A moment.

Time? There is NONE!  I just don’t understand how people have multiple children and get anything done.  Am I missing something here?  Is there a secret and everyone is just laughing as they watch us try to juggle life?

The to-do list is a mile long and I’m feeling like it will NEVER be completed.  I told my husband that if I ever complain about being bored, he can slap me upside the head.  I can’t wait for the day when I have NOTHING to do (I’m sure these words will come back to haunt me, I hope).

Our schedule goes something like this…my husband wakes up with H1, anywhere between 5:30-6:30, he sets him up with breakfast #1 and starts responding to emails.  H2 and I get up between 6:30-7, I feed him and sprint for the coffee machine.  Hubby gets ready for work while the kids and I snuggle and watch an episode of Blaze and the Monster Machines.  Then H1 and I shower while H2 sits in the rock and play (this is for the safety of H2, H1 is a bit unpredictable), I get dressed, then help dress H1 (he picks out his shirt, I get to pick out his shorts, and then I painfully watch him as he tries to dress himself), we make breakfast #2 together, maybe spend 15 minutes playing, and then load up for preschool drop-off.

I put H2 down for a nap when we get home (30 minutes max.), which allows enough time for me to eat breakfast and pick up the house, and then H2 is up and ready to eat again and needs some 1:1 attention from mommy.  All of a sudden it’s 11:30 and time for me to make H1’s lunch and head out for pick-up.  We get home, eat lunch, H2 goes down for another nap and H1 and I spend some 1:1 time together.  Depending on H2’s nap, we typically take off in the car for a ride so that H1 will crash in the car and then I transfer him to his bed for a 1.5-2 hour nap (yes the car is our sleep crutch, I’m not giving it up).  Some days, their naps overlap 20-30 minutes so I have just enough time to work on a blog post or dōTERRA biz before H2 wakes up.  H2 is now ready to eat again and needs mommy’s attention.  Quickly following, H1 is up and it’s time for snack, a show, and then outside to run about and explore.  Dad gets home around 6, takes over with H1 and I feed and bathe H2 and put him down at 7.  Then time to make dinner!  We eat and play with H1, then get him in bed by 8:30 in hopes he is asleep by 9.  Hubby and I stare at each other in utter disbelief, chat about our days, watch an episode of something, or sometimes just go straight to bed so that we can start all over again tomorrow (or at midnight because let’s be honest, both kids still wake up multiple times a night).

Holy Hell this life is exhausting.  Yes, there is joy, yes, we love our kids and are grateful for them and the many blessings we have, but my goodness when does this get easier?!?!  We are in straight up survival mode every day.

I know we are not alone in this.  Though, why does it seem that most parents are so darn organized and put together, while I’m over here with my shirt on inside out, spit up all over my jeans, and fingernail paint still dotted on my nails from 3 months ago?  I find myself reciting “This too shall pass” almost hourly.  Can I get an amen?!?!

This phrase continues to appear in my life over and over so I thought I would share my thoughts on the subject.

I mentioned in a previous post that when discussing the epidural with my OB, he said that my pain is my pain.  He doesn’t know what it feels like for me when I’m dilated to a 2 verses a 6.  Everyone has different pain tolerances and thresholds, which is true in all aspects of our lives.

It is important to put things in perspective.  Maybe you are having a bad day…your toddler flushed your toothbrush down the toilet, your getting sick and have a long to-do list.  Take a step back and remind yourself that it’s really not that bad….there are people out there that are truly suffering and tomorrow is a new day for you, but not for others.  Ok ok ok, I know we all  try to do this when we can look outside of ourselves, but sometimes, we just need to vent or complain about things in our lives and shouldn’t have to feel guilty for it.

Personally, venting to friends and family releases that built up muck, and sometimes I even let loose on social media (gasp!) in hopes that some of my friends will know that they aren’t alone.  Commiserating together is so much better than being alone in your head. Many people feel irritated with those that complain about “trivial circumstances” in comparison to their own, but I encourage those to try and understand that unless you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel, there should be no judgement.  Everyone has challenges in their lives, so let’s give each other a break and let one another have a good rant without throwing the “who has it worse” card. Let’s be gracious…or try to be.