A Gift for Mom! 🤍

Who are these people getting a great night’s sleep? 

How many times did I get up with the kids last night? 

I would love to sleep in until noon . . . in a hotel by myself.

Are these leggings clean? Don’t care. 

I forgot milk again.

Just eat the cereal without milk. 

They will be fine.

I need to plan something for dinner. 

I wish I was a better cook.

I need to go grocery shopping. 

I’ll wait until my husband gets home so I can go alone.

Why do I want to be alone? I feel so lonely as it is. 

Who am I kidding, I don’t even go to the bathroom alone. 

That was the deepest conversation I had all week. 

She said, “Have a nice day,” and I said, “Thank you, you too.” 

She was so nice. 

Her makeup was so cute.

How do I look? 

Why did I go out looking like this?

Everyone probably knows I haven’t washed my hair in days. 

I’m a mess. I should get ready more. 

RELATED: Dear Hot Mess Mom: To Me You Are Perfect

I miss working. 

The money would be nice.

Maybe I should go back to work? 

No, daycare is outrageous. 

What if my kids are sick? 

My boss wouldn’t understand. I would probably get fired for taking care of my sick child. 

I don’t feel like cooking tonight.

That would mean doing dishes again for the 87th time today. 

My child always asks for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich anyway.

Except now.

How was I to know that peanut butter and jelly meant something entirely different today? 

I don’t understand.

My child asked for the blue cup.

That’s the blue cup. 

What is the issue? 

Great, now I get to clean up juice because I put it in the exact cup they asked for but apparently that was wrong. 

Blue really means any other color on days that in y.

I’m spent. 

Does anyone see how tired I am? 

How many times have I picked up these toys?

I could use some help folding these clothes. Does this laundry multiply when I’m not looking?

I swear I just washed these shirts yesterday. Why are they back in the laundry? 

I asked.

Maybe my kids didn’t hear me.

I should get their hearing checked.

How do other moms get their kids to listen? 

I feel like an awful mom, I can’t even get my kids to listen.

RELATED: Being a Parent is Exhausting Even If Your Child Isn’t

They have already outgrown these pants anyway. 

I should throw them out.

I should buy some new jeans for me.

No, I just bought some two years ago.

They are basically brand new. 

I can wait. 

I just put these clothes away, why are they all over the floor? 

You just needed socks! 

I set their clothes out anyway.

I’m not washing them. 

Speaking of spent, why did I waste money on that stupid lipstick I’m never going to wear?  

I shouldn’t have spent the money on myself. 

It’s just an impulse buy. I’ll never wear it. 

But it’s a pretty color. 

It’s lipstick, just wear it.  

I’ll probably never wear it though. 

Maybe I should have bought a sexy outfit.

No, I can’t wear sexy outfits anymore.

I still have the baby weight to lose. 

I wish I had time for the gym. 

RELATED: Maybe the Best Way to Practice Self Care is to Care Less

And where am I going to go? 

I can’t go out. 

They will think I’m a bad mom.

The babysitter is so expensive anyway.

I don’t have time for that.  

I still have the laundry to do. 

And my husband worked all week. 

He’s probably too exhausted to go out.

And the bathroom needs cleaned. 

For the third time today. 

How do they miss a giant bowl of water every time? 

My gosh, it looks like I haven’t done anything all day! 

What did I do? I know I was busy. 

Seriously, what did I do all day?! 

It looks like I just sat around all day! 

Am I the only mom out there who never sits down? 

I just want to sit down.

Alone. For just a minute. 

I will when everyone is asleep. 

Where did the day go? I should go to bed.

But before I go to bed I need to wipe down the counter. 

If I do it now, I won’t have to tomorrow.

That’s hilarious. 

Who gets the jelly out this late at night anyway? 

They just ate! 

Everyone is in bed. 

I should watch something.

No, I’m too tired.

I’m going to sleep.

So God Made a Grandmother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

Order Now!

Megan Hardwick

Megan Hardwick is a wife, mother of two, and full-time entrepreneur/marketer.

To the Mom Worrying She’s Not Doing Enough This Summer

In: Motherhood
Kids looking at lake in summer

It’s only the second week of summer, and, thanks to modern-day social media, I feel like I’ve already seen it all. Picture-perfect beach getaways, color-coded bucket lists, backyard neighborhood movie nights, you name it. And if I’m being honest, I’ve already caught myself wondering if I’m doing enough. More than once, at that. As a solo mom of two, I’m still adjusting to our new norm while trying desperately to delicately let go of any expectations tied to all of our past experiences…including summer vacations. I’m reminding myself that our summers won’t look like they used to. At least not...

