Real Mom Diaries - "When Exhaustion Meets Motherhood"

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Diary Entry: #2

Mood: Hopeful and Calm

Real Mom Life Moment: Today, my 1yo son learned how to blow bubbles into his milk through his straw. My initial reaction was to stop the behavior, because I was terrified he would make a mess that I would have to clean up- but, I opted against stopping him (I'm still unsure why). I'm glad I did. Every time I encouraged him to drink his milk, he would blow bubbles instead, and it soon became a game of back-and-forth between us. I would say "drink your milk", then he would (trick me) and blow bubbles instead. I would make a goofy noise to stop him, and he would let out the most incredible little belly-laugh. It was so contagious, even my 3yo daughter joined in on the fun. What I thought would be another version of me having to "control the situation", ended up becoming a cute little memory- simply because I chose to stay relaxed. Small wins!

What’s on My Mind: Sleepless nights. Again.

My son is almost two years old, and he still doesn’t sleep through the night. I never had this issue with my first, so I kept telling myself it was just a phase, a season that would pass. But here we are, nearly two years in, and I’m still running on empty.

We’ve tried everything—the same bedtime routines that worked with my daughter, full bellies before bed, calming activities, no screens, no late naps. Everything. And yet… nothing works.

I’m exhausted. Overwhelmed. Frustrated. And if I’m being completely honest, I feel guilty too. Because deep down, I know all he wants is comfort, my presence. But in the middle of the night, when I’m running on fumes, patience feels impossible. The frustration spills over, and suddenly, it’s not just a sleepless night—it’s an emotional battle for both of us.

And I guess this just goes to show that no matter how much research we do, no matter how hard we try to be good parents, some things we may never fully master. Some struggles don’t have a perfect fix, no matter how much effort or love we pour into them. And that’s a hard pill to swallow when all we want is to do right by our kids.

I love him more than anything. But I’m at my breaking point.

Today’s Win: Regardless of exhaustion levels, we still managed to take the kids out to an open gymnastics session today, and they both LOVED it! Who knows? Perhaps we have a couple future gymnasts on our hands!

Today’s Struggle: Well... I'm sure you get the point for today... Exhaustion. 😅

Mom Hack of the Day: 🎉 The “Snack Station” Freedom Hack

Tired of being your kid’s personal snack dispenser all day? Set up a self-serve snack station!

🔹 Grab a small bin or organizer and stock it with pre-portioned, mom-approved snacks (think cheese sticks, fruit, crackers, yogurt pouches).

🔹 Keep it at their level in the fridge or pantry so they can grab something without asking 100 times a day.

🔹 Set “snack times” so they know when they can help themselves (limits = no endless grazing).

Less whining, more independence, and maybe even a hot coffee for you. ☕ Win-win! 💁‍♀️

Would this work for your little one? Or do you already have a genius snack hack?

Words to Remember: "Some seasons of motherhood aren’t about thriving—they’re about surviving. And that’s okay." 💛

On the hardest days, when exhaustion takes over and nothing seems to go right, remember: you’re still showing up. You’re still loving, still trying. And that’s enough. 💕

Signing Off: Tonight, I’m reminding myself that this is just a season—even if it feels endless right now. To any other tired moms out there, you’re not alone. We’re in this together, surviving one sleepless night (and extra cup of coffee) at a time. 💛

Here’s to hoping for a little more rest and a lot more grace. ✨