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Mum shares brutally honest post to her Facebook page that soon went viral and attracted thousands of comments.

Sarah Cottrell is a mum of three behind the blog Housewife Plus.

Ms Cottrell tells Babble that she wrote the post after feeling totally overwhelmed one afternoon, before ultimately telling herself: “‘This is just one stupid frustrating day, get over it, woman!’

So I wrote that post.” But in the process, she spoke volumes about the day in, day out struggles of parenthood that face us all — which are often at odds with the images of perfection we see projected across social media.”

“I feel like calling my mom and apologizing profusely for ever being loud, sassy, bratty, rambunctious, and/or annoying,” she says.

“Parenting IS HARD. [But] no matter how many times I yell that in all caps, no one can really know how difficult it is to be a parent until you are one.”

Her post read:

“This is me. Right now. Trying not to pull my hair out. I have been trying to finish the laundry I started yesterday and do the dishes (we don’t have a dishwasher because I AM THE DISHWASHER.) My oldest son is bouncing off the walls (literally, there is a frigging dent in the wall), my middle wild child just bonked his head while spelunking in the linen closet and now has an ice pack on his developing egg, and the baby – pictured here – is either starting to teeth or is testing out the theory that if she screams loud enough and for long enough that I will actually cry. CRY.

housewife plus

“Getting anything done in this house is dizzying. I haven’t showered, eaten, or even gotten dressed for that matter and it’s already after 2pm.
And you know what? I don’t feel #blessed in this moment. I feel frustrated and tired.

“But that’s what parenting is, right? It’s this crazy journey that is mostly rewarding but pock marked by sh*tty days like this one. These are the if-it-doesnt-kill-you kind of days. I file these moments away in my heart for when I need to remind myself that I am only one person. Like every other mom, I am trying my best to do this right. And I totally screw it up at least a dozen times a day.

“I won’t ever color neatly inside the lines of motherhood, but I love my kids with all my heart. And right now while the sink is full of dirty dishes, at least one kid is whining, and I smell faintly of pee and spit up (don’t ask) that big feeling of love is all I got.

“And I call that a win.”

Can you relate to how this mum feels?

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  • The tough days are tough but in years to come its the good days that you remember.

    Reply

  • Try having a new baby, with three other children under 6, moved to a new locale where you know no-one while your husband still lives in the city you once knew for the next six months till he can join you at the new house. No TV or radio, no phones at all, and very little in the way of cooking appliances. Then tell me how hard done by you are.

    Reply

  • Sambi, you are lucky that your husband supports you as much as he does. Sadly not all give much support at all.
    A new baby basically turns your life upside down until a routine is gradually established which may not work as a timetable. Routine goes out the window if baby is unwell for any reason.
    People need to be more thoughtful before being critical

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  • I feel you sister! Any trolls should be ignored- they clearly have nothing better to do!

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  • Amen sister we are all right there but often keep it inside

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  • She just needs to vent then feel a bit better (I hope)

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  • Parenting is the hardest and most challenging job we will have have/do. Posts like this just share the raw and honest world that is parenting and we should share this side more. Rather than gloss over, or share only the good stuff, if we were more real with each other, we’d all feel more supported rather than living up to an unreal expectation of what we think we should be.

    Reply

  • I feel for this mum as it is not easy to raise children it is a very hard job and my advise is to get support and help from family members when needed and have a break

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  • She’s just telling it as she sees it. Sometimes it is hard to cope.

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  • Oh bless you. Wishing you a brighter, happier and more organised day tomorrow,

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  • This is me. But a lot. I often feel like the hard days well and truly outnumber the good days, particularly when our “behaviourally challenged” child (a.k.a. the devil) is at her finest. My husband is the most amazing man and gives me so much support with keeping the home in order but I feel like a failure most of the time! I know my beloved and our Punks love me, regardless of how many times I screw it up, but I hope one day soon I can finally get on top of it all and do better for them!

    Reply

  • Yep, this post is raw and very real. When I was in the thick of it a few years ago it was like that. Some days i just could not cope. What helped me get through bad days was knowing that before long whatever phase I was in would be over. To get through parenting You need Good friends who you can laugh with, vigorous exercise ( if you can find a gym with a great crèche) and a big glass of wine every now and then helps too ????

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  • It never fails to amaze me how trolls like to take people down. Let her have her rant and she’ll move on tomorrow.

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  • Then the husband comes home and whinges why nothing is done, typical!

    Reply

  • I can definitely relate and I only have one.

    Reply

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