I agree with always worrying my kids are going to get hurt or die.

suffering with your mental health and still your child comes first

Yep - it’s the constant worry. When they are little, it’s about SIDS and stuff like that. When they are older, it’s about getting into college and stuff like that. Someone just told me that it never stops. Even when they are 30, you still worry.

Being unable to protect them from everything.

Not having adequate maternity leave. Having to leave my baby in daycare to return to work. Pumping in a bathroom. The guilt. Our culture is rough on working moms, especially with newborns.

Anonymous wrote:I will second the relentlessness. Just never feeling like I can have a day just for myself. Vacations are not relaxing, ever. So much sleep lost to worrying over one thing or another. Just when it feels like we've gotten through one tough issue or difficult phase, something else starts creeping up. I'm just so tired.

This. Mine are 9 and 11 so finally at the point where I'm not having to watch them every second (and can leave them home alone for short periods) but I still feel like there is ALWAYS something to do, to launder, to clean, to buy. I had 3 hours free yesterday and sat down and watched a movie. I could not remember the last time I felt like I had everything done on a weekend to the point where I could just sit and enjoy a movie. Parenting is just so constant.

Anonymous wrote:For me it’s the relentlessness.

I would love just ONE WEEK of my old life. No pumping, no childcare, no child related chores, no schedules. Just work, come home, do what I want, sleep in on the weekend, go out brunch, lay around, do what I want.

Being a mom is amazing and rewarding but it’s also endless. My kids are still really little though.

We just did this. A week away without the little kids and it was amazingly refreshing.

Anonymous wrote:… for me, is the worry. I can’t watch any movie or tv show where there’s a sick or deceased child. I worry about potential accidents and illness the most.

What’s your worst thing?

We used to tease my dad because he refused to watch shows where a kid died. But I am 100% there with him now. Anything real or fictional where a kid loses a parent when they are young, or a parents loses a young kid hits me hard.

Anonymous wrote:When your son marries one of those DCUM women who hate their mil's.

This cracked me up!

Anonymous wrote:Childbirth injuries. My whole pelvic floor is wrecked from delivery and pooping has become an Olympic sport. Impact exercise is out of the question, and surgery is in my future but may not fix it. As a former athlete who was determined to keep up my athleticism after becoming a parent, it’s the bitterest pill to swallow.

+1. This was my first thought.

When your son marries one of those DCUM women who hate their mil's.

I will second the relentlessness. Just never feeling like I can have a day just for myself. Vacations are not relaxing, ever. So much sleep lost to worrying over one thing or another. Just when it feels like we've gotten through one tough issue or difficult phase, something else starts creeping up. I'm just so tired.

I've been a mother for going on 50 years and for me the absolute worst thing consistently is worrying that something bad will happen to them and when it does it's like a gut punch. I've been lucky, too, nothing really horrible has happened to my kids.

I got a call a few years ago that my son was in a motorcycle accident and was in the hospital waiting for surgery. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I didn't but that moment....

The little fingers under the door when I'm on the toilet!

Mom's don't get to use the restroom in private!

For me it’s the relentlessness.

I would love just ONE WEEK of my old life. No pumping, no childcare, no child related chores, no schedules. Just work, come home, do what I want, sleep in on the weekend, go out brunch, lay around, do what I want.

Being a mom is amazing and rewarding but it’s also endless. My kids are still really little though.

Anonymous wrote:… for me, is the worry. I can’t watch any movie or tv show where there’s a sick or deceased child. I worry about potential accidents and illness the most.

What’s your worst thing?

Birth to age 25.