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You are here: Home / All Posts / To The Parents Who Don’t Feel Like They Can Get It All Done

To The Parents Who Don’t Feel Like They Can Get It All Done

Published March 20, 2015. Last updated January 10, 2020 by Liz. This post may contain affiliate links.

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I bet you woke up with a list of things you needed to do today.

I did, too.

You knew it was ambitious. You had appointments to schedule and bills to pay and yes the bathrooms will get done today!

And sure it will be hard but dammit sometime in between unloading the dishwasher and changing the sheets (how often do people do that anyway?) and emptying the recycling bin you WILL make that phone call to the insurance company that you’ve been needing to do for weeks.

And yes you know you still have a dozen emails to respond to but how will that happen when you have to make it to a meeting by noon?

And I’m guessing that maybe (just maybe) you struggled to get to the dishes first thing, like you meant to.

Maybe a little hand reached for yours (which was reaching for those dishes), wanting for you to pick her up and hold her for awhile. And then she needed a snack and a tickle and a diaper change.

And so the dishes sat there a bit longer than planned because someone else needed you more.

So you got it all done, you see.

And when you decided to do the laundry during her morning nap, 10 shirts into folding you heard a whimper which turned into a cry. So you went and straightened her blanket and rubbed her back and sang her a song. And the shirts remained in their unfinished pile because someone else needed you more.

So you got it all done, you see.

And you got home from work and started to cook dinner, which who has the time between homework and baths, but you saved a recipe from earlier in the week and you picked up the groceries on your lunch break and you were ready.

But math homework was really hard that night and then the little one cut his finger and mom could you review these flash cards with me, after you get the bandaid please??

And so you set aside your recipe and you kissed a bandaid and you called for a pizza and you sat down with the flash cards because someone else needed you more.

So you got it all done, you see.

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And on your way to his baseball game you were planning to make a few calls; schedule a physical and that haircut that you keep putting off.

But as you reached for your phone he looked up from the backseat just long enough to catch your eye in the mirror. And you could see that something was on his mind and so you pulled your hand back from your phone and you asked him what was up.

And although he’s often guarded now, he told you about the friend at school who had hurt his feelings at lunch. And you could see in his eyes the welling of tears.

And so you listened and listened and then talked some yourself. And you never made those calls because someone else needed you more.

So you got it all done, you see.

And sometime during the day, in the middle of the things that did and didn’t happen, your breath caught in your throat (for an instant) as you watched your baby (no matter how old your “baby” might be, now) from across the room.

My breath caught too.

He is the best thing you’ve ever seen. And when you look straight at him, he looks straight back.

We got it all done, you see.

toddler boy

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Filed Under: All Posts, Most Popular, Parenting, Parenting Advice

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Johanna

    March 20, 2015 at 9:48 am

    Damnit, Liz. I don’t even have kids and you made me cry. Well played…

    Reply
    • LP

      March 20, 2015 at 10:30 am

      Ditto what Johanna said. Gulp. Dab dab.

      Reply
  2. JessP

    March 20, 2015 at 9:52 am

    Ahh damn it Liz it sucks enough emerging from the supply closet (aka the pump room) and getting those looks from everyone sitting nearby who knows I was just in here with my boobs out for 20 minutes while they were hard at work. Having to emerge with tears in my eyes?! You and the hormones have done it again!

    Reply
  3. Mary-Kathryn Toffin

    March 20, 2015 at 10:05 am

    Just what I needed to hear today ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  4. Tonya

    March 20, 2015 at 10:11 am

    You need to start putting disclaimers at the top of “tear-jerker” posts. Otherwise I will keep crying at work!

    Reply
    • Liz

      March 20, 2015 at 10:16 am

      Tonya I should! Oops. I forget that I have a humor blog sometimes ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Christine

    March 20, 2015 at 10:14 am

    From the mom who left the bed unmade this morning (even though we have a guest coming – ACK!), because I felt guilty for rushing my kids through the morning, every morning, and just wanted 2 more minutes to just “be” with them… Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Momma C

    March 20, 2015 at 10:28 am

    I am so glad that you keep all of the important things in life in perspective. Errands will always be there but the needs of your little love are far more important …….just look at his smile and there is no denying how happy he is.

    Reply
  7. Michele @ A Storybook Life

    March 20, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Aw, Liz, you caught me on a day (week, month, year) when I needed this SO MUCH. Thank you for this. (Also for helping me realize that I’m not the only one who puts off those calls to the insurance company.)

    Reply
  8. A Morning Grouch

    March 20, 2015 at 11:58 am

    THe important things. We get the important things done. Love this.

    Reply
  9. Anne

    March 20, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Yep, crying at work like a schmo!

    Reply
  10. Jessica

    March 20, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Sitting at my desk trying to hide the fact I’m crying! That was a beautiful post. I needed that!!! Thank you Liz ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
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Welcome to the Mothership!

Hi! I'm Liz, mom to 3 young kids. Like all of you, I have tons of free time on my hands to ponder the complexities of motherhood. Ok I have almost no time, these kids are taking me down. I write this blog to find camaraderie with the rest of you in the trenches. Welcome! Read Moreโ€ฆ

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