Emotional Exhaustion in Parenting Big Kids is Real

Emotional exhaustion in parenting is real.

It wasn’t because I was physically tired, it was emotional exhaustion that I crashed.

I crawled into bed on a Saturday after lunch and slept for three solid hours like I could back in the raising baby days when you’d been up all night and narcolepsy-type-moments overtook you in the most random daytime moments.

I hate naps.

I don’t sleep mid-day.

But the raising-big-kids emotional exhaustion was just too much.

My mind has been swirling around one of my teen’s situations for weeks. Just how all the events in his life seemed to be colliding not in his favor (it’s all okay and then not), and a hum of worry in my heart won’t stop playing.

Then one of my other sons has been fighting strep, then was fine and went back to school. Then another random fever emerged, then he was fine and went back to school. Then came home a Friday afternoon with a rash that had exploded on him like he’d been ricocheted by paintballs at a birthday party.

Legs.

Chest.

Back.

Face.

Lips.

Ears.

Mouth.

Red dots stretched out and ran together and pounded all over his skin.

My brain does not do well with these kinds of things: I always start with the worst-case scenario.

Luckily, early Saturday morning, a physician could see him, so tests were taken, allergic reactions (and such) ruled out, and diagnosis speculated.

We came home from the doctor’s appointment and my sick kid sat on my bed with the television remote. I sat next to him, then sunk into the pillow and was out. Comatose.

For three full hours.

Ya’ll, I woke up a new person.

Rested.

Hope-filled.

It was unusual, for me.

And as I slept, a reassuring message came from the doctor with one set of good test results. Then, a text came in that made me feel better about my teen I’ve been stressing about so much.

The hope grew even more.

Moms, do know what we sometimes need to maybe not completely solve our problems, but for sure to take the edge off?

A nap.

Yes, our phase of life doesn’t carry the same physical exhaustion as when we were lifting, carrying, and getting broken nights of sleep for consecutive years from raising littles. But the emotional exhaustion from parenting bigs can be just as draining.

And sometimes we just need three full hours to sleep.

Right in the middle of the day.

The emotional exhaustion in parenting is real. Find help and inspiration below…

Raising big kids is an up, down, twirly ride. Sometimes it’s absolutely amazing, and you want to freeze time to soak it all in. And other times, it’s so challenging and lonely. It’s all a journey, and this page is here for the journey. I hope these articles help ease some of the parenting struggles.

Teen, This is Why You’ll Like Doing Well in School and It’s Not About the Grades

Motivating Your Teen to Be Responsible

Let’s Be a Family That’s Kind to Each Other

Find Peace Through These 7 Christian Mediations for Moms

Join this community of moms raising big kids.

Your brain bounces between your day at work, what time(s) your kids need to be at practice, your teen’s missing school assignments, that you haven’t called your mom lately, the load of the laundry to be switched, “What’s for dinner?” and “Why are 3 of my brain-tabs frozen?”

You are raising tweens and teens and college-age kids – the unique parenting phase where everything gets easier…and harder.

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Cheryl Donely

Cheryl is a mom of 3 boys, wife, speaker, high school teacher, and author of Empowered Moms & Kids. She has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and is passionate about learning and teaching. On www.empoweredmomsandkids.com you’ll find inspiration and encouragement for moms raising tweens and/or teens. Read more in the “about” section of this page.