A Working Mom's "I am" Poem #sol15 Day 16
Disclaimer: I have nothing but respect for moms who "stay at home." It is the hardest job. In my brief stints being a stay at home mom while on maternity leave and on summer vacations, I know that the days are exhausting and challenging. This poem attempts to capture how I feel about life at the moment, being a third grade teacher and a mom to 2 kids under the age of 5.
I am a Working Mom
I am exhausted and never done.
I wonder how to find the elusive "work-life" balance
I hear my alarm go off at 3am and trudge downstairs to do the work I couldn't do when the kids were awake
I see my work bag,bulging, begging me to finally pay it attention.
I want 5 minutes to myself.
I am exhausted and never done.
I pretend I can do it all
I feel the need to eat lots of chocolate
I touch my children's soft little cheeks and hug them.
I worry I am missing important moments with them.
I cry when I feel like I am drowning from it all.
I am exhausted and never done.
I understand this is a season in my life and will get easier.
I say, "I need to appreciate my blessings."
I dream that I will be organized and on top of everything
I try to be the best mom and teacher possible
I hope my efforts are not in vain.
I am exhausted and never done.
Oh, this is exactly how I'm feeling right now. I couldn't drag myself out of bed early this morning - but I should have.
ReplyDeleteMy post today also reflects the need to think about what matters most, because I'm having trouble focusing on it right now.
Working full time and being a mother of small children is often overwhelming. Try to enjoy the moments with soft cheeks and hugs. Yes, it will get easier. It's still a juggling act, but you'll have more sleep as they get older. Your poem expresses so many of the feelings working moms share.
ReplyDeleteWorking full time and being a mother of small children is often overwhelming. Try to enjoy the moments with soft cheeks and hugs. Yes, it will get easier. It's still a juggling act, but you'll have more sleep as they get older. Your poem expresses so many of the feelings working moms share.
ReplyDelete"I see my work bag, bulging, begging me to finally pay it attention." -What a great line.
ReplyDeleteOur work is exhausting as it is; being a mother on top of that is unimaginable for someone like me with no children. I admire you.
"I see my work bag, bulging, begging me to finally pay it attention." -What a great line.
ReplyDeleteOur work is exhausting as it is; being a mother on top of that is unimaginable for someone like me with no children. I admire you.
"I am exhausted, and never done." Reminds me of the poem "A man works from sun to sun, and woman's work is never done." I remember those moments when mine were little, too, when you feel like work and home weren't getting your best because you are so divided. Don't forget that it's hard to give from an empty well--schedule some self-care, make it a priority, and you may find more energy to get you through this fleeting time of early childhood parenting.
ReplyDeleteAll moms have a tough job, whether they're working full-time, part-time, or staying at home. As a mom who works part-time, I cannot imagine how hard it is to do what you're doing. Sounds like you need a vacation by yourself. (Because going away with kids is just a trip!)
ReplyDeleteI love your post. I have taken some years off from teaching here and there when my children were born, and it's just a different kind of exhausted. When you look ahead to the coming week, you wonder how it will all work, but it always does...we just make it work, get it done...but it does mean that we are exhausted all the time!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I've always wondered how you manage to "do it all," and now I know...you are always completely exhausted. Trouble is you have such a zest for life and you are so good at everything that you do. Maybe a good heart to heart with a close friend or your husband can help you set some boundaries on how much you attempt to do so you can find some space and some rest in your life.
ReplyDeletehttps://barbarasut.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/practicing-mindfulness-how-sol-writing-changed-my-mood-and-my-life/
Kathleen,
ReplyDeleteMy youngest is now off to college. I watch the teachers in our building with young children and I wonder how I ever did it. I wonder how I managed to take care of our children and do the work I needed to do for my students. It could always have been better, and there were likely things I missed along the way, but everyone managed to survive.
My mom was a working mom. To this day she will say how she worried that she wasn't doing enough for us. I just laugh. I learned so much from my mom as she balanced work and our family. I think the fact that she worked made me more independent, more self-reliant, and helped me to see that anything was possible.
I hope you find 5 minutes for yourself because that should always come first.
Thanks for sharing your poem. I think we can all relate to the pull between home and school. I don't think we can ever do it all, but I imagine we always find a way to do what's most important.
Cathy
We've all been there! It does get easier and eventually only some days, you feel like the balance is elusive! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteYour post brought back so many memories. My girls are older and the tasks are different, but it's still sometimes difficult to keep that work/home balance. Keep up the good work, and DO take care of yourself, too!
ReplyDeleteKathleen, you express your feelings of overburden in a way that resonates with others. Yet that feeling is fully owned by you and shared with us. Thank you for sharing your poignant story. My hope for you is "little soft cheeks" and a good night's sleep.
ReplyDelete~Deborah