Occasionally, I find myself venting about the challenges of motherhood. Each time, someone inevitably offers the same well-meaning advice: “Enjoy it before it’s gone,” “Live in the moment,” “Savor every second!” And while I know they’re right—because honestly, those words are like gold—my immediate reaction is usually something along the lines of wanting to throw a pillow. Not because the advice is flawed; it’s actually spot on. It’s just that embracing each moment can feel impossible, and that frustration only adds to my annoyance.
So, here’s a list of 37 reasons why I’m struggling to fully embrace the moment:
- I’m so exhausted that I once told a stranger I had a baby girl. Spoiler alert: my baby is a boy.
- It’s hard to be present when I’m fueled by a diet of high-calorie, sugar-laden iced coffees.
- There are days when I genuinely feel like I might collapse from tiredness, but then the drive-thru espresso place shows up like a beacon of hope.
- Yet, I’m painfully aware that those drinks won’t help me shed the 30 pounds hanging around my waist, but I keep indulging because, you know, survival.
- On a completely different note, I’m pretty sure there’s baby poop lurking under my fingernails.
- I made eggs for breakfast, but my toddler insisted, “I only eat eggs on TUESDAYS!” Cue the 30-minute meltdown.
- It’s sweltering, and I can’t bear the discomfort of the “high-quality” nursing bra, but the cheap one from Target has a history of causing clogged ducts.
- So, my choices are: itchy and sweaty or wet and milky. (Embrace that, right?)
- I’ve been diligently taking my placenta pills, but some days I wake up feeling like I’ve irrevocably ruined my life.
- My toddler just peed on the pool deck.
- Sometimes, my older two kids argue so much that I haul the wild toddler and crying newborn to the park just to escape the noise.
- Of course, once we arrive, they complain about the heat.
- Meanwhile, my milk-soaked shirt is itching like crazy.
- My patience wears thin, and I might snap, “GO AWAY NOW!”
- Guilt washes over me because I know time is fleeting, and I should treasure these moments.
- Just moments ago, I was embracing motherhood, and now I wish I could dive into a game of Candy Crush and pretend I’m still 21 and carefree.
- With demands coming from every direction, your voice becomes just one of many asking for my attention, making it hard to really hear you.
- So, when you tell me to appreciate every moment, it only adds to my guilt for not doing just that.
- Instead of living in the now, I find myself thinking about how my eldest will be 18 in a blink, wishing I had appreciated the earlier years when she was sweeter and less dramatic.
- I’m also consumed by thoughts of our finances—or lack thereof.
- I’m stressing over that article due tonight while my baby is only interested in nursing, snoozing against me, or, of course, pooping.
- I tear up over the silliest things.
- My kids see me cry and ask why I’m upset over nothing.
- Mental note: stop watching those rescued elephant videos—they always get me.
- It’s 4 PM, and I just remembered my little circus needs to eat—again. Why do they need to eat so much?
- The dog escaped through the broken fence. Now I have to fix that. Oh, sweet dog, I promise I’ll pay more attention to you! (Don’t worry, we found him.)
- Hey, just so you know, I *am* embracing motherhood—just not at this exact moment. Why is that so hard to understand?
- I genuinely enjoy my kids, just not every second of every day. Is that such a crime?
- All jobs have their annoyances—why should motherhood be any different?
- I could be a lawyer dreading time entry, and no one would say, “Embrace it; it’s precious!”
- But, of course, this is motherhood, and it’s all supposed to be precious, right?
- Sometimes, it’s really not. We should stop insisting moms enjoy every second when some moments are just plain exhausting and messy.
- I was up late writing an article, and at 3 AM, my baby thought it was party time and wouldn’t sleep until 5 AM.
- By 6 AM, my toddler was bouncing into my bed, declaring, “I’m here to cuggle!”
- The kitchen smells a bit off—like vomit and mildew.
- My voicemail is nearly full, and honestly, I despise voicemail. Just text me, please!
- My kids are having mac and cheese again. I shudder to think of what that processed goo is doing to their brains.
Despite the chaos, I eventually give in, plop down on the couch, and watch some reruns of 30 Rock. We all share a laugh as the baby tries to nurse the dog’s nose. My daughter beams after her swimming lesson, and my husband comes home with a haircut that makes me do a double take. Those fleeting moments—the grins, the innocent joy—remind me of the beauty tucked within the madness.
So there you have it: 37 reasons I’m finding it tough to embrace every moment, along with a few that keep me pushing forward. Just please, stop telling me to cherish each second. I’m doing the best I can, just like every other mom out there. And besides, I totally embraced it yesterday.
Summary
This piece humorously captures the chaotic reality of motherhood, listing the myriad challenges that make it difficult to fully embrace each moment. From exhaustion and toddler tantrums to financial worries and the messiness of daily life, the author illustrates that while motherhood is precious, it’s not always easy. The narrative encourages empathy and understanding for moms who are navigating the ups and downs of parenting, emphasizing that it’s okay to not be fully present all the time.