Tantrums, Tears, and Trying Again Tomorrow
Dear tired mom,
I didn’t want to believe the “terrible twos” were real. I thought it was just an exaggerated phrase.
But now? Let’s just say…some days I feel ready to box it out with my sweet, strong-willed child.
The tantrums. The meltdowns. The throwing of toys. The random biting. The licking of objects (and sometimes people). The sudden, shocking spitting. And sometimes — all of it at once.
The multitasking skills of a toddler are honestly impressive.
There are moments I don’t know whether to laugh at the theatrics, cry from exhaustion, hide in a closet to breathe, or just surrender and throw a tantrum right alongside him.
Some days, as the only parent on duty for eight or more hours while working full-time from home, it feels like I’m splitting myself in two — trying to meet everyone’s needs and somehow keep my own soul intact.
It’s mentally draining.
It’s physically exhausting.
And some days, it’s emotionally overwhelming.
I had to learn the hard way that parenting, especially mothering, is a full-time job on top of every other title we carry. Managing the moods — theirs and mine — doesn’t always come easily.
There are days when I grab my invisible Superwoman cape and somehow make it through.
I tend to my loving yet moody toddler.
I answer work calls with grace (or at least, I try).
I push through chronic migraines and the daily challenges of fibromyalgia.
It isn’t easy.
It isn’t always pretty.
And it isn’t sustainable to keep pouring from an empty cup.
So I learned — and am still learning — to carve out time for myself.
Listening to audiobooks
Reading Bible plans
Stealing moments of laughter with friends
Moving my body gently with exercise and meditation
More importantly, I’m trying to rediscover who I am outside of my titles — mother, wife, worker — and back into just me.
Healing isn’t linear. Some days I get stuck in old, negative loops. I get withdrawn. I get tired.
But I do the work to climb out again — for my son, for myself, for the life I’m called to live.
The terrible twos make me want to teleport some days, but I know these moments are precious. They are fleeting. They are sacred, even in their messiness.
So I grab my coffee, my faith, my favorite prayer, and yes — sometimes a bottle of wine in the fridge for good measure.
And I remind myself:
We’re not alone.
We’re stronger than we feel.
And we’re doing sacred work, even on the hardest days.
Here’s to trying again tomorrow, tired mama. I’m right here with you.
With love and honesty,
Daquana
