can sit or lie down while we interact. Reading, building blocks, even just coloring together. The trick is not forcing yourself into high-energy play when you’re already drained Also if you can getting a 5, 10 minute reset break before heading home sitting in the car, deep breaths, quick snack can make a difference. It’s not perfect, but it helps!
Guilt is the worst, but honestly, kids don’t need long, drawn, out play sessions, just little pockets of connection. Try giving him a homecoming hug when you walk in, like 60 solid seconds of snuggling, so he feels seen. Then, set a timer for 10, 15 minutes of whatever he wants playdough, a puzzle, even just sitting together while he chats. After that, you can say, Mommy needs to rest now, and do something lower energy. Also, don’t underestimate the power of letting him help with your evening routine, letting him stir something while you cook, sit on the counter while you do dishes, or chat while you change into comfy clothes. Presence , Performance
You’re doing great. He doesn’t need all of you just a little bit. 