You know how it goes… you walk in from work, put your keys down, take your tie off and are ready to have a relaxing evening with the family after a long day at the office.
Then your wife walks down the stairs and hands you the baby with that stressed-out, messy hair, no makeup, baggy-eyed face and says, “Here. I’m SO tired.”
When you talked to her on the phone and texted her throughout the entire day, she always seemed to have it together and never sounded too stressed. You look back through your texts to try and read between the lines to see what you might have missed from her throughout the day and all you see are simple lines like:
“Just trying to get ready for the day!”
“Just playing at the park!”
“Just putting the baby down for a nap!”
You think to yourself, if she was just doing these little tasks, why is she so exhausted?
Don’t worry… I am here to help you out today! Here are the REAL reasons why your wife is always so tired! Hopefully now it will all make sense…
BECAUSE…
When she said she was just getting ready for the day, she really meant she was getting ready to begin the longest process that could take the entire day: What use to take her five minutes before kids, now takes {what feels like} centuries. What is supposed to be a quick rinse under water {because she clearly knows she doesn’t have time to wash her hair these days} can turn into a whole circus act with a toddler. Between the child wanting to get in the shower with her and splashing all of the water out of the tub, then running around the house playing chase with a diaper and clothes in her hands and eventually completing the almost impossible task of putting a diaper on a busy bee, she deserves a nap before she even has put her makeup on for the day.
When she said she was just feeding the baby breakfast, she really meant she was cleaning up the breakfast that is now on the floor: As you know as the dad, feeding children isn’t the easiest task. It can’t be too hot and it can’t be too cold. Most of it ends up being thrown on the ground, in the highchair or on the mama. Cleaning up breakfast takes more time than actually preparing it or eating it.
When she said she was just walking out the door, she really meant she was going through a mile long checklist of items she couldn’t find: “Where are my keys? Where is my phone? Oh, what about the diaper bag? And pacifier? Where are your shoes? Where is your other shoe? Where are your snacks? Sippy cup? Wallet? Extra clothes for accidents? Your blankie? My shoes? My other shoe? Don’t touch that. Keep your shoes on. Don’t take your headband off. Or your hair out. Do we have everything? I’m sure we don’t, but we are leaving anyway and will have to deal with what we’ve got.”
When she said she was just driving in the car, she really meant she was listening to the same song on repeat over and over again to keep the kid happy in the backseat: Whether it’s Wheels On The Bus or Let It Go, maybe Woody’s Roundup or Halloween music in May, your wife does whatever makes the babe happy in the car, because there is nothing worse than a long car ride with an upset child. While keeping her eyes on the road, she fiddles around the backseat trying to find the sippy cup that was throw and realizes between the crunched up fishy crackers and the melted fruit snacks, her car needs a good wash.
When she said she was just at the park, she really meant she was kissing boo-boos and playing tag: When you think of the park, you may think of a happy place where kids run free and moms get to socialize. But sometimes park trips are a lot of work! Keeping track of children and helping them when needed, your wife is up and down and all around that park. She kisses boo-boos when there are tears and she runs and plays when they need a friend.
When she said she was just doing the dishes, she really meant she was cleaning the entire house for the tenth time today: She finally got breakfast cleaned up, but then it was time for lunch. The thing about household chores is that they never go away! Your wife lives and works in a place with piles that are always calling her name. The never ending dishes. The never ending piles of laundry. The never ending buckets of toys to be organized. The never ending crumbs to be swept and vacuumed. The never ending toilets to be scrubbed and shelves to be dusted.
When she said she was just running to the store, she really meant she was literally running around the store: Shopping is fun! But with a toddler, shopping is exhausting. The whole “running” to the store verbiage, changes it’s meaning when you become a mom. If your wife does the grocery shopping without you, she deserves a trophy. Children don’t exactly stay in those seats on the carts. They could spend hours down the toy aisle, but run through the entire store in five minutes. They want to put everything in the cart and buy all of their favorite treats {or anything that has a disney character on it}. Your wife probably carries them 75% of the time and the other 25% of the time they are either sitting, running, climbing, on the phone or eating.
When she said she was just putting the baby down for a nap, she really meant she was hearing every excuse why the nap should be delayed: Moms hear it all and it’s actually surprising how young the excuses start. “I’m hungry. I need to try to go potty. I’m so thirsty my throat hurts. I need another blanket. I want to play with my toys. I need my toys. I can’t sleep until I am holding a toy. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. Read me a book. Read me another book. And one more book, please.”
When she said she finally had some quiet time while the baby sleeps, she really meant she finally could do everything she has needed to do, but couldn’t do because the baby undid everything she did: Cleaning your house with children is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos – it just doesn’t really make sense. By the time she finishes one area, the next area is a mess. {She has probably told you that before, yes?} So during nap time, she doesn’t sleep. She dreams of sleeping. But this is her time to organize, clean, put-away, cook and work.
When she said she was just making dinner, she really meant she was exercising her best multi-tasking skills: Oh yes, you call and say you are on your way home and she says, “Awesome!” She is super excited to see you, but didn’t realize it was already that time and she hadn’t even started dinner…or in some cases, hasn’t even thought about what TO make for dinner. While she starts chopping veggies and boiling water, she has a toddler tugging at her leg wanting to play, needing a drink, having to go potty, begging to play outside and wanting to come inside.
When she said she was going to bed, she really meant she would start her nightly ritual and see you in bed in two hours: Because you know how we are, gentlemen. Us, wives, we have to pick up the living room and put away the dishes. We have to lock all of the doors and then check all of them again. We have to check on the babies and turn on the air conditioner. We have to check the doors again. We have to wash our faces, brush our teeth, take out our contacts and get into bed. But then we have to get out of the bed to check the doors one more time, read a book, check Instagram, check Facebook, make a list of things to do tomorrow and then finally…maybe… go to bed.
When she said she was going to get a full nights sleep tonight, she really meant she needed a full nights sleep tonight: Because she is a mom and that’s how we roll!
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Danielle is the owner of Today's the Best Day. She strives to provide creative and uplifting content in order to enrich the parenting experience for women everywhere. Danielle hopes to help you and your family to make every day the best day! 
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