#momfail

Last Saturday, I found myself frantically driving with my 1 1/2 year old, worried about being late for his first swim lesson.  I had been so busy working on a project with a quickly approaching deadline, that I simply forgot to check the time. Fitz was now in his car seat and eating a waffle, which I grabbed at the last minute on the way out realizing we hadn’t done breakfast yet.  I reached in the diaper bag, so thankful that I remembered to grab his swimsuit and swim diaper. I was actually a little proud of myself for that one. I didn’t remember to bring towels for us, but surely they have those at the pool like the other places we are familiar with? 

We walked in, and I had no idea what was going on. We were a few minutes late, and everyone else was standing around calmly holding their swimsuited babies (and towels) waiting for the instructor to begin. I looked over at Fitz and he was fussing, ready for his morning nap, clinging to his pitiful waffle, and not in his trunks yet. And by the way, they do not provide towels.

You’re lying if you don’t think Fitz is also thinking “#momfail” right here.

#momfail

It’s been in my head a lot lately. Went too long without trimming Fitz’s fingernails… and now there is a big scratch on his nose. #momfail. Going out to dinner, forget a bib, and now his shirt is a mess. #momfail. I get home late from work, and all he wants to do is play with me, but I’m just.too.tired. #momfail.  Every day, I seem to make at least one little mistake and it makes me feel like I’m just not on top of it all. Maybe it’s because I’m a full time working mom (with some side gigs too), and sometimes  I’m just scrambling to stay afloat. Maybe it’s because I compare myself to other moms who seem to have it all together with their kids.  When I say my #momfails out loud, they may seem rather trivial to an outsider, but to me they seem big. They make me feel like I’ve failed my child in some way, and that I’m not giving him my best.

So I was the unprepared mom at swim lessons today. So sometimes he’s messy or has untrimmed nails. Why is it such a big deal?

Because not one person even smiled at me in sympathy when they saw I was struggling at the pool. When I asked where I could get a towel, even the instructors weren’t too friendly about it. Let’s just say when Fitz and I finally made it back in the car and were on the way home, there were tears…from both of us.

I’d like to think on days when I {appear} to have it all together, that I reach out, smile, and help the other mom. The mom who may be having what she thinks is a #momfail moment. And let her know that she is not alone, and she is not a failure.  

emilyc
Born and raised in Turner, Emily now lives in Overland Park with her husband Joe (high school English teacher and golf coach) and son Fitzgerald (2). Emily and Joe met in college, but later found out they grew up mere blocks from each other and even had the same kindergarten teacher just one year apart! After 11 years of teaching 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades and K-6 STEM, Emily is now an instructor at the University of St. Mary. She likes to explore old and new spots in Kansas City so Fitz learns to love this great city too! She enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing games, doing jigsaw puzzles, and cheering on the Chiefs and Royals. Emily's current goals: Be more organized, make dinner more often, and read more books just for fun!

1 COMMENT

  1. I was so that parent without the towel at my baby’s first swim lessons. Also had him in trunks to tight and his legs had bruises. And they didn’t provide towels so I wrapped him in my husbands t-shirt (hubby wasn’t excited either).

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