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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / The Day I Realized My Teen Needed Me to Help Him With His Mental Health

The Day I Realized My Teen Needed Me to Help Him With His Mental Health

August 1, 2019 By Christine 4 Comments

This is a sponsored post. I was compensated by Med-IQ through an educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Lundbeck to write about depression in college-aged students. 

 All opinions are my own

“I’m exhausted, Mom. I can’t do it all. And all I keep hearing from my teachers is that I’m not committed enough. If I could just work harder, I know I could commit more,” my son cried.

My teenaged son was hunched over at his desk in his bedroom and his hazel eyes looked at me in pain. He was an emotional mess because he felt like he couldn’t commit to everything going on in his life. 

I looked at the digital clock on his nightstand: it was 11:37 pm on a school night. 

After burning the candle at both ends during his sophomore year of high school, my son broke down and gave into the exhaustion that had been plaguing him for months.

I pulled my son away from the project he was scrambling to finish last minute and folded him into a hug. As we sat on his bed, him with tears rolling down his face, I buried my face into his curly brown hair. The guilt was profound: how had I let him spin so far off course?

I wish I could say that I was surprised that it all came to a head on that emotional night in his bedroom but, sadly, though I saw the warning signs early on, I tried to ignore them at first. But the statistics are staggering:

1 in 5 youth and young adults experiences a mental health condition.

75% of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 24.

30% of college students reported feeling so down at some point during the previous year that they found it difficult to function.

The stigma of having a kid who was “falling apart” kept me from seeing the situation as it truly was: a mental health emergency. 

mental health
We’ve stopped using the C word in our house and it feels right.

My usually amiable son was irritable when he’d arrive home from school. A simple “How was your day?” was met with a grump and a curt answer about having too much homework. He was juggling a long school day, several honors and AP classes and a part in his school play.

I started to notice that he was restless and he couldn’t seem to settle down during his downtime. Not that there was much downtime, though: his rehearsal schedule was demanding and his rigorous curriculum didn’t leave more than an hour at most for him to eat dinner, watch Netflix or goof off with his friends.

Then the late nights started, with him staying up well past 11p on school nights to try to catch up on homework or to cram for a test that he’d known about for weeks.

Friction rubbed between us as I grew frustrated by his seeming lack of organization. 

He was in constant motion, like a whirlwind of irritability and annoyance constantly running late and smelling of unwashed hoodies.

But he kept going, like an out of control freight train, because no one was there to put the brakes on for him.

The adults in his life had forced him to keep pushing towards an ideal that no one could attain.

The adults in his life were undermining his exhaustion by saying things like, “If you aren’t 110% committed, you shouldn’t be here.”

The adults in his life were chiding him about studying more, getting higher grades and achieving at any cost.

And one of those adults was me.

Though we’ve always chosen the activities our kids participate in carefully, my husband and I realized that night that we’d made a huge mistake: we trusted our son to know his limits. 

We trusted that our son would tell us he was struggling before life got to be too much.

We trusted that he’d know how to protect his mental health.

But he’s 16.

He hasn’t fully learned how to set limits. And, though he did finally break and ask us for help, when I looked at his tear-stained face, I realized we should have dealt with his stress and anxiety months ago.

Because the fact is, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students. In fact, the suicide rate for college students falls in between 6.5 and 7.5 per 100,000.  

Let that sink in: that means that on a college campus with 100,000 kids, 7 or 8 students will die by suicide due to risk factors like the loss of a previous support system and social network, academic stress, increased pressure to succeed or feelings of isolation.

A history of mental illness, substance abuse and/or a previous history of trauma coupled with a lack of coping skills or interpersonal difficulties makes a teen even more susceptible to suicide. 

And suicide rates in teens have tripled since the 1950s. Tripled.

It was a crushing blow to realize we were watching our son flounder and we didn’t intercede. 

By simply assuming that our son would know his limits, we were blinded to how serious the situation could become.

Until the day he looked us with tears in his eyes, we hadn’t helped him learn how to set limits for his activities and to say no when his schedule has become overwhelming.

Rather, we’ve inadvertently continued to perpetuate the notion that success in life means sticking with your obligations no matter what the price is to your mental health. 

We’ve inadvertently pushed him to stay in Honors or AP classes because it looks good to colleges, despite the fact that he was breaking under the workload.

As my husband and I talked through our son’s stress and anxiety with managing a difficult workload, we realized we didn’t know how to proceed. 

