I recently hit my limit. My kitchen looked like a disaster zone. Socks, shoes, and sweatshirts littered the floor, while dirty plates and a collection of cups cluttered the coffee table. One dog was barking non-stop, and the other had just relieved itself indoors. One child was whining about something trivial, and the other was being particularly obnoxious. I was at my wit’s end.
“Enough!” I shouted. “To your rooms. No phones, no Xbox, no Switch. Nothing.” Naturally, this only led to more whining and defiance. “Why are you so angry?” they exclaimed.
And that’s when my frustration boiled over. This is why moms lose their composure. After being ignored countless times when asking them to clean up their messes or put their dirty dishes in the sink, we reach a breaking point. Our reminders often go unheard, and our voices become background noise. Only when we’re at our wit’s end do they seem to take notice.
But let’s be real, we’ve given you so many chances already, and frankly, I’m exhausted from repeating myself.
This is why moms lose it: we’re utterly worn out, and it often feels like no one cares. We’re tired of reminding our kids not to act like slobs, to pick up after themselves, and to put their phones down. We lie awake at night worrying about everything—from a teacher’s offhand comment to our tween’s growing swearing habit or the financial strain of a family vacation. It’s not just physical tiredness; it’s a deep, emotional fatigue that weighs us down.
Before becoming a mom, I never imagined I would sometimes feel such intense anger or frustration. I’m generally a laid-back person, or at least I strive to be. But the chaos of motherhood can flip a switch from calm to enraged in seconds.
Sometimes it’s the sheer messiness of life that gets to me. Dirty fingerprints are on every wall, and I’ve cleaned up more bodily fluids (both from kids and pets) than anyone should ever have to. Other times, it’s underlying anxiety that triggers my outbursts—stress about work, regrets, and fears about the world we live in, from everyday worries to catastrophic events like mass shootings.
We occasionally lose our cool simply because we are human, imperfect, and flawed. But more often than not, it’s the unpredictability of motherhood that sends us over the edge. With so much on our plates, it can all feel like too much. The emotional burden of motherhood is often underestimated—it’s profound yet difficult to articulate unless you’re living it.
The reality is, we’re juggling everything, so how can we not occasionally lose it? We’re not only responsible for our families’ well-being; we also carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We feel anger and sadness about the world we’re raising our children in. Our lives are filled with purpose but often lack joy, leading us to question ourselves and spiral into regret.
Yes, this chaotic mess is what leads to our outbursts. We should give ourselves grace because anyone in our position would crack sometimes. There’s immense pressure on parents—especially moms—to be everything for everyone. With judgment coming from every direction, it can feel impossible to win, leading to exhaustion in every sense.
So, when you find yourself nearing your breaking point, be kind to yourself. You’re justified. You’re not “crazy.” You’re carrying a heavy load and sometimes it’s okay to drop the basket. Pick yourself up, give yourself a moment to breathe, and then keep moving forward because that’s what we do as mothers.
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In summary, the chaos of motherhood can push us to our limits, but it’s vital to recognize that losing our cool is part of the journey. We carry a heavy burden, and it’s more than okay to acknowledge that.