Maycember, May Madness, MAYhem. Whatever you want to call it, the month of May is here! Are we ready for the end-of-the-year events, class parties, field days, performances, field trips, graduations, spring sports, recitals, gifts, and finalizing summer plans on top of all of our regular responsibilities? Bonus points if any of the aforementioned activities overlap and we have to figure out a way to be in two or more places at the same time. Oh, and someone in the family also always seems to get sick in May! I can feel my heart rate rising just thinking about it.
If you’re like me and are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, this post is for you. Consider this your annual May pep talk. Buckle up and let’s survive (and thrive) this month!
First, and most importantly, THANK YOU! You deserve an award for all you do! Parenting is not for the faint of heart and you are the glue that holds your family together. Thank you for carrying the mental load for your family, making sure your people get to where they are supposed to be with all the things they are supposed to have, and keeping things running. If no one else tells you how appreciated you are, I will! Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. Go you, you amazing mama!
With that in mind, here are a few other words of encouragement for this crazy month:
- You don’t have to do everything. Really. We only have so much bandwidth so it’s OK to say no to the things that don’t make the cut.
- Sandwiches or frozen pizzas can be a meal. They may not be everyone’s favorite, but they will get the job done.
- It’s OK to prioritize rest.
- There’s no shame in asking for help. No one can do everything alone and there are people who want to help!
- Do the best you can with what you have and let go of the rest.
- Remember to breathe.
- Don’t compare someone else’s end of the year highlights to yours.
- Enjoy the sweet moments as much as you can.
- Summer is right around the corner!
- This season will pass. I’m not just talking about the month of May or the end of school. I mean this season of life. So many of us have been in a difficult season that seems to last forever, but it won’t. If that’s you, I truly pray that brighter days are ahead. Please keep moving forward and don’t give up!
You’ve got this and you will get through the craziness of May!
The good news is that all the mayhem of Maycember means we have people we love and we get to care for them. We can be so grateful for our children and feel blessed to be their mom while still feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. This year, maybe we can try to focus on the memories instead of the stress.
