Why is Being a Mom So Hard?

One baby is crying, and the other needs your attention. Who do you choose? The answer is—both. And that’s the hardest part. You’re constantly trying to prioritize one need over another, knowing that someone will have to wait. Lying in bed with one child at bedtime while the other cries in the next room? It shatters your heart.

I thought being a mom of one was hard… then I had two. A toddler and a newborn will stretch you, test you, and bring you to the edge of your sanity. Some days, it feels like pure survival. If you’ve ever felt this way, overwhelmed, maxed out, wondering if you’re the only one barely holding it together, know this: You’re not alone

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Motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also brutal. It asks for everything—your time, your body, your patience, your sleep, and gives you no instruction manual in return. Let’s talk about why it feels so hard, and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Motherhood is a blessing, a calling, a gift…It’s also a full-contact sport with zero halftime.

Some days, you’re overflowing with gratitude. Other days, you’re overflowing with… a diaper blowout and attitude. Let’s talk about why being a mom is so stinking hard.

1. You're on Call 24/7

Doctors and nurses have shifts. Moms? Nope. Your shift starts at conception and never ends. You might sleep… but probably not well. Someone’s always sick, scared, or just “really needs a bottle” at 2:34 a.m.

2. No One Knows What They Want (Including You)

You made the sandwich. Cut the crusts. Served it on the blue plate. Then suddenly, they “wanted triangles, not squares,” and you’re the villain in their toddler movie. Guess who’s remaking lunch while holding a baby with one arm and a dog barking at the Amazon delivery guy?

3. The Bathroom is a War Zone

If you've ever entered your bathroom and wondered if a small fire hydrant had been set off, welcome to the life of a boy mom. Toilet training? It's more like target practice, and here's a spoiler: they're missing the mark. Dramatically. Oh, you have a girl? You might catch her tossing toys into the toilet to see if they float.

4. Laundry is a Full-Time Job (with No Pay)

You just folded the last load. You were this close to being caught up. And then—bam—a diaper blowout, a trail of snacks on the floor, and spaghetti stuck to someone’s shirt. Just like that, the laundry pile is back, bigger and smellier than before. And it is not just their clothes, it's yours too. It’s a never-ending cycle of wash, fold, repeat… and repeat again

5. You’re Expected to Be a Mind-Reader

You were supposed to know they wanted the red sippy cup, not the blue one. You were supposed to know they didn’t want you to sing that song. You were supposed to know what was wrong. Mom = mind reader.

6. You’re Doing It All—All At Once

You're meal-planning, refereeing sibling fights, Googling rashes, answering work emails, and trying to remember the last time you drank water—all before 10 a.m. Multitasking isn’t a skill anymore. It’s your entire personality.

But Here’s the Thing...

For every mess, meltdown, and moment of “I cannot do this today,”…There’s a sleepy snuggle. A giggle fit. A sticky little hand grabs yours. A whispered “I love you, Mama” that hits you like a wave. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s chaotic. Yes, there is pee on the floor. But it’s your beautiful, messy, laugh-so-you-don’t-cry kind of life. And you’re doing a better job than you think.