A PSA for the Exasperated Parent

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I know you really don’t know me or my personality very well, but I am the type of person who is generally very positive; even annoyingly so. I may get down in the dumps for a moment, but I’ll vent it out to my husband or my girlfriends and then move on.

This winter, however, I have to admit I am struggling.

I recently posted about battling sickness in the home, and guess what… I am still battling sickness in the home. Basically, since September, we have been switching off and on sharing germs so at least one of us under this roof is sick at any one point in time.

At first, I just accepted Jax was in daycare for his first winter season and this was normal. I have to say though, so much time seems to have passed with us being under the weather that I can’t help but start to wonder if there’s something I am doing wrong.

Or-what if there is something I could be doing better? I clean and I clean, I wash and I wash. I pump us all full of fluids and low sodium, high fiber, dye-free, antioxidant-rich, omega filled foods.

I do all of the things. So why, oh why, are we still sick?!

I vented my dark thoughts and self-doubts to my friends in our group chat, and they quickly told me the things I needed to hear. They told me I was doing my best and I was a good mother to my son whom I love so dearly. Then I got a good night’s sleep and felt better the next morning. However, I’d be lying if I said those thoughts don’t still creep in (not unlike the germs in my home). 

I say all of this to let anyone who is reading these words know that we ALL struggle. We all have self-doubt and question our parenting skills.

Ultimately, though, if you are doing your very best and you still feel you could be doing more or better; then reach out to a third-party and let them provide the support and the words that you need to hear. Even the most positive people have their moments of despair.

We are all struggling moms and dads trying to keep our littles happy and healthy. I know it can be frustrating. I know it can seem impossible.

I am also confident in saying you are doing great! I bet your littles think so too!

Feeling exhausted? Need to hear you are rocking your job as a mom or dad? Well, I am here to tell you that you are AMAZING and you are doing your very best and that is ABSOLUTELY ENOUGH! Keep at it mama (or dada), you’ve got this! 

P.S. Revel in every snuggle this sick period provides. It’s the only silver lining!

How do you encourage other parents around you?

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Jenn Harmon
Jenn is a coffee loving, food eating, wine drinking mom on the run. She is always full of energy and no one, including her own family, knows where she gets it from. She loves the challenge of being a working mom and raising a family while still seeking out the time for a good home cooked meal. She has a plant based food blog Peppers and Peaches where readers can find her recipes and writings on living a life with healthy, tasty food. However, these days, most of Jenn’s time is spent with her sweet baby boy, Jackson Thomas Harmon, forevermore to be referred to as “Jax”. He may look exactly like dad, but he has mom’s spunk and energy.

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