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I’m A Weary Tween Mom
Hey there, fellow moms! Let me tell you, I am feeling fatigued—not your average tired, but the kind that comes from the daily grind of raising a human being. This isn’t the same exhaustion that comes from chasing a toddler around, dealing with potty training, and endless tantrums. Back when my daughter was little, I found that phase stressful, but deep down, I always knew she’d eventually figure out how to use the bathroom on her own.
Now, though? It’s a completely different kind of tired. My daughter is a tween and is counting down the days until she becomes a teenager. She can dress and bathe herself, and the idea of crawling into bed with me at night would totally freak her out. She even knows her way around the kitchen and can whip up a meal if needed.
This weariness isn’t just about late-night pickups from friends’ houses or early Saturday morning drives to activities. It runs deeper, rooted in emotional exhaustion. I find myself worrying about heavy topics like sexting, drugs, and even domestic violence—realities that kids her age face today, including in her own school. It’s a different kind of tiredness, one that’s not filled with endless toddler questions but rather the quiet weight of unsaid things.
As a mom, I want to shield my child from the world’s harsh realities, but I often feel powerless to do so. I know I shouldn’t jump in to fix everything, but sometimes just holding back is tiring. When she feels more, it’s hard not to feel more too. I strive to maintain my composure, but she often sees my calmness as proof that I just don’t understand what she’s going through.
On her 12th birthday, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I’m two-thirds of the way through my parenting journey with her. That pie chart visualization was a wake-up call, filling me with a newfound sense of urgency about the time we have left together. There’s so much I want to teach her and experience with her, even if I know spending time with me isn’t high on her list. And all those mistakes I’ve made over the past 12 years? I wish I could go back and fix them, not for me but for her.
But you know what? I’m incredibly lucky to be a tired mom of a growing kid. I cherish this complicated, beautiful phase of her life and all the ups and downs that come with it. I’ve heard from friends that the teenage years don’t get any easier, and boy, do I believe it.
I remember an older colleague telling me during my pregnancy, “You’ll never sleep the same way again,” and wow, he was spot on. Now I totally get it. The adage “the bigger the kids, the bigger the problems” really rings true. I just hope that one day, the worries ease up, but I’m beginning to think they won’t. As Toni Morrison said, “Grown don’t mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child.”
If you’re navigating the ups and downs of parenting like I am, check out this other post on our blog that dives into home insemination, or if you’re interested in more resources for pregnancy, this site has got some great information.
In summary, being a mom to a tween is a whole new level of fatigue that encompasses not just physical tiredness but an emotional toll as well. As we strive to help our kids navigate their challenging world, it can leave us feeling worn out, even as we cherish the experiences we have together.