37 Reasons I’m Struggling to Embrace the Moment of Parenting

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You know, sometimes I find myself venting about motherhood. And every time I do, there’s always someone ready to offer the same cliché advice: “Enjoy it while it lasts,” “Live in the moment,” “Savor every second.” And honestly, I get it. I want to punch them in the face, not because their advice is bad—it’s actually spot on. It’s just that knowing they’re right makes it even more frustrating when I can’t quite manage that full-on moment embrace, at least not all the time.

So, I thought I’d share a few reasons why I struggle with this concept. Here are 37 reasons I’m not fully embracing the moment…

1. I’m so exhausted that I recently told a friend I had a baby girl. Spoiler alert: my baby is a boy.
2. It’s hard to be present when your brain is fueled by 12,000 calories of junk and enough sugar to make a dentist cry.
3. There’s a point each day when I feel like I might actually collapse from sheer fatigue, but then I hit the drive-thru for a coffee and think, “I can survive one more day.”
4. But then I remember I won’t lose that extra 30 pounds if I keep indulging. Yet, I do it anyway because, well, survival.
5. Speaking of survival, I’m pretty sure there’s baby poop under my fingernail right now.
6. My toddler only eats eggs on TUESDAYS! Cue the 30-minute meltdown over breakfast, despite her having no clue what day it is.
7. It’s too hot for my “quality” nursing bra, but the comfy Target one clogged my duct. So, I’m stuck between itchy and milky.
8. Great choices, right? Uncomfortable and hot or wet and milky. (Embrace that, huh?)
9. I’ve been taking my postpartum supplements like a champ, but some mornings I wake up wondering if I’ve ruined my entire life.
10. My toddler just decided to pee on the pool deck. Awesome.
11. Sometimes my older kids argue so much about trivial things that I pack up the little ones and escape to the park just for a break from the noise.
12. Then they sit next to me and complain about the heat.
13. Meanwhile, my skin itches like crazy.
14. I usually end up snapping “GO AWAY NOW,” only to feel guilty later because I know time is fleeting.
15. I embraced motherhood 15 minutes ago, and now I need a break to play Candy Crush and pretend I’m young and free.
16. Everyone is asking for things all day long, and your voice just adds to the overwhelming chorus of demands.
17. Can’t you guys just acknowledge my struggles instead of throwing more advice my way? When I vent about motherhood, I don’t want to hear “If you were a better mom, you’d enjoy every second!”
18. Now I can’t embrace the moment because I feel guilty for not doing it when you told me to.
19. This leads me to think about how my oldest will be 18 in six years and instead of living in the now, I’m pondering where the last 13 years went.
20. Money worries are always on my mind. We could really use a break.
21. I’m stressing about an article due tonight while my baby seems to think that nursing is the only acceptable activity.
22. I find myself crying over nothing.
23. My kids ask me why I’m crying, and I can’t even explain it.
24. I mentally note to avoid watching videos about rescued elephants ever again.
25. It’s 4 PM and I just realized my kids need to eat… again. Seriously, why do they eat so often?
26. The dog escaped through our broken fence. Now I’m worried about him and feeling guilty for not paying enough attention. (Don’t worry, we found him!)
27. Look, I am embracing motherhood, just not at this very moment. Why is that not okay? I love my kids, just not always at this second.
28. Don’t all jobs have their annoying moments? If I were a lawyer, no one would tell me to “enjoy” doing time entry.
29. But no, motherhood is sacred and precious, right? Not always.
30. Sometimes it’s downright tough, and we need to stop telling moms to “enjoy every moment” when some are downright messy, filled with grit and chaos.
31. I was up until midnight working, and when my baby woke at 3 AM, I thought I might never sleep again.
32. It’s hard to embrace anything when you’re half-awake, head pounding, and stuck under a crying newborn and a wiggly toddler.
33. It’s 5 AM and I’m dealing with snot-sucking devices, trying to help my baby sleep.
34. But I’m worried he might have whooping cough. Time to Google that.
35. Oh, perfect—it’s 6 AM! Time for toddler cuddles!
36. My kitchen smells like a mix of vomit and mildew. Yum.
37. I need to go to Costco, but I’m just too exhausted.

Eventually, I throw in the towel, plop on the couch, and catch some 30 Rock reruns. For a moment, we all laugh when the baby tries to nurse the dog’s nose, and my daughter beams after swimming without a fuss. I briefly see the innocence of my children, that joyful light.

But then, the diaper explosion hits, and chaos resumes. I change my baby in the hot car while my kids bicker over who sits where. I see my coffee waiting in the stroller, my little beacon of hope.

So there you have it—37 reasons I’m struggling to embrace the moment. But I’m doing my best, just like every other mom out there. And honestly, I embraced the moment yesterday, so give me a break today!

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Summary:

In this humorous take on motherhood, Lisa McKinney shares 37 relatable reasons why embracing each moment can be overwhelming. From exhaustion to the chaos of daily life, she highlights the struggle many parents face in finding joy amidst the challenges of parenting, ultimately reminding us that it’s okay to take a step back and not always be in the moment.