Too Tired to Pretend

I am a stay-at-home mom of two, if you include my husband, three kids. Let me start off by saying that we have a very traditional household. My husband goes to work for 10-12 hours a day. He has a very hard, dangerous, high stress job, and by the time he gets home, he's tired, stressed, and ready to relax. I, myself, never had a good paying job. We decided long ago that if and when we had kids, that I would stay home with them because my working wouldn't be worth the money we'd have to pay for childcare. I was happy with this because I wasn't ever one to "want" to work anyway. His job pays enough that we can live comfortably, so what's the point? I'd rather spend the time raising our children than having someone else do it anyway.

Our children are now six and three. Our oldest is in first grade and the youngest just started his first year of pre-school (a whole 2.5 hours a day). I was so excited for him to start pre-school. Not only did that mean a few hours a day to myself, but it would also give him interaction with other children and he would be learning in the process.

My daughters kindergarten year, I was "pajama mom". After fighting her awake, I didn't have time for anything else. But this year, I got a little better handle on it. I am dressed and ready to go before I even wake her up. I pull my hair into a ponytail and slap some cover up under my eyes to hide my dark circles. I top off the look with some power and eye liner so I don't look like a member of The Walking Dead cast.

I thought I was doing good!

Then I noticed that compared to the other mom's, I'm still a mess. They have on skinny jeans with heals. Their hair perfectly curled. Their makeup is flawless, contour on point. I'm like wtf? How? How do you do it?!

Do you get up at the crack of dawn to be runway ready? If so, do you go to bed super early or just deal without the sleep? Neither is an option for me. I can't go to bed early if my life depended on it. Those few precious hours allow me to watch adult TV, or read a book without having to stop and get up 12 times. I don't have to hear arguing or screaming. It's my downtime, and I covet it.

Dealing without sleep? Can't do that either. I'm a monster if I don't get enough sleep.

So to you mom's that make your life seem like it's nothing but roses, props to you! You look great, your kids look great, and you're keeping your sh*t together!

I can barley manage to be an adult, let alone, look like an adult while doing so! I'm the mom that is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, standing in the back of the crowd. You know the one that always has a cup of coffee that she's chasing with a can of Red Bull. I rewash the same load of laundry two, sometimes, three times because I forget to put it in the dryer. I forget about class parties and don't send homemade, holiday themed, gift bags filled with candy and treats. I'm lucky if I remember to order the cupcakes for class for my own child's birthday.

If you struggle with your daily life, but keep that exterior polished, go you! Seriously, props where props are due! I notice you! I know what I do on a daily basis and I know everyone has their own struggles. But the fact that you can take all that with a smile and still look like you're rocking at this parenting thing, you're the sh*t! Maybe one day I'll have the energy to pretend that I have it together, but probably not. I'm a hot mess and have learned to accept it.