What should parents do when they see their kids struggling with their mental health? 

Dr. John F. Greden, Founder and Executive Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center and Dr. Todd D. Sevig, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Michigan, advise that parents check in with their own level of stigma and their own history with mental health. 

Greden and Sevig both suggest that parents gain education about the realities of college life today and how mental health affects all students to some degree. 

And they stress that teens are learning who they are and who they want to be, and part of that is learning how to take care of their own health.

Since that day in my son’s bedroom, I have advocated with my son’s school administrators to regulate the time our students spend in extracurricular activities. 

I’ve researched tools that can help parents and teens screen for depression and mental illness. And I’ve encouraged my friends to help their teens learn how to use these tools, too. Online tools will help students learn how to track their own stressors and know when to get help.

We’ve helped our son adjust his school schedule to allow for more elective classes and to free up some downtime in his day. 

We’ve helped him manage his time and go to bed earlier, sometimes even declaring “everyone stays home” nights so that we can regroup as a family.

I’ve looked at parents in the eye and reminded them that when a kid is telling you he’s exhausted, saying, “Well, there are other kids who are more than willing to take your spot so maybe you should quit,” isn’t the least bit helpful.

Watching my son deal with the stress that comes from being led to believe that fully committing to an activity or sport means giving up your emotional well-being has been sobering.

My husband and I are redefining what the mental health discussion looks like in our home even if that means harsh criticism from parents when I advocate for my kids. 

Even if it means having to hear other parents call me weak.

But I, for one, and 110% committed to making sure my teens know their mental health and emotional well-being should always come first.

(If you have a teen who is transitioning from high school to college, this link from Set2Go has useful information for both parents and teens.)

Med-IQ is conducting an anonymous survey and would appreciate your input. The survey, which includes additional education on this topic, will take less than 15 minutes to complete. Survey responses are shared only in aggregate. Your responses to these survey questions will provide Med-IQ with important information about your experiences with depression and mental health in your college-aged child, which will help us develop future educational initiatives.

If you’d like to complete the survey, please click HERE.

Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have the option of providing your email address to be entered into a drawing administered by SOMA Strategies to win 1 of 10 $100 VISA gift cards. If you choose to enter, your email address will not be sold, kept, or stored; email addresses are used only to randomly draw the winners and notify them of their prize.

Links to external sites are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They are not intended and should not be construed as legal or medical advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization. Med-IQ bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of any external site. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

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Comments

  1. Diane Rothburd says

    August 14, 2019 at 8:16 am

    My 14 year old son did not even make it through open house for high school. The signs were all there in 8th grade. Calling me from school because his “stomach hurt” or his “head aches”. Refusing to get out of the car at school drop off for some reason or another. During open house, my son had a full on anxiety attack and we escaped through a side door at the gym. We talked to him and thought he was feeling better but never made it through the front doors of the high school after walking to school with a friend. He made an excuse of a stomach ache and turned around away from high school. I found him in a nearby neighborhood after he called me upset. So far, he has missed 2 days of school. We got an emergency visit to a recommended psychiatrist. He diagnosed my son with anxiety disorder and my son begins medication today.
    Our local high school is large. Double the size of the average. I need advice…would you look for a smaller safer more supportive school environment. Our assigned high school is overcrowded and not a ton of support staff .
    What would you do? Psychiatrist didn’t give much advice on it but did want us to get Max a therapist which we are in process of finding.
    Should I find a smaller school setting?

    Reply
    • Sam Adams says

      August 15, 2019 at 11:28 am

      My name is Samuel, I am a student of AP and High Education classes as well and have had similar problems, I gave myself a serious stomach issue from all the stress. As a religious person I would say turn to god, or whatever you believed in, as a Christian I truly believe god is helping me through this, there are youth groups at churches and at schools you can try if this is the way you want to go. Or have him get involved with some extra-curricular activities. Nothing he doesn’t want to do, Do not force him, but let him find his crowd and just relax a little more. Max is my brother’s name, he has also had some serious trauma with the public school system, the schools treat humans like numbers, a statistic, but Church Groups and extra-curriculars help students to find their identity, know who they are, and it helps a lot. My current intention is to make a difference for other people who struggle by becoming a politician who advocates for student’s rights, because our school has lost 3 students in the past year, to murder by other students and suicide. And it needs to change.

