Today is one of those days. A resigned “never mind” kind of day. A “I don’t have the energy for this” day. The “sure go ahead” . . (knowing it means a mess later) type of day. A grunge and go, sigh at the mess, rub your eyes sort of day. A ‘no amount of coffee in the world will fix this; but you try anyways’ type of day.

With my hair in a bun, sweats . . . again I respond slowly with a blurry mind and eyes. I hope and plead for the day to pass anxiously waiting for nap time, then bed time, then finally the exhausted fall in bed and rest time.

When the chaos, the clutter, the load is just too much. It’s one of those days.

There are always those days in parenthood. Sometimes weeks. But they are more common in this tough isolation period.

I want to say to all of you: it’s ok. It’s ok to have a hard day, an exhausted day. Take it for what it is and know you are not alone. These days are a sign you are frazzled, burnt out:and need a break.

Sometimes the break comes. Fresh air, a shower alone, a fresh warm cup of coffee, clean clothes, a moment of silence, some decluttering or help with house maintenance. A compliment, a smile, an unprompted ‘thank you’ or ‘love you’ from a child. A moment to share your personal household frenzy with a friend. If you can, reach out and admit you are having one of those days to someone who gets it or who can help.

Other times the day just lingers. You are left with just as much if not more of an exhausted mess than you started with. You receive no reprieve or encouragement. All your outlets for help are just as exhausted and burned out as you. The discontentment and attitude permeates the whole house.  You go just as blurry eyed out of the day as you did into it with stains on your clothes and a bad coffee aftertaste in your mouth.

Know again you are not alone. I have been there and done that more than I’d like to admit. Take these days for what they are. Allow yourself time to rest when that long awaited silence overcomes that house at night. Let it all go for the moment. Pick it up and try again tomorrow.

Remember this is only for a season and as one of my son’s books says:

“some days are like that  . . .even in Australia”

Judith Viorst: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”