Hello friends. Sunday night confession time. I am SO exhausted. Can I just say that being a mom is such hard work. How are you all doing it!? :) I feel like I am hanging on by a very thin thread lately. Last week just about did me in. Kenny was in San Francisco most of the week and I had too much going on. House meetings and regular therapy and additional assessments for Kole and El had a big project due for school and then Kole got sick and then Addie got sick again (which put me on ultra high alert since our weekend at the hospital). Kole was up in the night and not napping well so I felt a bit like I was in newborn land again getting little sleep. Up at 5:30 to get me ready and then everyone dressed and fed and lunches made and to school on time. Going going going until 8:00 when they are all in bed and then so much stuff to do before I can sit down. Clean the kitchen, do some laundry, answer e-mails, plan my schedule for the next day wondering how in the world I’m going to be in three places at once with sick kids. I had to drag Addie in her pjs to a speech assessment for Kole and it was raining and I forgot an umbrella. I felt like mom of the year. By Friday afternoon I was so burned out. I put Kole down for a nap, turned on a movie for Addison, walked over to my closet under the stairs and just started pulling everything out of it.
Ha! I don’t know what I was thinking!? I don’t think I was thinking! I didn’t really even need to organize this space and I knew I wouldn’t have time to put everything back the way I wanted it anyway! I just had to clean and organize something to feel some sort of control.
Please know that I am not complaining right now. I love being a mom. I love my life. I am blessed beyond what I ever could have hoped for. But some days and some weeks are hard. And I want to record the hard days right along with the wonderful days because it makes me appreciate the wonderful days that much more. Like I said, being a mom is tough. And you can’t really understand how much work it truly is until you become one. I feel tired and pulled in so many directions every single day. And since I’m being so open right now, can I just be honest and say that because of my current schedule I am having a really hard time blogging. In fact, I have considered taking a break. Putting my blog “on hold” for a bit. But every time I think I’m going to really do it I feel sad. I love blogging so much and I know that the second I stop I will miss it and I will miss all of you so much. Last week I got several e-mails from a few of you. Random thank yous from readers saying they enjoy my blog. The e-mails all made me cry. Big tears just rolled down my cheeks. They came at such a perfect time and reminded me of how much I love this blog and connecting with all of you. So thank you. Thanks to those of you who wrote last week and to all of you who have written or left a sweet comment in the past. Your kind words mean so much to me. And I am not taking a blog break. :) At least not right now anyway. But I am sending out a disclaimer that I might not be posting as often and my posts will most likely be LAME for a while. Until things slow down. And maybe they never will. But they better! They will.
:)
Kenny is home this week (hallelujah!) and I spent a lot of time today getting on top of the house work so that next week will feel better. I whipped out this little list over the weekend:
My girls were really good to pitch in and help. They knew I meant business!
I also had them lay out their clothes for the week.
There have been several weeks that I haven’t done
our little weekly outfit system because I forgot or I was just lazy and I always regret it! Mornings run so much smoother when we have outfits organized and ready to go.
And last but not least (for this ridiculously random post) –
I woke up to this Saturday morning. Can I just say that I KNEW as soon as I came up with my “no stuffed animals on the kitchen table” rule Ellie would figure out another place for her pandas to eat!
Feathers the owl even won a place at the table. Lucky little thing.
That girl makes me laugh.
Enjoy your Monday everyone!
And thanks for always making me feel like this blog is a safe place to vent. :)
xoxo, Erin
Vent away Erin!! We all have days, weeks like that. Just when it seems like everything is running smoothly, the roof caves in!!! Sorry to hear your little ones are sick again. I seriously am wishing winter away!
I think if you need a break from your blog, you should take it…I would miss you, so much!! I am glad you are, for now, not taking one.
I hope this week starts off better for you. Sometimes being a mom is overwhelming. But it does make the good days so much better.
I posted some pictures of Brittni’s baby shower/celebration of life on my little blog. I thought you would like to place a face with the name and story.
Take care Erin.
