Like changing your name, running for the hills, and shaving your head?

Like you are the worst mother in the world, like every day you are screwing up your kids a little more, and like whatever mistakes they are going to make in their life is going to all be your fault because you are totally fucking them up?

Like they will all be better off without you, and they will smile a lot more when daddy feeds them lucky charms for every meal with a side of ice cream?

Like you could just vanish from the face of the earth and no one would notice until the dishes were piled to the ceiling, the laundry was all dirty, and the fridge was empty... THEN and only then, would they look at eachother quizzically, wondering, what ever happened to that woman... you know the one... mommy... what was her REAL NAME anyway!

Should I contact the social security administration and officially change my name to "mommy!mommy!maaahhhmeeee!"

Does anyone else find them just screaming "WHAT!?!?!" when they hear that word? I feel terrible, and ashamed to admit it, but lately, I can't stand the sound of the word! Its just so easy to WHINE it!

I actually told my daughter the other day that if she was going to keep saying it that way, I was going to start demanding that she call me MOTHER. Its funny, my mom calls her mom "mother" and I always found it a bit odd... but now, I like it A LOT! mama, or mother... there is no mommy here!

Well here is my spin, for those of you whose conscience may at times be a bit heavy with such notions...

If you are dreadfully afraid that you are the worst mother in the world sometimes... join the club... but the truth is... thats one of the things that makes you a GREAT mom... that you have a conscience, that you care enough to notice your mistakes and the potential harm that they could have if left unchecked! So feeling like an awful mom is actually an evidence that you are on the right track.

So don't waste your precious energy harboring guilt. Just give it up and recognize that you are doing your best, and some days your best might be better than others. This week, my best was to bite my tongue whenever I could manage to, and to make sure they ate and got outside a bit... AND... to apologize for being... human.

Do your best. And when you wanna run away, take it as an indication that maybe you need to carve out some time for YOU. You deserve it, and youre better for your family when you make your needs as a woman a priority.

When was the last time you went out by yourself, met up with a friend, went to a movie or dinner or just sat and watched the birds fly by? Make a date with yourself.