Read This When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed by Parenthood

The baby is crying. Dishes are piling up in the sink. You keep forgetting to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, and now your clean clothes are stinky. You’re hungry, but you can’t seem to find a moment to make yourself something to eat. The mail is piling up, and the texts are going unanswered and you’re starting to feel like you have way more things to do than time to do it.

Sound familiar?

Moments like this can feel never ending, and it’s easy to believe that no one cares.

So, allow us to say the things you’re desperate to hear:

You deserve a medal. A gold one. And an all expenses paid vacation with a dedicated nanny to look after your little one elsewhere. You’re meant to be surrounded by a village of people all helping each other to stay afloat, and instead you’re shouldering the responsibilities of far too many tasks.

We see you.

We are you.

So, in case no one else has told you lately: thank you for your service. Thank you for your devotion to caring for your family. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for all that you are.

The baby will sleep again. The house will get cleaned again. You will feel free and sexual and fun again. One day. Maybe not today. But one day soon.

Until then, take a deep breath, drink some water and put your feet on the Earth for as long as you can.

You will move through this. And may you grow stronger and softer as you do.