To all the 30-something Moms:

So, here we are. We find ourselves in our 30s. Did you ever think you would get to this point? I mean, we all probably figured that we would survive until our 30s, but personally, I didn’t think it would go by quite this fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was having sleep overs with my girlfriends and playing Girl Talk and Sweet Valley High board games. Just yesterday that I was starting college and excited about the future. Now, just like that, I am a wife, mom of three, full-time employee, aspiring writer…and, well, stressed out.

As much as I love my kids and would not change a thing with them, sometimes I do wish I could go back to simpler times. Times when things we just less rushed, less complicated, and less exhausting. I think a lot of moms would agree with me on that. BUT, that is not who we are anymore. We are Moms. We are parents of babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-agers, and some of us teenagers.

We have chaotic lives, always rushing from one thing to the next. Struggling with the overwhelming feeling there is just not enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done.

We struggle to “do it all.” Work, be perfect spouses, perfect parents, perfect employees, and be on top of everything at home and in life. Is it even possible?

We feel that time is flying by and the older we get, the faster it goes. Suddenly all the things we hoped and dreamed about are in the past.

We constantly struggle to balance work, kids, self-care, and relationships.

We say parenting is the most rewarding job there is, but at the same time we call it stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting.

We continually doubt ourselves and our abilities – whether we work full time, part-time, or stay at home… Is it enough? Are we doing enough? Are we doing what is right?

We constantly worry about whether we’re doing a good enough job at raising confident children that will grow up to be good and kind people.

We remember a simpler time before the internet and smartphones. A time before the “addiction” of social media.

We are scared of the world our children are growing up in, and we worry about how to protect them from its craziness from its predators .

But most of all, we are just trying to be the best mom’s we can.

This is who we are now. We are moms.