Have a great week. (It will be great!! :))
I love, love, LOVE this post because I love your open and honest heart.
you should vent – I regularly do on my blog too. I love having twins but boy, 3 is kicking my butt a bit (a lot).
And I get you wanting to organise to get some control back. I do the same. My study was all kinds of crazy last night because I hauled ALL the toys in there to properly sort, DECLUTTER (yay!) and re-organise. All sorted and I feel great :)
Hope you have a fantastic week!
Maybe I should organize my outfits on a weekly basis too. THen I’d really know what pieces I need to buy.
When you throw no husband into the mix things get tough! When we bought a convenience store 3 years ago I truly began to appreciate what my sister-in-law dealt with being a single mu. My husband was working 15 hours a day 7 days a week. The first year nearly tore us apart. But, I figured stuff out and got through it and you would too, you’d be even more organised if that’s possible!! But yay Kenny’s home and yay for me cause our shop will be sold in 2 weeks and I wont be a single mum anymore……………….CANNOT WAIT!! More time to read your blog, even if the posts are more sporadic! Hope you get some more sleep this week :)
I can so relate to this post…last week I felt the same way…just exhausted and a tad overwhelmed with all that motherhood encompasses but even more over the constant laundry and dishes that have a way of getting out of control if I slack at all. This motherhood gig is a challenging and exhausting one and so constant, but sweet little moments from my little ones keep me working on being the best mommy I can be. So vent away! I hope this week is a little less hectic for you :) ~gina
I am so glad you aren’t taking a break but I would understand if you did! Must be something in the air because I had a trying week last week too. Being a mom IS tough! But here’s to a better week this week, right?!
I am so not worried about any of your future posts being lame…just post a before and after pic of one of your organizing projects and no words are needed!!! Easy, right?! :-)
Take care Erin! As far as i can see you are ROCKING the mom thing!
Sounds like you had a whopper of a week. Hope this week is better for you. Amy in WI.
Vent away! We all have weeks like that.
It’s funny…I don’t really take the time to think about all the things I do each day, but a friend of mine was at our house last week during dinner time and made this comment: “You really have to do all of this every single night?? When do you get to relax?” HA!! It made me think. I’m usually on auto pilot while I make dinner for the kids and then their lunches for the next day and running back and forth to refill water cups or get more green beans. Whatever it may be. It blew my friend away that I didn’t get to come home from work, grab a glass of wine and sit down on the couch. (She obviously doesn’t have children) :) Anyway….us Mom’s have a tough job, but as you said….those hard weeks just make me appreciate the wonderful ones even more! Hang in there! Hope this week proves to be much better! And prayers that your little ones stay healthy too!
I love bloggers who are real about life because too often all we see is the good days and its easy to feel like nobody else has hard days. Good to know burn out and hard days happen at your house too! I’ve had sick kids here too and no sleep and last night I told my husband I’m resigning today:). Of course I’m not but I would live a sick day for me today!
Please don’t stop posting! I open your blog when I get to the office ;) and it makes my morning when I see your little boyfriend or the zany ideas your girls have…
Thank you so much for your understanding and encouraging words everyone! They mean so much to me. I woke up this morning and read your comments and I feel so much better. Today is going to be a good day. :) I hope it is for all of you too!
I love your blog and look forward to it always!!
I don’t think I ever told you that the plan ahead outfit system has been revolutionary for us. We use it and it has made life so much easier, especially now that I’m working full-time.
THANKS :)
Oh yea Amber! I am so happy to hear that! :) And thank you so much.
Really love your blog! These blogs are such a great way for all us stay-at-home moms to feel connected! I think you’re amazing with all your organization, and I love to get inspiration from you. Thank you, and I hope you have a better week!
Oops! Just left a comment when signed in as my daughter! The above comment (about feeling connected)was actually from me.
Erin, Please know we don’t love you in-spite of your craziness but WE LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF THE CRAZINESS!
