Today was definitely one of those mornings. From the moment my alarm blared its relentless beeping, I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. The kids slept in, and after a long four-day weekend, we were all struggling to readjust to our usual school routine. We scrambled through brushing our teeth and packing lunches, and breakfast ended up being dry cereal served in the car—a disaster that ended with cereal scattered all over the floor just as we were heading out the door.
You know the type of mornings I mean, right? Everything seems fine on the surface, yet something feels off. You might be cranky, overwhelmed, or just plain out of sorts. Maybe you found yourself in a petty argument with your partner about something trivial that you can’t even recall now. Or perhaps you’re bogged down by a challenging work project, or maybe an unkind comment popped up on your social media. It could even be that you’re just feeling tired, hungry, or a bit hormonal. And let’s not even start on the endless requests: “Mom, can you help me?” or “Mom, he’s bothering me!” or “Mom, there’s a mess in the living room!”
Regardless of the cause, we all have those days, weeks, or even longer stretches where we feel like we’re just getting by. There’s a wealth of advice available from parenting experts, psychologists, and self-help enthusiasts about how to turn things around—exercise, meditate, embrace a slower pace, be present, breathe deeply, and remember the turmoil will pass. While these suggestions are solid and often helpful, on days like today, I find myself wanting something different.
What I crave during these chaotic mornings is a little grace and understanding. I want reassurance that I’m not a terrible mom, even if I did yell at the kids to hurry up loudly enough for the neighbors to hear. I seek practical advice that acknowledges the reality of these moments. Here’s a candid approach that I wish someone would share for tackling one of those mornings:
- Find a secluded spot in your home, ideally one far away from everyone else—a bathroom or a closet will suffice. If necessary, retreat to the back corner of your basement.
- Lock the door behind you.
- Let it all out—scream every curse word you can think of, and don’t hesitate to invent a few new ones for good measure.
- Send a text to a close friend who won’t be offended by your colorful language and vent about everything that’s bothering you.
- Take a moment to wallow—complain, let out a few tears if you need to, and mutter a few more expletives.
- Unlock the door and rejoin the rest of the family.
And if that doesn’t do the trick, you may want to try the tried-and-true methods: take a few deep breaths, meditate, or remind yourself that this too shall pass. Yes, it will pass.
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In summary, we all experience rough mornings, and while we can find solace in expert advice, sometimes we just need a moment to vent and regroup. Giving ourselves a little grace and having a good laugh can make all the difference.