It’s 6:30 PM.
You’ve spent the entire day juggling deadlines, meetings, emails, and endless to-do lists.
You walk through the door, still mentally ticking off tasks — dinner needs to be made, laundry’s piling up, tomorrow’s prep isn’t done.
Then your child wants you to play.
But they’re whining. Maybe throwing a tantrum.
You feel your patience slipping.
You raise your voice.
They cry.
And almost immediately, that heavy, crushing wave of mom guilt hits you like a brick.
When Tasks Feel Like Chores… And You Feel Like You’re Failing
It’s such a hard balance.
In our grown-up world, everything feels urgent. The kitchen mess. The undone tasks. The endless invisible load of being a working mom.
But in their tiny world?
All they see is mom.
They don’t understand exhaustion, deadlines, or multitasking.
They just want your attention. A cuddle. A little playtime.
And when we snap… the guilt feels unbearable.
How I Deal With It (Still Figuring It Out)
Here’s what I try to remind myself:
- Pause. Breathe. Regroup.
Before reacting to a tantrum, I’m learning to take a breath. Even just 5 seconds.
It doesn’t always work, but those 5 seconds help. - Apologize.
I’ve started saying:
“I’m sorry I raised my voice. Mommy’s tired, but I shouldn’t have spoken like that.”
Kids are so forgiving. It teaches them that adults can make mistakes too. - Lower the bar.
Not everything needs to get done tonight.
Some tasks can wait.
Playing for 10 minutes now might make the next hour smoother. - Find a release valve.
Whether it’s texting a mom friend, venting, or even just sitting quietly after bedtime with no noise — giving yourself grace is crucial.
What Do YOU Do?
I know I’m not alone in this.
So tell me, fellow moms — how do you handle that post-work exhaustion + toddler tantrum combo?
Do you have tricks to calm yourself before reacting?
Ways to shake off the guilt when it feels heavy?
Drop them in the comments. Let’s help each other out. 💛
Mom On The Rise 