You don’t have to apologize to any of us! We all have those seasons and right now a lot of us are doing it with sick kids in-tow! You organize when you feel scattered and we come here to calm ourselves! And then realize you are making us look bad for more organizing and get off our butts and clean something!!! Ha!
I hope you have a better week and everyone is feeling better!
Rebecca
Dear Girl from San Diego,
I hope you have a better day today! Sometimes things just pile up and after you vent, they don’t seem so bad after all. I hope that this is the case for you!
As far as making the blogging easier for you – a couple thoughts. Are you still Project Life-ing? Share a pic of the day with us and let that suffice as a blog when you feel overwhelmed (Think of how many blogs you could have written using this post then). Other thought? When I get overwhelmed, it’s time to get back to listing things for which I am grateful. Share 1 thing for which you are grateful with us, and we’ll chime in with ours. You know we’re all grateful for your blog!
It is always a pleasure to see a blog post from you in my Google reader – they always make me smile! Here’s hoping you feel sunny today!
It’s so good to have a place to vent! Sometimes we just need it to get back to our busy lives! I’m so glad you still blog- I always enjoy reading your posts- but understand with your busy schedule if you needed to take a break! Hope all the kids are feeling better this week and Kenny is able to help out so you can feel back to Supermom status! :)
I’m a lurker, but I love reading your blog. I can relate to the overwhelming feeling being a mom can be sometimes. I work full time and have the utmost resepct and admiration for stay-at-home moms. If I am being completely honest, some (many) days coming to work is a like a “break” for me. You inspire me and thanks for your honesty. It’s nice to not be the only one who feels overwhelmed sometimes. I usually just have to say a prayer and remember that God is in charge and that “this too shall pass.”
I LOVE how El draws food on the paper plates for her friends. So adorable!
Louise – thank you so much! I love that too – staying connected with other moms.
Rebecca – you are too sweet! Your comment made me smile. I know – everyone is dealing with sickness right now. My friends and I keep saying “we don’t have time for kids to be sick!” Who does? Thank you so much for such a fun and kind comment. :)
MaryBeth – GOOD idea. I think I may have to do that a lot in the future. Just post one picture. Thank you sweet friend!
Ashley – thank you so much!
Christina – I always wonder how in the world moms do it who work! It is hard for all of us. A constant juggle regardless of your situation. Thank you for such a kind comment!
Your comments are all so understanding and encouraging! They have made my day. :)
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I have been both a stay at home mom when my children were younger and then I was a working mom when they were they started middle school. I can honestly say when I was at home, some days I longed to work and when I was working, I usually wanted to be at home. Neither job is easy.
I must pat you on the back for another reason than most though. I LOVE your blog and check on it every day but it is just as much to try and catch some spark of your creativity as it is to see how or what you are organizing on any given day. I am also a blogger – just starting really – but I get great inspiration from your posts.
Thanks for all the effort you put into this wonderful blog. It is helpful to so many and for so many reasons -and that’s what is so great about blogging. Your post might be written with a specific topic or intent, but everyone will get something different out of it. As Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing!”
and that’s why I LOVE your blog ERIN! You are REAL with REAL mommy issues and REAL problems like the rest of us! hahaha! That’s a good thing! I love that you show what ‘real life’ is like on your blog! Your NOT perfect although pretty close! LOL! It’s makes me feel not so inadequate! Don’t EVER stop showing your true feelings/emotions on this blog!
I love your blog! As a mom I know the demands of little ones when hubby is out of town, but the most important thing to remember is to take care of yourself, the dishes and laundry can always wait.
I love the table with the furry friends, so cute … enjoy these moments.
Take care,
Theresa
Erin, I love your blog! And I think the random posts are the most fun. Not lame AT ALL! So please keep posting. You are inspirational to me with your cleaning and organizing. And I love how much you love your kids. Keep blogging for me! :)
Oh, and I have to ask…how do you have energy when you have so much to do? Sincere question! I feel like I get overwhelmed and just end up staying in my PJ’s all day and my house goes to pot. I have 3 little kids all at home and sometimes I just feel frozen. I want to stick to a routine but I have no. energy! Advice?
