You wake up, maybe you hear footsteps in the hall, or a request for breakfast, and a quiet sigh escapes you. Another day of full-house living, when you pictured quiet mornings, leisurely breakfasts, and maybe, just maybe, an uninterrupted weekend to yourself. Instead, your home and your wallet feel stretched, and your energy is running on fumes.
You've tried to explain how you feel – the exhaustion, the worry, the feeling of always being "on." And sometimes, the responses are dismissive: "That's just family," or "Everyone's doing it." It’s like a cold splash of water on your very real feelings. You might even feel guilty for feeling this way, thinking, Am I a bad parent for wanting my own life back?
No, dear one. You are not a bad parent. Your feelings are not selfish. They are absolutely valid. You are navigating a challenge that previous generations of parents didn't face in the same way, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed and unheard.