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- What Did I Actually Accomplish Today?
by Emma Johnson
Updated: August 21, 2015
Originally Published: April 26, 2015
The other day, I found myself navigating through a snowstorm to fetch a pair of nearly worn-out snow pants for my 9-year-old son, Noah. The snow began falling just as we were leaving for school, and as we waited in the drop-off line—ah, the joys of school drop-off—he exclaimed, “Mom!! I forgot my snow pants!” Naturally, he had forgotten them. When I offered to retrieve them, he hesitated, saying, “It’s fine, Mom. I won’t go outside.” So, I returned home.
I was home for about 92 minutes when the growing snowflakes and accumulation prompted me to grab those snow pants and brave the unplowed roads, knowing that playing in the snow without them was simply not an option.
Upon arriving at the school and handing over the crucial item to the office staff, one of them asked, “What did your child forget this time?” Almost instinctively, I responded, “Isn’t this what mothers do?”
And you know what? It truly is.
As mothers, we often find ourselves trapped in the cycle of daily routines—making beds, washing clothes, and sorting through the toys that seem to multiply overnight. We scrub crayon marks from the dryer, clean up muddy footprints, and endure the endless cycle of school projects and experiments. We nurture our babies, hold our toddlers’ hands, prepare meals, and pack lunches, all while sharing stories and laughter with our children.
At the end of the day, however, I sometimes look around and ask myself, “What did I actually do today?” We often yearn for the grand moments—the weekends when we tackled home improvement projects or the exciting trips to amusement parks. Yet, it’s easy to overlook the small, beautiful moments, like making that trek to school with forgotten snow pants.
You undoubtedly have your own versions of these moments. They are not extraordinary, but they are the essence of motherhood—the invisible acts of love and care that go unnoticed. No one rewards you for the sleepless nights spent comforting a child or for coaxing a scared 7-year-old to take their medicine. There aren’t any accolades for standing up for your children at a doctor’s office or for enjoying an impromptu dance party in the living room.
What about the daily struggles? The battles to get a 3-year-old dressed? The repeated meal preparations? Or the times you have to confiscate electronics because of sassy remarks? All those moments of spilled juice and messy meals add up. And even when exhaustion weighs you down, you continue on.
It’s vital not to underestimate the power of being a tired mom. I know how easy it is to judge your day’s success based on what’s checked off your to-do list. But remember, that list is merely a guide, not a measure of your worth as a mother. Completing every item does not equate to being a better parent; it simply means you crossed them off.
Life’s real richness often occurs outside the confines of that list—in the fleeting moments of joy and connection, like when you’re waiting for your child to be picked up from school and you share a laugh over a funny video.
You do so much more than you realize. So, when you find yourself pondering what you accomplished today, pause and reflect on those small, meaningful moments. Don’t discount your ordinary yet beautiful story. If someone asks what you did all day, take a moment to recount those little but significant acts. Write them down, cherish them, and recognize how you are shaping lives through those days of uncertainty.
Noah might not have thought twice about me delivering those snow pants. Sure, he was probably relieved to have them for playing outside, but he’s just a kid who thinks snow is cool. Yet, that’s the essence of motherhood—those small sacrifices and gestures that weave together to create a beautiful narrative.
I understand the temptation to be hard on yourself. But today, when you find yourself wondering what you did all day, remember those moments. You didn’t do nothing: you mothered.
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Summary:
This article reflects on the small, often overlooked moments of motherhood, emphasizing that the true essence of parenting lies not in grand gestures but in the daily acts of love and care. It encourages mothers to recognize and appreciate these moments, rather than measure their worth by the completion of a to-do list.