Hey Mama, I see you. You have so much on your plate. You’re trying to be everything for everyone, and it’s draining. You give your all to your family and career. All while trying to be a good mom, wife, friend, daughter, and sister. I know you love your kids, but it’s okay to admit that being a mom is hard.

We talk about a work/life balance. It is something that is heavily sought upon as the pressures of this life become more than what we can take on. While you are taking care of the needs of others, are you taking care of yourself? Are you filling your own cup or is it running dry?

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Let me start by saying that I do not have all the answers. I am still trying to find the right balance for myself. However, over time, I have been finding what works for me. I share these ideas in hopes that they might be helpful to you too.

I vocalized that I am struggling

After my first baby was born, I felt so happy and had a sense of purpose as a mom. I was on cloud 9. Even though it was planned, I didn’t feel this way when I was pregnant with my second baby or even after she was born. I came to realize that I was struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, and for a long time, I didn’t talk to anyone about it.

I prayed for answers, and a family member reached out to ask how I was doing. I was at my breaking point and told her that I was sad and having spurts of lashing out at my husband. She helped me find the courage to talk to my friends about how I was feeling and eventually find a therapist. It was a weight off my shoulders that I no longer had to hide what I was feeling inside. Having an outlet with therapy has been so helpful to me.

We hired a babysitter for Saturdays

I work 3 days a week, and my husband works a traditional 5. We have family help while I am working those 3 days, but I had felt guilty about wanting more help. What I realized was that between work life and home life, I was not getting a break for myself and was feeling total burnout. With having a babysitter, those few hours I get on Saturdays have been so helpful. I can get errands done, enjoy an uninterrupted meal with my husband, or work on some self-care. I purposely scheduled this on my husband’s day off too because he needs a break as well.

I joined a MOPS group

MOPS is a faith-based international organization in 71 countries and with over 600 groups. The moment I entered a meeting, I knew immediately that I was in the right place. The encouragement, community, and care I receive from the group fills my cup every time. I’ve made some incredible friends from MOPS. Another perk of the group is that there are childcare options available. So, while I am enjoying myself, my kiddos are making new friends.

If this is not your style but you are interested in other mom groups, I would recommend Mamistad. I have other mom friends who have benefitted from their groups.

I started crossing off to-do lists

I recently discovered the satisfaction of crossing off items from a to-do list. I constantly have things running in my head of what I need to take care of. The act of writing it down in the morning has gotten me even more motivated to finish the tasks. I want to cross them off. If I don’t finish a task, I give myself some grace and add it to the next day’s list.

I learned to acknowledge my accomplishments

Someone recently told me that I don’t give myself enough credit for what I do. This made me pause for a moment. I am always trying to do more, more, more, without taking a moment to reflect and acknowledge what I have done.

Write a list at the end of the week of 5 things you are proud of that you did. This can be both personally and professionally. Celebrate those wins somehow, whether big or small.

Being a mom is hard, but you are not alone

Mama, I want you to know that you are doing an incredible job. You were made to be the mother of your children. Parenting is not always easy, but remember that you are not alone. There are other moms who need someone to talk to as well, and just don’t know where to start. You can start by being authentic in what you’re going through, and I guarantee you that you will connect with others in the process. It is okay to admit that being a mom is hard. Even when you are trying your best. And if you need someone to talk to, I’m here and would love to chat with you. You’ve got this, Mama!

Thank you for reading my blog post! If you enjoyed this one, I encourage you to also read my post on the benefits of cloth diapers.