Those stuffed animals made me laugh. How cute!
I love the girls’ outfits with the leggings. My 4 year old is going through a huge legging/skirt phase.. I know she’d love all of those.
Hope your week is better this week! I got tired just reading about your week last week. :)
I call these types of posts keeping it real, because it is nice for other people to know that I have my days and my weeks where things don’t go exactly as planned.
Blogs that don’t share this side can make me feel like they live in a perfect world when I realize they don’t.
Thanks for sharing, love the clothes planning, going to have to remember that when my daughter is a little older.
Hi Erin -I love that you are so honest about your bad days! We ALL have them – this time of year with EVERYONE getting sick is just awful! I can’t wait for spring! As much as I LOVE your blog, I would understand if you need to pull back a bit…don’t get me wrong…I would miss you terribly, but I would understand!!
Hey Erin! I think every mom out there can totally relate to this post. There are times when it’s just super tiring to be a mom and your body aches from all of labor of it all. It’s more of a labor intensive job than a mental one. There are some days when I am fully exhausted beyond words and just want to go to bed at 7:00. It’s great that you are venting it for all of those readers who are to intimidated or scared to say how they feel to their friends or family when they might be feeling the same way. I mean being a mom is a full-time job and like any job you have your good and your bad days. It doesn’t mean you hate your job, it just has its normal ups and downs, highs and lows like anything in life. Seriously, take a break if you need it. I take blogging breaks when my kids are on vacation or when I need a break from blogging to focus on life and play catch up. Your readers will still be there and will totally understand. Blogging is fun, but with anything, it’s nice to take a break once in a while to just play or catch up on life. I feel when I take the breaks I come back refreshed and with gusto. I feel like I can take my time answering emails and when I’m on the computer, I can read my favorite blogs etc. Ok, I’m writing a novel here. Take care girl and hang in there! Xoxo, Jackie
Hi Erin,
I love your blog. I read your blog every morning! You are the reason why my house and family are finally organized. It took one year to organize it but all is good now. I also love all your kid posts. I have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old. I love project life and blogging too. I love how honest you are and I love all your kid routine and organizing ideas. Right now I only manage to blog once a month. My blog is http://lifestorieswithamy.blogspot.com/. I have been reading your blog for 3 years now and your blog is my favorite. Maybe one day I will be able to meet you. Amy in Wisconsin.
Hang in there Erin! I think every mom who reads your blog can completely relate. You have a lot on your plate right now, but things will mellow out. Soon this flu season will be over and that alone will be huge relief. I hope this week you can eat lots of popcorn and chill out with Kenny on the couch cracking jokes:))) Hang in there my friend!
Rebecca – thank you! That was such a sweet comment. YOU are a good thing. :)
Anonymous – LOVED your comment. Oh my word. YES! I’m very real and NOT perfect. :) Thanks for encouraging me to be honest. Sometimes I worry people will think I’m whining or complaining. But I just want to keep things real. Life is perfectly NOT perfect. :) Thank you for your encouraging words.
Theresa – I needed that reminder! Dishes are sitting undone tomorrow. :)
Tiffany – that is such a good question! I’ll answer it in a Q & A if that’s ok? I need to do one soon! Although I have been short on energy myself lately! Ha! :)
Being a mom IS hard work! Like any job, you have good days and bad days. I am currently a stay at home mom to two little boys (ages 4 and 1) and I have never worked so hard in my life! Before having my boys I taught elementary school and managed classrooms with 20-30 kids and being a mom is MUCH more difficult. You don’t get a break. You’re always on. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. You’re not alone.
Thank you so much everyone! Your comments were just what I needed to hear. I love feeling like I can open up and be honest and not be judged for it. You are all such sincere wonderful people and I feel so lucky that you all read my blog. I consider you all friends! Thank you for the encouragement!
