Motherhood can be a tough gig, and I’ve been known to vent about it now and then. Every time I do, someone invariably offers up the same well-meaning advice: “Enjoy it while it lasts.” “Be present!” “Savor every moment.” And while I understand the sentiment—and even agree with it—my instinct is to roll my eyes and wish they wouldn’t. Not because their advice is wrong; it’s actually spot on. But knowing this just makes the whole thing more infuriating. Why can’t I seem to muster up that full-on embrace of the moment? Here’s a compilation of 37 reasons why I’m not fully there:
- I’m so exhausted that I once claimed to have a baby girl, forgetting that my little one is, in fact, a boy.
- It’s hard to be present when you’re fueled by 12,000 calories and a ridiculous amount of sugar from those iced coffee drinks.
- There’s a moment each day when I think I might just collapse from sheer fatigue, but then I hit up the drive-thru espresso place and find the will to push through.
- Yet, I remember that I’ll never shed the extra 30 pounds if I keep chugging those drinks, but survival wins out over weight loss.
- In a surprising turn of events, I think I might have baby poop lodged under my pinky nail right now.
- I made eggs for breakfast, but my toddler insists she only eats them on “TUESDAYS,” leading to a 30-minute meltdown over something so trivial.
- It’s too hot for my supposedly “quality” nursing bra, which itches like crazy, but the comfy one from Target caused a clogged duct. So, I’m stuck between wet and milky or itchy and hot.
- Essentially, I have two unappealing options: uncomfortable and sweaty or uncomfortable, wet, and milky. (Here’s to embracing that!)
- Despite diligently taking my placenta pills, some days I wake up feeling like A) I’ve ruined my life and B) I’m doomed to live with the consequences.
- My toddler just decided to pee on the pool deck.
- At times, my 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son argue so intensely over trivial matters that I pack the wild toddler and newborn into the car just to escape the noise.
- When we finally get to the park, they sit next to me and whine about how hot it is.
- Meanwhile, my nursing bra is driving me nuts.
- I might even snap and say something like “GO AWAY NOW.”
- Then I feel guilty for it, reminding myself that time flies and I should be seizing the day.
- Just a moment ago, I embraced motherhood, but now I’d rather sit on this bench, play Candy Crush, and pretend I’m still young and living it up in Barcelona.
- With so many demands on my time, your voice becomes just another sound in the background, and I can hardly keep up.
- And then you tell me to “embrace the moment,” and suddenly I feel guilty for not doing just that.
- This leads me to think about how my tween will be 18 in six short years, and instead of living in the moment, I’m regretting the time I didn’t fully appreciate when she was younger.
- I’m constantly worrying about money, primarily because we hardly have any.
- I wonder how I’m supposed to write that article due tonight when my baby only seems to enjoy nursing, sleeping, and pooping.
- I find myself crying over the smallest things.
- My kids want to know why I’m upset over nothing.
- I mentally vow to never watch rescued-elephant videos again.
- By 4 PM, I realize that my children need to eat — again. Why do they require food so often?
- The dog escaped through a broken fence. We need to fix it. He’s a sweet dog, but I’m feeling guilty for not paying more attention to him. (Don’t worry; we found him!)
- I AM embracing motherhood, just not at this moment. Why is that a problem? I love my kids, just not right now.
- All jobs have their frustrating aspects. If I were a lawyer, would you tell me to “enjoy” my least favorite tasks?
- But you say, “Motherhood is precious!” No, it’s not always!
- Some moments are downright hard, filled with grit and grime, not just sweetness and light.
- I was up late writing an article, and my baby woke up at 3 AM, refusing to sleep until 5 AM. Then my toddler bounced into my bed at 6 AM, declaring, “I’m here to cuddle!”
- It’s tough to embrace anything when you can barely keep your eyes open and your head is pounding.
- At 5 AM, I’m stuck using a nose-suction device on my newborn, hoping he can finally catch some sleep.
- But I can’t sleep because I’m convinced he has whooping cough.
- Time to Google whooping cough and find out when the pediatrician opens!
- Oh joy, it’s 6 AM! Time for toddler cuddles!
- My kitchen smells like a mix of vomit and mildew, and my voicemail is 90% full because I can’t stand it.
And that’s it—37 reasons why I’m struggling to fully embrace the present moment of motherhood, mixed with a few moments of joy that keep me pushing forward. So please, for the love of all that’s holy, stop telling me to embrace every moment. I’m doing my best, and that has to be enough for now.
Summary:
Motherhood is filled with challenges, and while the advice to “embrace the moment” is well-intentioned, it can feel overwhelming. From exhaustion and financial worries to the chaos of daily life, there are countless reasons why many mothers find it hard to be fully present. Yet, amidst the struggles, there are fleeting moments of joy that remind us why we love being moms.
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Keyphrase: Reasons for not embracing motherhood
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