      Reply
    • C. Quinn says

      August 15, 2019 at 11:26 pm

      I would do anything your gut tells you to do in order to help your son. Leaving the school and friends he knows may be stressful, or it may be a relief. Ask him how he would feel, and consider what’s best for him in the short and long term. Good luck.

      Reply
    • Carlie says

      September 3, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      If you can find a smaller school setting that would be ideal, and ask him if he has any ideas to lessen the stress. If a smaller school is not possible, definitely contact the high school councilors and be a pest if you have to, to find a way to take your son on a tour of the high school after hours when less students are there. He can walk his class schedule on his own either with you or a school staff person that cares. This might help him feel less overwhelmed with everything being new. It’s now Sept. 3, I hope he and you feel less stressed by now. Warm regards to you both!

      Reply

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Nurse. Wife. Mom. Runner. Blogger. Writer. Raiser of money for @stjude. #keeperofthefruitloops

Instagram post 2197674241214392454_177938362 Baby Jesus and Morgan Freeman always know, bitchachos. #christmas2019 #christmas #santaiswatching🎅🏼 #santaiscomingevenifthekidsarenaughty
Instagram post 2185154481062659796_177938362 Thursday. We eat on THURSDAY, kids. #thanksgivinghumor #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgiving🦃 #thanksgiving2019🍁🍂 #momhumor #momlife #momtruths #lifewithteens #parentingteens #keeperofthefruitloops
Instagram post 2182054873468539459_177938362 The holidays are coming and that means our lives are about to be filled with good food, close friends and family, and twinkling holiday lights.

As the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year, right?

But, for those who are grieving, the holidays can feel heavy, sad, and not the least bit merry.

In fact, the year after my Dad died, I related to the Grinch and his cold dead heart on a cellular level.

Even the simple task of adding a little holiday cheer to your office feels impossible.

In fact, the year after my dad died, I couldn't bring myself to assemble the silly colored light tree I usually put in my office, the tree that had made me giddy in all it's $39 Target glory when I bought it the year before.

It's hard to feel merry when you are experiencing a loss.

Grief doesn't take a break just because your office is closed for the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Grief doesn't care that the sight of your now gone loved one's stocking brings you to your knees right next to the Christmas tree.

And, grief doesn't give a rat's ass that you find yourself crying in the middle of the grocery aisle because your loved one's favorite holiday classic is playing on the loudspeaker at the grocery store.

Grief makes the holidays harder.

And though time does heal all wounds, grieving a loved one during this time of year is a special kind of hell.