Keep Reading

Your Worth As a Mother Is Not Defined By How You Feed Your Baby

In: Baby, Motherhood
Mother and baby stand by crib

I’m not breastfeeding my baby. I wanted to. And I was able to for the first several weeks of her life. But as the days went on, I could tell it wasn’t enough for her anymore, so we started supplementing. And sure enough, without warning, she began screaming through nursing sessions, but was satisfied with a bottle. And that’s when I knew what I needed to do. A similar situation also happened with my first. She didn’t gain her birth weight back on my milk alone, so I had no choice but to supplement right away. And before I knew...

Keep Reading

A Mother’s Love Doesn’t End When Her Kids Move Out

In: Motherhood
Family posing in Time Square

When my last sibling moved out of the house, I watched my mom struggle in a quiet, almost unspoken way. It wasn’t something dramatic or visible; it was something I could feel in her presence. For 40 years, her life had revolved around taking care of us—my siblings and me. Every season of her life had been shaped around our needs, our schedules, our milestones, and our growing up. Being a mom wasn’t just something she did. It was who she was—the structure of her days, the cadence of her thoughts, and the center of her purpose. So when the...

Keep Reading

The Hardest Part of Divorce Is Being Away from My Kids

In: Living, Marriage, Motherhood
Woman in driver's seat

I’ve written several times about how divorce has allowed me to find myself again, and how that version is even better than the one I was before I was married. All of that is still true. I am happier than I’ve ever been. More confident and sure of myself. I understand my emotions and how to handle myself when things get tough or scary. I am more grounded and calm than I’ve ever been. Truly, I have come out on top. I’ve received comments about how happy I look, how I’m “living my best life with kids only half the...

Keep Reading

I May Let Go of the Baby Things, but I’ll Hold the Memories Forever

In: Baby, Motherhood
Woman looking through closet of baby items

It’s easy to think of multiple sayings and mottos about how invaluable earthly possessions are. “It’s not what you have, but who you share it with” “Worry less about things and more about experiences” “Who cares what you have, you can’t take it with you when you go” And trust me, I know these to be true. I am not a hoarder of hotel pens or mini shampoo bottles or every receipt and coaster from my favorite restaurants. I don’t care much for name-brand shoes or designer purses, yet there are a few things I just can’t easily let go...

Keep Reading

Mom Showed Us Love that Lasts

In: Motherhood
Vintage photo of mother and three young kids

We moved a few years ago, and we had a closet that needed some reworking. In doing so, my husband found some old photos. He pulled out an album that held this vintage photo of my mom, my sisters, and me. It was probably circa 1983 when prints were made from Kodak. I actually don’t remember seeing the photo before. But I love it. In the photo, my mother’s eyes are shut with a blink because those were the days when blinks weren’t edited. It’s beautiful, and I can’t stop thinking about the captured connection. She was showing us something...

Keep Reading

This Is How I’m Raising My Sensitive Son

In: Motherhood
Little boy hugs a cat

When I was pregnant with my son, everyone warned me of what was to come. “Just you wait,” they’d say with an underlying schadenfreude, “you’ll never sleep again.” I fully expected sleep-deprived days and long, unrelenting nights, calming my son down from tantrums, trying to keep the peace with my marriage. But I got lucky—my son sleeps through the night, doesn’t throw tantrums, and my marriage is stronger than ever. I didn’t expect that, especially because I struggle with my own mental health and assumed I’d be in the weeds during my postpartum period. Now that my son is almost...

Keep Reading

It’s Time for Us To Start Talking about Menopause

In: Motherhood
Midlife woman selfie

Disclaimer: The information included below is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.   Menopause. Growing up, this was a mysterious subject spoken about in hushed tones. When I approached this transition, I didn’t know what to expect. It began during a dinner with old college friends. Suddenly, I was overcome by heat and nausea. I left early, missing time with friends I rarely see and the beer sampler I ordered. Driving back to the hotel, I realized I had my first major hot flash. This was just the start of unexpected changes. In the following...

Keep Reading

I Didn’t Know You Were My Last Baby When I Had You

In: Baby, Motherhood
Mother holding newborn baby, black and white image

I didn’t know at the time that my last baby would be my last. Those late nights with little sleep. The days that felt so long, yet so full all at the same time. The pain that came with trying to breastfeed and wanting so badly for it to work. Learning who was truly there for you in moments that felt lonely. I didn’t know my body would never feel those first flutters again—or experience the emotional joy of meeting your baby face to face after nine months of waiting. I think that’s why I want so badly to experience...

Keep Reading

The Invisible Pain after IVF Stops

In: Motherhood
Woman holding pregnancy test with head in hands

There is nothing “basic” about stopping IVF and returning to the so-called natural route. There is no guidebook for what comes next. The protocols and procedures that once dictated every step suddenly disappear. The appointments, alarms, and instructions are gone—but the emotions and unknowns remain. There is no protocol for going back to the basics. When we decided to stop IVF and try naturally, I wasn’t prepared for how difficult this next part of our journey would be. During IVF, everything had structure. There were calendars to follow, medications to take at exact times, appointments that filled the weeks. There...

Keep Reading