Lol I feel the same way right now – I had a new baby, my husband started a new job, my 1 year old was sick, our state flooded and we lost power for 3 days, and we moved house, all within 2 weeks!! – I think I’ll still be catching my breathe for a while – so blessed and perfectly happy with my life but soooo unbelievably exhausted!! :) Reading your post made me breathe – and remember that I’m not alone!!
You’re awesome. Agree with everyone that you should take a break if you ever need one… but I would miss you a lot too!
xo
You know what I would like just as much as your new posts (which I LOVE)? Old posts, re-run! Have a 2 week re-run week! I promise we’ll all be happy!!!
Thank you for sharing. Being a mom IS hard work. I would prefer to read blogs where it shows more of ‘real’ life. No one’s life is rainbows and sunshine all the time. We are all human and we all have hard days, weeks or even months at times. The best part is when we can come together as woman and support each other. Even if it is just to lend an ear and say, “I have been there too!”. Hope your week is a little less crazy! :)
I feel like I’ve had to many of those rough weeks lately. Makes me wonder when and if “easy” weeks will ever be the norm. Sometimes I miss the days of having just babies and toddlers at home, because the school age stuff is tough, especially the crazy schedule. Thankfully there are enough really good (but fleeting) moments that get me through. How did the closet organizing go? I cleaned a kitchen drawer the other day, just to feel like something was under my control!
As long as you don’t leave altogether :-)Love your honesty and the randomness! I do the same thing to stress less – ORGANIZE! Or at least make a plan.
A perfect description of how I often feel! Being a mom is the best job ever, but man oh man it’s hard sometimes! Thanks for making my days a bit brighter with your blog.
Erin, you can ALWAYS vent to us!! We all understand and can sympathize with the stresses of everyday life.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the little animal picnic that Ellie arranged! That is just PRECIOUS how she draws their food on the paper plates. She is SO creative!! It just shows what a great imagination she has.
Take care!!
jane
I hear ya, we all have days/ weeks like that. I live in MA & we got 2 feet of snow this week & I had no electricity for 4 days. And our temps were like 30 degrees.
Then my husband wired a generator & we were SO happy to have heat then our furnace went ! Crazy week. But furnace is fixed & powers back, all is well.
Now I have laundry galore to catch up on. Kiddos go back to school tomorrow ! :-)
Cheering you on and hope this week is a bit calmer. Its been quite some time since I was in that such busy mom stage. Appreciated all the comments too and agree how nice it is when we support each other as women. xoxo. We are off to St. George in a few days to find sunshine and relaxation. Ahhh.
Erin your ‘random’ posts are always my favourite!! They are funny, real and often have good tips and ideas. Don’t stop!!! Love love love your blog. From kath in Australia
Erin,
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I honestly enjoyed reading this post. I love your blog, and read it regularly. But being a mom who has an hour commute and is basically single parenting because my husband is self employed, I look at the pictures of your fabulous home and think, how in the heck could I ever have time to make all those things happen… Between cooking, working, gym time, kid time…oh the things I could accomplish with another hour in my day! Basically what I’m saying is that sharing how challenging your week was, is real. It’s honest. It’s part of being a mom and a wife. Which are all reasons why people read your blog. So please hang in there. And keep blogging. Because the more ideas we can share, the better we can make our families. And the easier it becomes to weather the storms…
Thank you thank you! Sounds like we are all having crazy weeks right now! And I guess that’s just it. Being a mom is crazy. Life is crazy. It’s so nice to know that we all feel overwhelmed sometimes. Your comments have cheered me up immensely this week! In fact I’ve read through them several times. I really appreciate all of you so much! Here’s hoping we all have less stress and more sunshine in our futures! :)
And Lisa – I’m totally using your idea! (what a great one!) Re-run week!! Coming soon… :)
Oh my Erin! You make me laugh. I totally thought you were going to say how you got Kole down for a nap, turned on a movie for Ad and then flopped down on your bed for a nap! That’s what I would have done, but not you, off to organize a closet to make yourself feel better!
LOVE Ellie’s solution to feeding the pandas! Oh my heck that girl makes me laugh, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kid as imaginative as Ellie. Love it!