It’s Okay To Want A Day Off

What I’m about to say might be a bit controversial.  Maybe that’s why I’m posting it the day after Mother’s Day and not on Mother’s Day itself.

It’s okay to want a day off.

It’s also okay to think that’s crazy.

All last week, I saw various posts being shared about “the perfect gift for Mother’s Day”.  There were a few different options, but one that I kept seeing is that “Mom just wants a day off” or “time to herself”.  The comments are divided here, but they’re pretty much both extremes with very few in the middle.  Either you agree and think a day off would be awesome, or you can’t see how someone could possibly want time away from her precious blessings, and if you say you do, you’re a terrible person.

Mothering is hard, guys.  Why are we making this a battle?

Kids are a lot of work, and for introverted people who fill their tanks from moments of peace and quiet alone, a day off sounds like a perfect reward for all those times you’ve had to inwardly sigh as another kid climbed on top of you and the baby woke up from her nap and you really just wanted five minutes to read a book and drink your coffee while it’s still warm.  (Can you tell I tend toward that side?)

But kids are also amazing blessings.  You see the things they’ve picked up on and learned without you even meaning to teach them.  You get compliments from other people about their behavior, or how cute they are, or anything else, and you feel like you’re awesome at this job and how could you ever want to leave them?

Maybe your tank gets full from seeing the awesome things your kids do and being around them.  Maybe you’d love for them to do some extra chores on Mother’s Day, or  to make you food, or bring you dandelions from the yard.  Or chocolate.  That’s pretty much always a winner.  And you know what?  Those are also really awesome Mother’s Day gifts.

We’re blessed to be mothers.  Let’s not battle over our differences.