Parenting
What Did I Actually Accomplish Today?
by Jen Morrison
Updated: Aug. 21, 2015
Originally Published: April 26, 2015
Recently, I found myself driving through a snowstorm, vehicles slipping on the icy roads, all while clutching a pair of my son Lucas’ old Columbia snow pants that were barely hanging together. It was one of those mornings where the snow started falling just as we set off for school. The moment we reached the drop-off line—oh, that infamous line!—Lucas suddenly exclaimed, “Mom!! I forgot my snow pants!” Of course he did. I offered to fetch them, but he waved me off, mumbling, “It’s fine, Mom, I don’t need to go outside.”
So, naturally, I went home.
I ended up staying there for about 92 minutes, but as the snowflakes began to thicken, I quickly decided to brave the unplowed roads covered with four inches of snow to deliver the essential pants for recess.
“What did your child forget this time?” the office staff asked as I handed over the snow pants. Without thinking, I replied, “Isn’t this just what we moms do?”
And indeed, it is.
Every day, it feels like we’re caught in a repetitive cycle—one that involves tucking in sheets, battling laundry, and rescuing crayon-stained clothes from the washer. We scrub crayon off the dryer, wipe away muddy footprints, and sort through toy chaos. We print pictures for school projects, help with science experiments, and listen to our fifth grader ramble on about the latest happenings from his locker.
We rock our babies, hold the hands of our toddlers, and prepare meals while packing lunches filled with cut-up fruits and snacks. We drive to school, juggle work, and return home again. We style hair into ponytails, assist with brushing teeth, and read the same bedtime story for what feels like the hundredth time. We teach them how to tie shoes and spread peanut butter on bread, all the while fostering independence.
At the end of such a long day, I often find myself looking around and asking, “What in the world did I do all day?”
We frequently yearn for those grand accomplishments—like the weekend I got a burst of energy and decided to repaint my bedroom furniture and walls (seriously, what was I thinking?). Or those amazing trips to theme parks or special stores. In chasing after those remarkable moments, we often overlook the beauty in the mundane tasks—like trudging through snow to deliver snow pants to school.
Chances are, you have your own collection of these moments. In fact, I’m convinced you do.
These instances are profoundly beautiful—not because they are extraordinary, but because they define motherhood. They are the countless actions we take that often go unnoticed and unacknowledged. There are no accolades for those sleepless nights spent comforting a child with an earache (which, by the way, just happened to me). There’s no ceremony celebrating the times you had to convince a seven-year-old to stay still for ear drops.
No trophies are handed out for standing up for your kids in doctors’ offices or for taking that extra time to color with them. There are no awards for dancing around the living room or for the numerous trips to school with kids in the backseat, bundled up and sharing sweet moments together.
What about the struggles? The epic standoffs with a three-year-old who refuses to get dressed? The endless meal prep that feels like a never-ending loop? The times you had to take away electronics from your middle schooler after a sassy remark, turning the day into a battle of wills? Or the chaos of spilled juice during snack time?
And all those times you felt utterly exhausted but kept pushing through.
Don’t underestimate the strength it takes to be a tired mom whose life revolves around nurturing.
It’s easy to question how much you accomplished in a day and to judge your success by how many items you checked off your to-do list. But listen closely—the to-do list is merely a guide, not a report card.
Finishing every task doesn’t make you a better mom. It simply means you got through the list that day. Real life often unfolds in the margins of our days, in the little moments that happen between the tasks. It’s in those five minutes waiting for your middle schooler’s pickup, sharing a laugh about something funny they saw online.
Every day, you are doing so much more than you give yourself credit for. Stop dismissing your daily accomplishments and wondering what you’ve achieved.
Lucas may not have thought twice about the snow pants I delivered. Sure, he was probably relieved—what kid wouldn’t want to play in freshly fallen snow?—but he likely didn’t realize the effort that went into that moment. He’s just a kid, after all; he finds blocks of ice far more fascinating.
But that’s the essence of motherhood.
It’s all those small actions, the moments we give up our time and energy for our families, that add up and weave together the beautiful tapestry of our lives.
I know it’s easy to be hard on yourself; I do it too. But today? When you find yourself wondering what you accomplished, take a moment to appreciate those little moments. Don’t overlook your ordinary yet beautiful story. And if anyone asks what you did all day, pause and reflect on those small victories. Write them down, cherish them, and allow yourself to feel proud—because you are making a difference in the lives around you through those days that may seem insignificant.
You didn’t do nothing. You mothered.
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Summary
This article explores the often-overlooked beauty in the daily tasks of motherhood, emphasizing that while it may seem mundane, every small act contributes to a larger narrative of love and care. It encourages mothers to appreciate their daily efforts and recognize their impact, even if they sometimes question what they achieved in a day.
Keyphrase
The beauty of motherhood
Tags
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