I’m officially waving the white flag in the battle of parenting.
I quit getting up from the table the moment I finally sit down. I refuse to fold my kids’ laundry anymore; they’re old enough to tackle that task themselves. If they want to cram their clothes haphazardly into their drawers, then so be it. I quit scouring the house for lost items. If my 6-year-old can’t find her beloved unicorn or her favorite pen, that’s on her. My 10-year-old misplaces his tablet or book? Not my problem. And let’s not even get started on my husband’s endless search for his keys or wallet. Guess who knows the location of every lost item? Yep, me. But you know what? I’m not sharing that information anymore.
I quit being the snack machine. Three square meals a day is all they’ll get from me. If they’re hungry outside of those times, they can whip up their own cheese and crackers.
No more waking up in the dead of night for trivial matters. Sure, if one of the kids has a nightmare, they can join us in bed. But if someone demands I fix their blanket at 3 a.m., I might just lose it.
I quit over-scheduling my kids. One activity per child is more than enough. I need some peaceful evenings at home. Just one or two events a week is plenty.
I quit repeating myself. If I offer a cookie and the response is a dazed “Huh?” well, that cookie is mine. Sorry, kiddo, but next time, focus!
I quit stressing about the chaos in my house. I’ve started taking on some freelance work, and instead of funneling that money into the kids’ college fund, I’m hiring a housekeeper. I love a tidy home, but I don’t have the time or energy for it anymore, so I’m done stressing!
I quit prioritizing everyone else’s needs before my own. If I want to exercise instead of making dinner, so be it. Kids, find something else to eat or ask Dad to whip something up. He can cook, I promise. And yes, I’ve made appointments for myself to see a dermatologist and a therapist—things I’ve avoided for too long out of guilt for taking time away from my family or spending money on “nonessential” health care.
I quit feeling guilty about treating myself. For years, I’ve been the person who removes items from my cart before checkout, but no more. Recently, I splurged on some high-quality makeup that makes me feel fabulous, and I’m not apologizing for it.
I quit tolerating my kids invading my personal space. I deserve to have my own body autonomy. No more being a human jungle gym or suffering through the elbow nudges. Hugs, however, are exempt from this rule!
I’m making these changes because I finally realized that my martyrdom wasn’t benefiting anyone. Instead of giving my best self to my family, I lost sight of my own needs and became a frazzled version of who I truly am. From now on, everyone—including me—will experience the happiest, most fulfilled version of myself.
Because I quit.
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Summary
In this heartfelt declaration, a mother shares her decision to prioritize her well-being by quitting the endless demands of parenting. From refusing to find lost items to hiring help for housekeeping, she recognizes that martyrdom only leads to stress and frustration. By setting boundaries and making time for herself, she aims to reclaim her happiness, ultimately benefiting her family as well.