If you know someone who is dealing with loss this season, consider sending them a meaningful gift from @BeyondFlowersAndFood. Their bereavement and pick me up gifts are the perfect way to say, "Grief sucks, but good friends don't."
#GriefSucksAtTheHolidays #GriefSucks #Grieving #HolidayGrief #Grief #beyondflowersandfood #holidaygifts #griefgifts
Instagram post 2172208339851812813_177938362 And he’s always holding a cup of coffee. Or tea. Bring. On. The. Christmas. Movies. 🧔🏻☕️🎄🎅🏼@hallmark @kissesfromboys #themostwonderfultimeoftheyear #christmasiscoming #christmasseason #hallmarkchristmasmovies #hallmarkmovies #dontjudge #hallmarkmoviesmakemehappy
Instagram post 2168257245068944462_177938362 When it comes to technology, I'm a fairly independent mom.
I know how to find my iCloud.
I (mostly) remember my passwords.
I can operate the 86 remotes my husband has hooked up to our sound system/tv.
But, the other day was just one of those "Why can't we just go back to a Walkman and a cassette?" kind of days.
I wanted to go for a run but it was pouring.
I wanted to catch up on some TV while running on the treadmill but the iPad sound wasn't working.
I wanted to listen to music on the treadmill but basically, the entire universe was telling me to just take several seats and eat Halloween candy instead.
Nevertheless, I persisted.
And called in the big guns: my teen.
In a matter of minutes, he had troubleshooted and brainstormed a solution.
There were extension cords, blue tooth devices, and several "I got this, Mah" eye rolls but, in the end, he managed to hook me up with his wireless speakers.
Yes, I looked ridiculous but I was READY for my run.
As I hit start, I told him, "Go ahead, hit the sound!"
And he did.
FART SOUNDS FLOODED MY EARS, BITCHACHOS.
As he keeled over laughing, I realized that this is motherhood with teens.
They are helpful, yes.
They also love getting a laugh at their mother's expense, disgusting sounds and all.
Also?
Fart apps remind us that we all have a 12 year old tucked inside us, just waiting for a good laugh. @joe_burke0227 
#lifewithteens #parentingteens #motherhoodunplugged #motherhood #momtruth #momofteens #teensaregross #teensarealsofunny #jokesonmom
Instagram post 2167910397888285871_177938362 I’m gonna getting my shit together any day now. Probably. Maybe. (Thanks for this gem, @xoxsai) #tgif #fridayvibes #fridaynight #motherhoodunplugged #momtruth #momlife #momproblems #parentingmemes #parentinghumor #momhumor #momjokesfordays
Instagram post 2164899974058480758_177938362 Good talk.
#halloween🎃 #candycornsucks #halloween2019 #halloweencandy #candycornistrash #teamreeses #peanutbuttercupsforthewin
👻🎃😈
Instagram post 2153448486786390354_177938362 Tonight, I sent my son off to Homecoming. Or, HoCo if you are a cool kid.
Moms of boys will tell you that boys are “easier” when it comes to dances.
Moms of girls have hair appointments for elaborate updos.
Moms of boys beg their sons to get get haircuts and to shave.
Moms of girls spend months looking for dresses, accessories, shoes, and handbags.
Moms of boys find themselves shopping 48 hours before the event in hopes of finding a fitted shirt in their size and questioning all our life choices when our sons say, “Can’t I just wear jeans?”
Moms of girls spend the afternoon of a dance helping to calm nerves about makeup, shoes that pinch, and chilly nights that necessitate a sweater over the teeny tiny dress she’s chosen.
Moms of boys watch their sons come in hot to the house  20 mins before they have to be ready for pictures asking, “Mah, can you iron my shirt?”
But, for all of the ease that boys bring, moms of boys will tell you that the glimpse of their sons cleaned up in a tie makes us remember the times when they promised marry us when they were three.
Moms of boys will tell you that seeing their smile when they are with their friends on their special night is what we’ve always hoped for them.
And moms of boys will tell you that when they throw their arms around your shoulder and  say, “Thanks for making tonight special, Mah,” you realize there’s nothing easy about watching them take one step closer to their college years.
Yes, boys are easier.
But not on our hearts.
Hope tonight was wonderful, @joe_burke0227. I’m waiting up to hear all about it.
#boymom #momofboys #parentingboys #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #momtruth #momofteens
Instagram post 2153078872722286589_177938362 This is not a trick question, bitchachos. 🎃Being a teen in 2019 is hard work and our kids experience stresses we couldn’t even fathom back when we were wearing baby doll dresses and swooning over *NSYNC. Life is harder for them and if a teen wants to hold onto their childhood for another year by having some good clean fun in costumes, then I say the more the merrier. And I give out the good candy, too, so if you are hating on teens and Halloween, send them my way. My light will be on allllll night, teens. #halloween🎃 #halloween🎃👻 #lifewithteens #parentingteens #momofteens #parenting #momtruth #parentingunplugged #motherhoodunplugged
Instagram post 2151946494696120570_177938362 Before my father died, I didn't know how the process of grieving worked.

I didn't know that the call that changes your life comes when you are just about to sip a pumpkin spice coffee.

I didn't know that when you hear your loved one has passed away, you look around and wonder when someone who knows what to do will show up.

And I didn't know just how much lasagna I would eat for the next six months. Seriously: so. much. lasagna.

In the months and years after my father's death, I have tried to send meaningful bereavement gifts rather than flowers that will be chucked into the garbage a week later.

