You know those days where you’re so tired you’re not quite sure how you’re going to make it through?
I’m having one of those days.
I am exhausted from being up all night with a teething baby.
A teething baby is inevitably a crying and upset baby.
A crying and upset baby is inevitably a crying and upset mommy.
A crying and upset mommy is inevitably . . .
A shitty day.
A really shitty day.
The kind of day where it’s acceptable to say shitty.
I’m not quite sure where I’m going to muster up the energy to get through it.
It’s not yet noon and I’m already beat up.
I am exhausted.
But, alas, I'm also a parent.
I'm an exhausted parent.
And a parent needs to parent even when they're too tired to parent.
So.
I’ve decided that it’s okay if the television acts as the babysitter today.
Because the professionals might just say it’s unwise, but this mommy expert says it’s probably the wisest decision I can make right now.
I’ve also decided that it’s okay when my toddler tells me she refuses to eat her carrots.
Because she should probably have more vegetables, but everyone is allowed a cheat day once in a while. And when it’s mommy’s cheat day, it’s the children’s cheat day, too.
And we might just skip practicing numbers and letters while we’re at it.
Because, frankly, I’m not sure I have the patience to deal with the whining that accompanies it.
And I'm not going to beat myself up over it.
I'm not going to feel guilt.
Or defeat.
Or shame.
Because my children will still receive all the love they always receive.
I may be too tired to show it with much enthusiasm and I may be grumpier than I typically am, but that doesn’t mean I love them any less.
I love them just as much as I always do.
Just in a more muted sort of way today.
And it’s okay to be less than a perfect parent sometimes.
Actually, it’s more than just okay.
It’s perfectly human.
If you liked this, you might also like: "Letting Go Of Mom Guilt" and "The Mom Wars: What Type Of Mom Are You?"
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