Parenting is a whirlwind of joy and chaos, laughter and tears, and the occasional light saber to the stomach. As a mom, you often find yourself bearing the weight of your children’s belongings—whether you want to or not. It’s almost as if our bodies become magnets for anything cumbersome and awkwardly shaped, and this can lead to some unexpected consequences.
In a recent Instagram update, actress Jenna Smith shared her struggle with persistent pain in her right shoulder, which had persisted for several months. To get to the bottom of it, she was even scheduled for an MRI. However, one day, while walking into her home, she caught a glimpse of herself in a window, and everything clicked into place: “I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT, GUYS. I’M A MOM.”
Jenna is the proud mother of two daughters, 9-year-old Lily and 4-year-old Daisy, both at ages where carrying anything is about as appealing as eating vegetables. This means that for years, moms like Jenna are often loaded down with all sorts of items. At some point, it’s inevitable that all that hauling is going to take a toll.
A Day in the Life of a Mom
Let’s paint a picture of a typical mom in this scenario. Imagine she has just returned home from a grocery shopping trip with her kids.
Mom: “Alright, sweetie, we’re back! Time to bring everything inside.” (Unbuckles and steps out of the car, struggling to pick up the diaper bag).
Mom: “You did such a great job at the store! I was really proud you didn’t touch anything you shouldn’t have.” (Headed to the back of the car, she grabs four bags of groceries).
Mom: “How about we grab a quick lunch once we’re inside?” (Reaches for a bag of towels and swimsuits from earlier).
Mom: “Maybe a bagel or a…ugh..sandwich?” (Strains to grab a 12-pack of soda, wedging it awkwardly against her side).
Mom: “A nice…peanut butter…sandwich…oh no, watch out…godammit…that’s gonna hurt.” (Struggling to open the door to the back seat while pinching a child’s school art project between her fingers).
Mom: “So let’s… do… whew… that, okay?”
Child: “Mommy, can you carry this stick I found?”
And that’s a wrap. It’s baffling how a once-energetic child suddenly becomes incapable of lifting their own backpack after school. Or how a mom who hardly sits still finds herself unable to carry a couple of paper towels. We become so accustomed to being the pack mules of our families that we often overlook the toll it takes on our bodies. Sometimes, like Jenna, it takes a physical sign to remind us that all that awkward carrying isn’t great for our health.
Until we can find our own personal mule (which we might just name Benedonkey Cumberass), we’ll continue to haul our kids’ gear around. The silver lining? As kids grow older, they begin to take on “responsibilities.” Eventually, if they forget to grab the ice cream bag, it’s going to melt in the trunk—and you better believe they’ll be the ones cleaning it up. After all, it’s about teaching them responsibility, the value of helping out, and of course, allowing Mom to relax in her soft pants with a comfy dose of ibuprofen.
Further Reading
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Conclusion
In summary, motherhood is a balancing act filled with both burdens and joys. It’s easy to forget the physical toll of carrying our children’s belongings. However, recognizing this can help us adjust our approach to parenting and remind us to take care of ourselves, too.