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Instagram post 2135096184736474217_177938362 Last week, I attended a conference for work and I felt like a fish out of water.
The environment was new, the people were unfamiliar, and I was anxious to make a good impression.
Translation: it’s a recipe for excessive pit sweat, verbal diarrhea, and the constant worry you have something in your teeth.
After a long morning of attempting to look purposeful (read: control the verbal diarrhea), I found myself washing my hands in the bathroom next to a mom who was trying to finish up changing her little one’s diaper.
As the baby fussed in the stroller, I walked over and made faces to entertain her and told her mom to take her time.
For the first time at the conference, I felt like I’d made a connection.
And yes, it was with a six month old. Shut up.
The mom finished up, I held the door for her, and we exchanged pleasantries.
About 20 mins later, as I waited in line for a seat in the hotel restaurant, the mom and baby were there, too, ahead of me.
When the hostess asked her what size table she needed, she turned and looked at me.
“Would you like to join me for lunch?” she inquired with a hopeful smile.
I hope she didn’t see the tears in my eyes as I accepted.
We spent a lovely lunch together, exchanging professional resources and contacts as well as generally enjoying each other’s company.
A stranger’s kindness made all the difference for me that day.
When my kids were small, I always told them “Look for a mom with a stroller,” if they were separated from me.
“A mom will always help you if you are lost,” I would say.
I found a mom with a stroller and she did just that for me.
#MomsWithStrollersCanSaveTheWorld #momstrong #momstruggles #momstroller #workingmoms #momsofinstagram #motherhoodunplugged❤️ #momtruth #momlife #fincon19 #momshelpingmoms #bekind #choosekindness💕 #choosekind
Instagram post 2134206969211443729_177938362 Happy Monday, everyone! Here’s hoping you only run into people who can clearly tie their shoes....and that you aren’t stuck tying a toddler’s shoes 900 times. #mondaymotivation #mondayhumor #mondaymood #mondayvibes #monday😂 #surroundedbyidiots
Instagram post 2131996597930919816_177938362 This week, Hubby and I celebrated 20 years of marriage with a  grown ups only trip to NYC.
We wined. We dined. We slept like the dead in a quiet hotel room (seriously: 48 hours without carpools, teen social lives, and work responsibilities? Of course we slept. 😏)
Oh, and we touristed in every way.
Yesterday, we decided to climb @thevesselnyc and, about two staircases up, I realized my fear of heights was going to get the best of me.
Despite the fact that the staircases are enclosed, safe, and not at all obvious death traps, my brain told me otherwise.
Hubby caught this pic of what seems like me holding onto a railing on the 7th story.
What you can’t see is my heart pounding, palms sweating, and the terror in my chest.
You can’t see the panic and the feeling of doom that had enveloped me.
This is what a panic attack looks like: it’s a private hell and it’s not always obvious that someone is fighting a battle with anxiety.
As I was dry heaving and holding on for dear life, a kind dad with several kids put his hand on my shoulder and said, “I can see you are scared. Who can I find to help you? Do you need me to help you get down the stairs?”
That kind moment helped me focus and just being seen in my moment of anxiety was incredibly helpful.
Thankfully, Hubby was close by and this isn’t his first rodeo with my heights related panic (ask him how our anniversary hiking trip in @zionnational went two years ago). He did all of the right things to help me get safely back down to terra firma.
A fear of heights can be embarrassing for a control freak like myself, especially in public.
But it’s a reminder that everyone needs a helping hand.
Everyone has fears, things that make them feel panicked.
And, if you see someone who is struggling, acknowledge them and offer a helping hand.
It will make all the difference.
Also?
For our 25th anniversary, there will be no climbing excursions. Lesson learned. 
#anxiety #panicattack #fearofheights #nope #thevessel #thevesselnyc
Instagram post 2124767742570420414_177938362 .....but I'll be the first one to admit when my kids have screwed up. Don't get me wrong: I've always got their backs but, I'm not in the business of raising assholes, people. Do I think raising teens is the best part of parenting? Yes. Will I also call them out for bad behavior and make them own up to their poor choices? Also yes. (Follow @yourteenmag!) #lifewithteens #parentingteens #momofteens #momtruth #motherhoodunplugged #parentingteensishard
Instagram post 2124273829996831194_177938362 Before I had kids, I used a lot of “never” statements:
“I’m never getting a minivan.”
“I’m never getting a dog.”
“I’m never going to watch movies with superheroes, vampires, or creatures that don’t actually exist in reality.”
Welp.
While I have held firm on the minivan thing 💪🏻, I started eating my words a few years ago when a rescue named #daisytheshihtzu changed my life.
And, this summer, I swallowed my words again when I agreed to attend Marvel University with my teens.
Yep.
This mom became a super hero when she agreed to watch 18 Marvel flicks in release order.
