Mom: Rachael
"Mornings"

Mom: Allison
"Life"

Mom: Katie
"I'm not sure how much more Mickey Mouse club house I can take."

Mom: Amy
"Finally sat down with my coffee and breakfast and E spilled an entire cup of hot chocolate. The dog ran through it and now I have sticky paw prints all over my house. Cleaned it up and as I stood up, R spilled her cup of water. Cold coffee and soggy breakfast for me…again"

Mom:Dena
"Glory days"

Mom:Erin
"Ode to Curious George"

Mom:Dana
"All I want to do is lay on the couch because I've been solo all afternoon and evening.  I can't even lay on the couch without being pounced on by both boys simultaneously! So I proceed to my bedroom and think that will be even better bc I don't have to watch the 10th episode of Paw Patrol! =( However they follow me and my 3 year old begins a pillow fight, in which myself and my 18th month old are not in the mood for.  We all go back to the couch and I think of your blog.  I felt this was a type of real, raw stuff you want moms to relate to.  Side note: I haven't had a shower today and sadly I don't have the energy to even sit in a bath after the boys go to bed bc I simply want to go to sleep ASAP!"

Mom:Lauren
"Well so far this has been an ok day with the 3 reds…But here is my everyday look! And yes I am in sweats (maternity ones and I'm not even preggos!!!) =)"

Mom:Brittni

Mom: Jessica 

"Kid woke me up before the alarm and now he wants to sit on my shoulders while we watch transformers AGAIN. #pleasetakeanap #wishicoulddrinkcoffee #willyoueversleeppast6am?

Mom: Krystle

"Bedtime is just as tiring and unglamourous."

                    

This is me.

If someone were to ask me to describe motherhood, it would go a little something like this… A beautiful whirlwind of bliss, joy, euphoria, excitement, and pure happiness. I often say that the love I feel for my children is a tiny glimpse of the love that God feels for us. And for me, this is all very true. But with all of these amazing gifts, I still have hard days. Days that I describe as being "in the trenches." These are the days where I feel overwhelmingly tired, hungry, unkept, emotional, and somewhat defeated. These days are filled with my precious children climbing on my face, spitting up, needing diaper changes (usually at the same time), begging to open the finger paint, wanting a snack (particularly something we no longer have in the pantry ), crying for a bottle, and of course giving a dose of Tylenol from the sudden fever or virus that attacks.

 Yes, these days can be rough, but I have found a few coping mechanisms that have lightened the load mentally. One of which is a sense of humor. Laughter CAN TRULY be the best medicine. In order to cope with my "in the trenches" moments I turn to SELFIES. Yes…selfies. Not your typical duck face, I'm so sexy selfie, but the "this is currently what is going on in my world" selfie, and it's not so pretty. I generally stop myself in the moment, snap the picture, and send them to a close friend in hopes that she will relate. I almost always get a similar response along with a BAHAHAHAHAHA attached. My "in the trenches" moment turns into a laughing session and I no longer feel so alone; which is why I have started this blog. I believe there is a sisterhood among those who have been "in the trenches," and I believe we should share those days and moments with one another because it is a lot easier to get through a tough spot when someone is doing it with you.  So I call on YOU.  I call on you to help others by sending your not so pretty "in the trenches" photos to morningmoms@yahoo.com.  Please help spread the word.  I believe this will help stop the glorification of the perfectionism of motherhood.  Or maybe bring a smile to a struggling mother on a hard day.

This is me on baby.

Wow. No words for this ensemble.

Survival.