Superwoman Is Overrated
As moms we’ve been conditioned to think we can do it all. We want so badly to be able to take on that role of superwoman that when we fall short, our mental health inevitably suffers. It doesn’t matter if you’re a stay-at-home mom, or a mom out in the workforce, we put too much pressure on perfection and getting things accomplished.
I’m a working mom. The guilt is very real pretty much all of the time.
I’m fortunate enough to have flexibility with my 9-5 that allows me time to conquer doctor’s appointments and attend school events when I need to, but the sense of not being present for my kids is still very much prevalent every single day. After the drive home (that Baton Rouge traffic though…) I essentially have 2-2.5 hours to spend with my children before tucking them in. Also, in that same 2 hours, dinner must be cooked and served, baths must be given, living rooms must be picked up, dishes must be washed. You get where I’m going with this? So by the end of it, much of the time I have to devote to my kids is me doing those household tasks. It’s stressful. It sucks. I get burnt out and overwhelmed easily.
There’s also the mental load of it all. How do I manage to keep track of my schedule and my 4 kid’s schedules? That’s a question I’m still trying to figure out myself.
I know my situation could be worse. I’m thankful for the time I do get to spend with them, but the question remains. How are we even supposed to enjoy and “savor the moments” with our children whenever there is just so much on our plates? How can we possibly block out everything else from our minds whenever we’re spending quality time with them? We can’t. It’s impossible.
Because if mom fails, everything goes downhill. If we forget something, it directly affects everything.
I know I’m not the only mother suffering with this guilt. WE ALL ARE. So why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything and be everywhere for everybody? Often at the expense of our own wellbeing.
We need to take back our power.
We need to prioritize self-care.
It shouldn’t take us hitting rock bottom before we reach out for support. This season of mom guilt won’t last, but the negative effects on our mental health might. The new year provides a perfect opportunity for a reset. Let’s treat ourselves better girls. Let’s show ourselves grace. We don’t have to be superwoman all the time.
