I recently saw a post on social media that said: “Here’s the hard truth, we all have the same 24 hours in our day. You just need to make sacrifices.”
And to an extent that’s true, but respectfully, I don’t want to hear advice from someone who is in college or doesn’t have kids. A parent has a wholly different perspective and responsibilities than someone without. That’s just fact.
Someone without kids can easily say, “We all have the same 24 hours. Get to work.” But were they up half the night due to a screaming baby? Did they have to worry about the well-being of someone other than themselves? Even when I was first married, my husband and I prioritized each other, but our only real responsibilities were over ourselves. And paying taxes.
As a parent of two, and soon-to-be three, I am not only growing another child, but I have to handle the emotions, the health, the activities, and so much more of my two existing children. I’m sleep deprived and exhausted from pregnancy. I physically cannot get up at 4:30am and chug energy drinks all day to keep me going. I can’t slack off at work because my work never stops. I’m a mom 24/7. I don’t get to clock out. And yes, I understand being a parent is a choice (for most people), but that doesn’t change the fact that my 24 hours are vastly different than others.
I’ve spoken to one of my best friends about this. She and her husband are very involved in my boys’ lives, and they have watched the kids on multiple occasions, but they get to go home after. She has texted me saying how she needed a nap after babysitting. I don’t get to have a nap. My kids don’t care what time I go to bed or how busy I am or my word count goal. They want their mom. If I’m hungover, they don’t understand, and will still climb all over me, even if I’m huddled under the blankets; maybe especially then.
So no, we don’t have the same 24 hours. If I had the energy to do it all, then I would, but my energy is divided and sabotaged by my kids (and husband and cat and dog).
Tell me what you think in the comments. Do we all have the same 24 hours?
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