I’m officially stepping back from the chaos of parenting.
I quit the endless cycle of getting up from the table just as I finally sit down. I’m over folding the kids’ laundry because, honestly, they’re old enough to handle that themselves. If they want to cram everything haphazardly into their drawers, that’s on them.
I quit being the designated finder of lost items. My 5-year-old can’t locate her stuffed unicorn, my 9-year-old can’t track down his tablet, and my partner can’t seem to find his sunglasses or wallet. Guess who knows where all that stuff is? Me! And guess who’s not spilling the beans? That’s right—ME!
I quit preparing snacks every hour of the day. Three meals a day for my ravenous little monsters is all they’re getting. They can figure out their own cheese and crackers.
I quit being jolted awake for trivial matters at night. If there’s a nightmare, fine, come cuddle. But if someone is screaming at 3 a.m. because they need their covers straightened? Well, that’s when I might just lose it.
I quit over-scheduling my kids. One activity each is going to have to do. I need some peaceful evenings at home without the mad dash.
I quit the cycle of repeating myself. If I ask my child if they want the last cookie and all I get is a distracted “Huh?” guess what? I’m eating it. Sorry, kid; you snooze, you lose!
I quit stressing about the mess in my house. I picked up some freelance work recently, and instead of putting that money into a college fund, I’m hiring a housekeeper. Because let’s face it, I like a clean home but don’t have time for it anymore, and I’m done stressing about it!
I quit prioritizing everyone else’s needs over my own. I might just choose to work out instead of cooking dinner sometimes. Leftovers, kids! Or ask your dad; he can handle it. I even made appointments for myself that I’d been avoiding for ages because I thought I shouldn’t take time for myself.
I quit feeling guilty about treating myself. For years, I’d put back anything nice I wanted before checkout. Not anymore! I recently bought myself some high-end makeup that makes me feel fabulous, and I’m not ashamed of it.
I quit tolerating my kids invading my personal space. I deserve to have my own bodily autonomy. No more jungle-gym style mommy, elbowing or head-butting me. Hugs, of course, are totally acceptable.
I’m making these changes because I’ve realized that being a martyr didn’t help anyone. Instead of being the best version of myself for my family, I became a stressed-out, irritable shadow of who I truly am. No more! From now on, everyone—including me—gets the calm, happy, fulfilled version of me.
Because I quit.
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In summary, I’ve decided to take a stand against the relentless demands of parenting. By reclaiming my time and setting boundaries, I’m aiming for a more balanced and joyful life for both me and my family.