Recently, a child therapist I know observed my children and complimented me, saying, “You’re such a good mum.”
Feeling like a fake, I confessed, “I don’t feel like a good mum. The kids are exhausting me, I’m losing it, and I dread each day, wondering how I’ll cope.”
Her response has stuck with me: “Babies cry, it’s how they express themselves. Toddlers scream, kids whine, and teenagers complain.”
She added, “Then mums mutter ‘for fuck’s sake’ under their breath before answering. That’s how we communicate. But it’s better than silence. A house full of noisy kids and a parent dealing with constant demands is healthy. It’s the quiet children, the frightened toddlers, the absent teenagers, and the parents who don’t communicate that concern me. And kids don’t make you crazy; you were already a bit crazy. That’s why you had them.”
Suddenly, I felt like I was doing okay.
Deep breaths, you’re doing a good job.