MamaModeJo

Hi…its me…I am the problem its me….

My husband often tells me that I am my own worst enemy.
He’s not wrong.

I take on too much. I set ridiculously high expectations for myself — and then get frustrated when I can’t meet them all. I convince myself I can do it all — work, mom life, house, appointments, laundry, remembering everyone’s birthdays — because somehow I’ve decided there are endless hours in a day.

Spoiler: there aren’t.

The truth is, I struggle to let go.
I want things done a certain way, and I convince myself that no one will do it like I would… or as fast as I would. Whether it’s a work project, folding laundry, or packing the kids’ lunches, I feel this pull to do it my way.

Control freak? Guilty.

But here’s the thing — being a working mom adds a whole different layer to the chaos. I wake up before the sun, get three kids out the door, and jump straight into meetings, deadlines, and decisions. Then, as soon as the workday ends, I shift into my second full-time job — the one that doesn’t come with PTO or a salary: mom mode.

It’s that constant mental switch that drains you. One minute you’re answering emails, the next you’re helping with homework or figuring out dinner. You’re expected to give 100% at work and 100% at home — and somehow still find time to “take care of yourself.”

There’s guilt that sneaks in everywhere.
When I’m working late, I feel like I’m letting the kids down. When I’m at a school event, I’m worrying about the inbox that’s piling up. It feels like no matter where I am, I’m failing somewhere else.

And the hardest part? I did this to myself. I thought being “capable” meant I had to prove I could handle it all — without asking for help, without dropping the ball, without showing cracks.

But lately, I’ve been realizing that being in control of everything is actually what’s controlling me.
It’s exhausting trying to be everywhere, fix everything, and meet every need before it’s even spoken. It’s not strength — it’s survival mode in disguise.

I’m learning (slowly) that letting go doesn’t mean lowering your standards — it means protecting your sanity. It means letting your partner help out, even if its not to your standards. It means delegating that work task instead of doing it all yourself because “it’s easier.” It means giving yourself permission to rest without guilt.

Because at the end of the day, life doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be real.

And maybe the hardest part of growing up — and momming — is realizing that sometimes, “good enough” really is enough.

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Take away for all you working Moms

To every working mom out there trying to hold it all together — give yourself grace. You are not failing; you are functioning in a world that constantly asks for more than one person can give. You don’t have to prove your worth through exhaustion. You don’t have to do it all to be enough.

Some days, showing up — messy bun, cold coffee, and all — is more than enough. You are raising humans, building a career, keeping a home, and somehow still finding time to love through it all. That’s not failure. That’s strength in its purest form. 💪💛