I’ll start off by saying I know I don’t need a curriculum. I just personally do better off structure and don’t have time to think of things to do myself.
I have a two and three year old, any moms that have preschool homeschooled these ages together? What was your favorite curriculum? Blossoms nd Root, playing preschool, below five in a row? Any others you strongly suggest?
I’m buying the Dailee planner because it has everything I need. HOWEVER, it’s too huge to carry when needed to. Anyone use two planners because of this? Or this and a digital version? I used to take pictures if I had to run out the door but I don’t like that. I like to check things off. Also I’m a mom so the most efficient way is best for me. Should I just write it twice?? I love paper and pen so I can’t go fully digital.
Any stay at home moms use a planner to organize their life? I have three littles all 3 and under and tend to use my Apple calendar and physical planning but having a hard time finding a good planner. Anyone use a daily planner?? I like the day designer ones but the full day pages may be too much for what I need and the weekly ones I may need more space. Any recs? What planners do you use??
I need to vent, and I’m hoping this can be a safe place to do that.
Before I get into the main situation, there are two stories that provide some context.
The first involves a childhood friend. We grew up together because we were neighbors. We shared a lot of memories and spent a lot of time together growing up. In our early twenties, after drifting apart for a while, we reconnected when she helped me get a job where she worked.
Working together made me realize even more clearly what kind of person she was. She often gave backhanded compliments, liked being praised, and expected people around her to cater to her feelings. Eventually, she was fired because she was constantly late and irresponsible. Around that same time, I was promoted.
After that, our friendship faded. She stopped inviting me to gatherings, which honestly didn’t bother me because I’ve never wanted to be somewhere I’m not genuinely wanted. We ran into each other a few times over the years, and I was always civil. I’d say hello, we’d exchange a few words, and that was it. Neither of us made any effort to reconnect. The last interaction we had was when she wished me a happy birthday, and I simply thanked her.
While I have love for her because of our shared childhood, I know that if we hadn’t grown up next door to each other, we probably never would have become friends. At this point in my life, I don’t want her in my inner circle. I know who she is, and I know the type of relationships I want around me.
The second story involves this past week.
I’ve had one of those weeks where everything felt heavy. My mother-in-law wanted to take my two older children to her house. At first, I agreed, but then I changed my mind and suggested she come spend time with them at our house instead.
The reason was simple: the last time she took them, my daughter didn’t want to go, so only my son went. I’ve noticed what feels like favoritism toward my son, and I didn’t want my daughter feeling left out. I explained that I thought it would be better for my mother-in-law to spend time with both kids at our home until my daughter felt more comfortable.
Instead of understanding, she pushed back and gave me reasons why that wouldn’t work. Eventually, I told her that it was fine if she didn’t want to come. She could either visit us, my husband could bring the kids to her later, or we could figure something else out. I was simply trying to protect my daughter’s feelings.
That conversation alone drained me.
At the same time, my husband was away for three days with the reserves. We only have one working vehicle right now. My six-month-old has been going through a sleep regression and sleeping terribly. I’ve been exhausted. One morning I even burned the rice because I was so tired and distracted.
Because my husband was gone, I borrowed my sister’s car so I could take my daughter to tumbling practice while she watched my other two children.
This was only our second week there.
The first week, I ran into another girl I grew up with. We’re more acquaintances now, but she was kind and asked how I was doing postpartum. It was one of those simple interactions that left me feeling encouraged because it felt like another mom genuinely understood what this season of life is like.
This week was different.
When I arrived, I saw my former childhood friend and her sister there with her daughter.
A few years ago, I’d run into her sister at a store. I smiled instinctively, forgetting that we weren’t really on speaking terms anymore, and she gave me an awkward half-smile. It felt strange, but I moved on.
So when I saw them at tumbling, I honestly don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was stress. Maybe I just didn’t want things to feel awkward. Whatever it was, I walked over and said hello.
She responded, “Oh, I didn’t even see you.”
