As a single parent it isn’t uncommon to feel like you’ve bitten off more than you could chew. It’s a lot to take on and there’s no one there to pick up the slack. I often find myself taking on more than I can handle. I push myself to the limit and throw myself into complete and utter chaos because somewhere along the line I convinced myself that I had to be supermom. Maybe it was because I felt guilty for getting divorced. Maybe it was because I was trying to prove that I wasn’t a failure. Either way, I’ve learned that I am a better mother when I don’t have as much on my plate.
This week has been a tough one for me. Things started to pile up quickly and before long I was sinking in an ocean of stress that I couldn’t pull myself out of. I couldn’t do anything well because I was so stressed about all the other things I needed to do. I started to shut down. I couldn’t give Logan the attention he needed. I couldn’t get the house as clean as I wanted. I couldn’t get my projects done the way I wanted. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my mother this weekend. She has been the greatest help to me as a single parent, but I still have trouble accepting it. I don’t like to be a burden and I feel like I should be able to do everything on my own. Unfortunately, even though I try my hardest to be supermom, I often fall short and have to ask for help from those around me.
Sometimes as a single parent you have to take a time out to gather your thoughts again, to recharge your batteries. If you don’t, you end up shutting down like I did. It doesn’t have to be long. Sometimes all you need is five minutes to close your eyes and take a deep breath. I have no doubt I will continue to try be supermom, it’s just who I am, but I have a sneaking suspicion that even supermoms have to catch their breath every once in a while.