Staying Home, Holding It Together

I won’t sugarcoat it, being a stay-at-home mom has been one of the most stretching seasons of my life.

Most days, I’m the only adult in the house from the moment my feet hit the floor until after bedtime. My partner works hard, and by the time he walks through the door, the day is done. The tantrums have happened. The meals have been made. The messes cleaned (and cleaned again). The questions answered. The patience tested.

And some days? I’m overstimulated before 9 a.m.

There’s no clocking out. No quiet car ride home. No lunch break with coworkers. Just me and a tiny human who needs me for everything..... snacks, cuddles, discipline, comfort, entertainment. I love being their safe place. But being the safe place 24/7 can be exhausting.

Here’s what I’ve had to learn the hard way:

1. It’s okay to admit it’s hard.

You can be grateful and overwhelmed at the same time. Saying “this is draining” doesn’t mean you don’t love your child. It means you’re human.

2. You have to protect your mental health.

I grew up in chaos. I refuse to raise my child in it. That means when I feel myself getting irritable or overstimulated, I step away for a minute. I breathe. I reset. Breaking cycles requires intention, and that takes energy.

3. Stop calling yourself “just” a stay-at-home mom.

There is nothing small about shaping a whole human. The mental load alone is a full-time job! Planning meals, remembering appointments, teaching manners, managing emotions (theirs and yours).

4. Find connection somewhere.

Even if it’s a quick phone call, a text to a friend, or sharing your story online. Isolation will convince you you’re alone. You’re not.

Some days I miss who I was before motherhood. Some days I count down to bedtime. And then my little ones wraps their arms around me like I’m their whole world. But in their eyes, I am.

If you’re home all day feeling drained, unseen, or like you’re running on empty… you’re not failing. You’re carrying more than most people see.

And you deserve support too.

If this resonated with you, share it. Let another mom know she’s not crazy for feeling tired. We can love our kids deeply and still admit this role is hard. Both can be true.