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When you feel like a failure at motherhood

As I write this, I’m feeling physically exhausted. But I can’t just walk to my bed and lie down, which is what I really want to do.

I’ve got an article to polish, pending blogs to work on, dishes to wash, clothes to prepare, a house to tidy up, and a million other things that I have no idea where or how to start on.

So instead, I make myself coffee and try to keep myself up.

kiss-your-child

A fellow work-from-home mom once shared in our group that her motivation for work are her monthly bills. I thought it was funny then, but in a slightly different way, I could relate.

When I feel like giving up, sometimes my motivation to keep at it is the future of my children. There’s just so much at stake!

My husband and I have been doing our best to secure our children for when we’re gone. So far, we’ve made a handful of little investments for them. There’s still so much to do, we’ve got our work cut out for us.

Something’s gotta give

Then there’s being a mom which is my most important role to them. If you’re a mom, you know that being one doesn’t end in providing for your kids’ financial needs. You need to be present for them. To listen to them. To know their hearts. To guide them, to teach them how to apply the Word of God in their young lives, to play with them, to cheer them at their games, and to love them oh so unconditionally!

The last bit is the most challenging of all, because these little people are still people, with their own ideas, aspirations, emotional experiences, and journey that may sometimes clash with your own growing pains.

The truth is that when you’re working, it’s hard to be 100%  there for them. I never thought it will happen to me, but I sometimes fall asleep before any of my children do. OMG, right?

Thank God for a husband who takes over when he sees that I’m already dead to the world!

And when things are not going right, like when your son is transitioning into a teenager and you messed up your parenting, you start wondering if you’re really cut out for motherhood at all!

Like this mom in Sun Life’s latest Sun shorts release, She said, she said:

I can only hope that just like that little girl, when my kids have all grown up, they will remember that despite my flaws as a mother, I have loved them.

When you feel like a failure…

But here’s the thing:  When you’re multi-tasking, something’s always gotta give. In my case, sometimes, I feel like a failure as a mother.

Just the other day, I scurried out my child’s rehearsal venue and walked to the mall in tears. We had a little tiff the night before and my emotions were all over the place. I went straight to one of the mall’s rest rooms and cried my eyes out before sitting out the rest of my waiting hours at Krispy Kreme, pouring my heart to the LORD in my prayer notebook, and seeking his Word on what was going on. (and all other drama queen stuff, haha!)

And if you’re wondering, yes, I gobbled down a donut to make myself feel better.

Prayer is key

My realization is this: Pray harder and unceasingly for my children as that persistent widow in the book of Luke. Because as parents, although we have influence on our children, the only one who can truly mold and transform their hearts and make them right is Jesus.

That is why when we try manipulating the situations, let’s face it, we tend to do so sometimes, things still don’t turn out the way we hope for. We do not have control over our children’s lives nor over their future. The sooner we realize this, the better.

So I took out my Power of a praying parent book out again to refresh on what I need to cover for my children.

We will continue to do our best in investing on their financial future.  It’s simply the right way to go. I’m so thankful that Life Insurances are not as expensive as I once perceived them to be!

However, I believe that my most important investment on my children, aside from my time and attention, are my prayers. And it took that one misunderstanding to be reminded of it.

I can never do enough and I will never be enough for my children. But God is. So that’s Who I shift my focus on.

Just so you know, when my son came out of the studio after practice, he came straight to me, put his arms around my neck and whispered sorry in my ear.

Of course, I forgave him!
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“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11.

9 Comments

  • Michi

    You are not alone, I also have these moments when I asked myself if I’m doing the right thing? If I’m raising my son well? Moms always want to be the best mom in their child’s eyes so may konting mali lang, feeling natin failure na tayo. Btw, I liked the video too.

  • Janice

    This made me teary-eyed. I’m remembering that summer when my girls decided it was time for them to try living with their dad. As moms, we really can’t help but try to control our kids’ lives sometimes, thinking that we know what’s best for them, wanting to protect them. I, too, felt like such a failure as a mother then. But now I understand why it had to happen. They are more appreciative now of the kind of life we have here now that they have experienced life in their other home. On my part, I’ve learned how to let go a little, trust them to make their own decisions and trust in God because He always knows what’s best for everyone. Prayer is truly key. Without it, I don’t think I’d survive each day.

  • Nerisa

    aw… hugs to you mommy May. You know what, most of us moms feel this way. We always have that mommy guilt with us na we should be present in everything, every milestone. I have a full time corporate job, and I really don’t indulge myself on me-time, because I will always think that being away with my son from 8am-5pm daily is already a me-time. nakakaguilty kasi.

  • Melisa Sanchez

    Being a mother is very complicated. But thanks God for always there for us to give us wisdom and strength and also to our husband that always there too to comfort us and love us. Like you sis na e stress din ako but I leave it to the Lord nalang, because God has a best plans for our children. Basta ginawa natin ang best natin at wag lang talaga tayo mawalan ng time para sa kanila kahit sa subrang busy natin 🙂

  • Berlin | Momi Berlin

    I also have that kind of moment. Too often now, perhaps because of hormones. I spend more time in the bedroom than at the living room. I seldom interact with the boys. I feel exhausted.

    Our difference is that I do not run to Him for help. I just sleep or write.

    And I always end up tired and black. Perhaos because I do not ask help from Him.

  • Maan

    OMG, that’s the Sun Life short that really got to me! Because my partner is an OFW, I feel like I’m doing all the raising on my own, and I’m raising a boy so there really are times when I think what I’m doing is not enough. But yes, prayer is key – I 100% agree!

  • Shalene R

    I feel the same every now and then. And what’s funny is that you get through each tangle every single time. Not that you’re great or something, you just have to get things done. You need to. Because nobody else will. And I think that’s enough motivation, lol. Being a parent really is the hardest job of all, but the rewards are priceless.

  • Above Precious Rubies

    I was holding my tears on the SunLife ad. lol. Like you, I have so many guilt feelings also. And even though my son understands that I need to work, I still wish I can give him all of my time. Of course, I know that’s not possible. Our kids are the sweetest, isang kiss lang, ok na pagod. I pray that this bond that we have stays the same til he grows up.

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