To Anyone Who Thinks Being a Stay-at-Home Mom Is 'Easy'

But the truth is… it’s fucking lonely and overwhelming.

You can’t do anything by yourself; go to the bathroom, enjoy a cup of coffee, read — hell, you can’t even scrub the shit out of pants for the third time in a day without someone crying or screaming at your leg.

You don’t get breaks unless they are sleeping; and even then you use that time to clean up.

You struggle to come up with ways to entertain someone for literally 12 hours a day, every day.

You wear the same clothes that smell like sweat and tears for days at a time because it’s already stained and no use in ruining more clothes.

You forget what it means or feels like to be an individual; because your entire existence now revolves around that child.

 

You look at working moms and get jealous because you wish you could have an excuse to have an adult conversation without being interrupted.

You lock yourself in the bathroom and scream into a towel while crying because you need a second to breathe; all while a child is banging on the door to get in.

Let that sink in. Most of us don’t even have the luxury to cry and be frustrated in peace… and when we do breakdown people question it. “What do you have to cry about? You get to sit home all day.”

I was one of those people who judged stay-at-home moms — but I get it now. The people who said they’d be there to help have all but disappeared, and you’re left with this overwhelming sense of failure.

My house isn’t clean. I’m not clean. The dishes aren’t done. I have screamed already today. I have cried, and I have felt so damn guilty that my child was here to witness it.

But I am alone and I am lonely.

Check in on your stay-at-home mom friends… we are not always OK.

This post originally appeared on Bridgette Anne’s Facebook page.