By: Brandi Salters
Ever feel like you run an entire household, manage everyone's schedule, and still get asked, "Mom, where are my shoes?"
Welcome to motherhood, where apparently you're the only person in the house with functioning eyes.
We remember spirit days, pack the snacks, schedule the appointments, refill the toilet paper, and know exactly which cup our child will refuse to drink from today. We're basically Google Calendar, Amazon, a personal chef, and an emotional support hotline all rolled into one.
And the best part? Nobody notices any of it.
Nobody throws a parade because we remembered picture day. There's no standing ovation for getting everyone out the door on time. And folding the laundry? Apparently, it doesn't count unless someone can find their favorite shirt in the 47 seconds before they need to leave.
We can plan an entire family vacation, but somehow we're still expected to know where Dad left his keys. Or his wallet. Or the thing he was literally just holding.
Meanwhile, Dad can sit on the couch surrounded by laundry and ask, "Do we have any clean towels?" Sir, I don't know. Have you tried opening the cabinet? It's a fascinating new concept.
We make dinner, and someone asks what's for dinner. We buy snacks, and there's nothing to eat. We clean the house, and five minutes later it looks like a small tornado came through.
Honestly, the customer service department is exhausted. And unfortunately, the manager is also me.
Of course, we love our families. We just occasionally fantasize about checking into a hotel where nobody calls our name, nobody asks for a snack, and nobody says, "Babe, do you know where my…?"
No, babe. I don't. And for the love of all things holy, I'm not getting up to look for it.
But beneath all the sarcasm, there's a reason we do these little things. We love our people. We want them to feel cared for, supported, and loved — even when they act like the clean towels magically appear and the groceries restock themselves.
One day, our kids might actually miss us reminding them to bring a jacket, asking if they've eaten a vegetable, and knowing where every single thing in the house belongs.
Until then, we'll keep showing up, keeping things moving, and answering to "Mom" approximately 4,782 times a day.
Because apparently, being a mom means being the family search engine, personal assistant, household manager, and snack concierge — with absolutely no paid time off.
It's just what moms do.
Now tell us: What's the one thing your husband or kids ask you for that makes you wonder how they managed to survive before you came along?