Tonight is the finale: I’ve made it to End Game. I’ve done my course work, I’ve gone for tutoring (read: asked 9 thousand times what the hell a #tesseract is and drooled over #thorragnarok), and I’ve been a diligent student and not at all annoying. Ahem.
And the most surprising part?
I’ve loved every minute of my Marvel summer school assignments.
I did not see that coming, bitchachos.
When the kids announced they were in charge of snacks for our big Marvel finale night and they came home with snacks in the colors of the #infinitystones, I realized that you don’t have to wear a cape to be a hero to your kids.
Turns out, you just have to be willing to wear a #captainamerica T shirt every now and again while the dog you said you’d never get silently judges you.
#marvelmom #ididntseethiscoming #marvelmoviemom #marvelmovies #momhero #motherhoodunplugged #momtruth #lifewithteens #momofteens
Instagram post 2119693850103769981_177938362 My tongue has permanent scars from all the times I've bitten it to keep myself from devolving into a teenager around my teens. No, but seriously, I DESERVE A MEDAL, BITCHACHOS. Follow @yourteenmag because they are biting their tongues, too. #lifewithteens #parentingteens #momofteens #bitingmytongueforinfinity
Instagram post 2119212585531104679_177938362 When I sent my first child off to school, I baked a batch of cookies that day to keep my mind off how much my heart hurt seeing him head to kindergarten.
When my youngest left for school, I baked through tears to keep my mind off how quiet the house was that day.
Every year, on the first day of school, they come home to a fresh plate of cookies.
Some years, I bake because I’m anxiously awaiting word that a new school is gonna be just fine.
Other years, I bake to ignore the mess left behind by a summer well summered.
And, some years, I bake because the realization that years are going by too fast is too much and the combination of shortening, butter, and sugar are a salve.
They think I’m doing it for them. Little do they know.....
Today, I sent my son off for his junior year of high school.
This is his second to last first day of school.
Baking always helps. 
And homemade chocolate chip cookies don’t suck, either. ❤️#backtoschool #backtoschool2019 #bakermom #chocolatechipcookies #cookiesmakeeverythingbetter🍪 #momofteens #momofteenagers #momtruth #motherhoodunplugged❤️ #Parenting #baking #bakewithlove
Instagram post 2116036249461581287_177938362 Tuesday night wasn’t special.
It was just a random summer Tuesday and I found myself in NYC overnight for work.
After a full, productive day and with most of my city friends on vacation or with other plans, I found myself with  an evening to myself.
It’s been a long summer with kids and a dog and a “work from home more than he doesn’t” husband underfoot as I’ve juggled my full time freelance life.
It’s been a lot.
But, what there hasn’t been a lot of is ME enjoying a lazy summer evening.
So, rather than retiring to my hotel room to spend several hours logging more work time to get ahead on projects, I laced up and ran out the door.
Before I knew it, I’d run 46 blocks on a hot, sweaty summer evening in the city.
I raced the unsuspecting runners next to me (I won, of course), I dodged bikers, and I smiled at dogs on their evening constitutionals with their owners.
Mostly, I let myself breathe in the feels of summer.
Six exhausting miles later, I detoured through Grand Central Station just to marvel at how pretty that space is, rather than dashing through like I usually do.
As I kicked off my running shoes and sipped the giant beer I treated myself to after a run well done, I promptly knocked over said beer and it soaked my brand new running shoe completely through just as Hubby tried FaceTiming me to see how my day went.
Because that’s what motherhood does to you: you might run away from home but your chaotic life will always be waiting for you when you get home.
So, go for the run.
Take a walk around the block.
Sit in the garage for an extra five before you face the disaster of homework, dinner, and bedtime.
The mess will always be waiting.
But you’ll feel ready to deal with whatever they are throwing at you.
#workingmom #momlife #momtruth #runnermom #momrunner #workingmomproblems #motherhoodunplugged❤️ #keeperofthefruitloops
Instagram post 2114620665150584341_177938362 OMG, I was ALWAYS that kid....and, inevitably, I'd walk into an open locker or a giant upperclass football player would knock me over and then I'd miss the details about how my friends were going to the mall and  I'd have to pretend I heard everything they said while still trying to look cool even though I had a goose egg from walking into a locker while being polite. OMG, HIGH SCHOOL WAS HARD. Please tell me I am not the only one who was awkward AF in high school. (Follow @yourteenmag!) #lifewithteens #parentingteens #momofteens #momtruth #motherhoodunplugged #parentingteensishard #highschoolmemories #highschooldaze #highschool
Instagram post 2109547373351977212_177938362 It really is a fine line with teenagers. Ahem. (Follow @yourteenmag!) #lifewithteens #parentingteens #momofteens #momtruth #motherhoodunplugged #parentingteensishard
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