I know she saw me.
We started talking briefly about our daughters. Then the coach came over and asked for my daughter’s name.
And somehow, my mind completely blanked.
For a moment, I couldn’t remember my own daughter’s name.
I still don’t understand how that happened.
I’ve been exhausted, sleep-deprived, stressed, and overwhelmed, but I felt absolutely horrible. To make matters worse, my former friend ended up saying my daughter’s name before I could.
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Of all people for that to happen in front of, it happened in front of someone who always seemed to enjoy feeling superior to others.
The entire practice, I felt self-conscious. Her daughter clearly knew exactly what she was doing because she’d been attending for a long time, while this was only my daughter’s second class.
My daughter was also having a hard day. She’s wonderful, but she’s strong-willed, emotional, and tired sometimes—just like any little child.
At the end of practice, she didn’t want to leave. It was past her bedtime, she was cranky, and she fought me about putting on her shoes.
The whole time, I felt like my former friend and her sister were watching me and judging me. Maybe they weren’t. Maybe they were. I honestly don’t know.
But knowing the kind of people they are, it didn’t feel impossible.
Then I remembered that I was driving my sister’s car, parked right next to theirs, and suddenly I felt embarrassed about everything.
I drove home crying.
I cried to my sister. I cried to my husband. I cried because I felt like I had failed somehow.
Not because I truly believe I’m a bad mother, but because lately I’ve felt like I’m failing at everything.
A bad wife.
A bad mom.
Someone who can’t keep up.
Someone who’s constantly behind.
Someone who’s carrying more than she can manage.
My sister reminded me that what happened wasn’t proof that I’m a bad mother. It was proof that I’m overwhelmed.
She told me that any mom of three, especially with a six-month-old and little sleep, would understand exactly how something like that could happen.
She reminded me that I’m carrying things that were never meant to be carried alone.
She also told me something interesting: that sometimes people who seem critical or judgmental are actually dealing with their own insecurities. Whether that’s true or not, her point was that I shouldn’t measure my worth through someone else’s opinion.
Since then, I’ve been thinking a lot.
Part of me wonders if this whole experience happened as a wake-up call. Not because God was punishing me, but because it’s made me realize how much I’ve been running on empty.
It’s made me want to become more disciplined.
More intentional.
More faithful.
A better homeschool mom.
A more patient parent.
A more regulated parent.
A better steward of my time.
It’s made me want to read more, learn more, grow more, and build something for myself.
At the same time, I know I’m also exhausted, postpartum, and raising three young children.
I know I need grace too.
I know I need to stop expecting perfection from myself.
I know I need to remember that forgetting my daughter’s name for a few seconds doesn’t erase the thousands of moments every day where I love, care for, teach, comfort, and show up for her.
I know I’m not a bad mother.
I’m just a tired one.
And maybe that’s what I’ve needed to remember all along.
I’ll try to make this short. I’m a 29 year old sahm to three kiddos 3 and under. I’m 6m pp.
Let me preface, I don’t regret anything of my current life rn. I love my husband and my kids. I just want to know if I’m dreaming though? I have goals and aspirations of being this awesome ceo boss woman. I want to build generational wealth, help my parents, have money saved for my parents, get back into fitness (I used to be a gym rat and was at my healthiest right before I had kids) but still homeschool my kids and be present. I have a bachelors in accounting and my husband is a diesel tech but were so broke barely making ends meet weekly. I feel like I can’t get a job bc we have no babysitter and don’t want to do daycare. I can study for the cpa exam to be more marketable or go back to school and get paid for it since my husband is in the reserves but I feel like I don’t even have time to think without someone needing something from me. My husband is busy a lot working extra jobs or fixing something that was broke around the house or our cars.
Basically I’m tired of this broke life and I think it has to do with our habits a lot and like we’re not hungry enough??? Idk. Im also sleep deprived. Am I dreaming? Is now not the time? Am I just lazy? What’s the answer to a better life rn.