Something I’ve been struggling with lately is wanting to cook my kids decent meals every single night.

And honestly?

Sometimes I’m just tired.

Like mentally, emotionally, physically… I just do not have the capacity to do it.

For my youngest, it’s a little easier. I can grab those little food trays, season them up a bit, and my baby girl will DEVOUR them. She’s happy, fed, and living her best life.

Now my oldest?

My picky babygirl is a whole different story.

She definitely likes her meals cooked fresh, and lately she has been obsessed with chicken fried rice. I swear it’s her favorite meal right now because I’m making it at least once a week when she comes back from her dad’s house.

But what about those nights when I don’t want to cook?

The nights where I’m like:
“Okay… it’s leftover night.”
Or:
“Find something in the cabinet and heat it up, baby.”

And when those moments happen, I feel guilty.

Not because my kids aren’t taken care of—but because I put pressure on myself to constantly do everything at full capacity.

Meanwhile, I’m still running around getting everyone ready for bed, cleaning up, mentally preparing for the next day, or just trying to take five minutes to reset my own mind.

I be running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to do it all.

I say all this to say:

I am not a perfect, five-star mom.

My kids are loved.
My kids are cared for.
My kids are safe.

But honey… I absolutely have my reset moments.

And truthfully?

Sometimes those moments are necessary so I can show up better the next day.

Do I still feel guilt sometimes? Yes.

But there is nothing in my home that is going to harm my children because I chose rest over cooking a full meal one night.

It just may not be exactly what they wanted that day.

And that’s okay.

I think as moms we try way too hard to be perfect.

But our kids also need to see healthy imperfection.

They need to know it’s okay to slow down sometimes.
It’s okay to rest.
It’s okay to not always operate at 100%.

Life still moves forward.

The house still functions.

And love is still present.

Honestly, I even need that reminder myself.

One thing I do think could help me is prepping little freezer trays of my oldest daughter’s favorite meals for those nights when I truly don’t feel like cooking.

Not because I’m failing…

But because I’m learning how to work with myself instead of constantly running myself into the ground trying to meet unrealistic expectations.

At the end of the day, we love these little gremlins with everything in us.

And sometimes I just have to remind myself:

I am doing my best.

And as long as my girls are happy, healthy, loved, and cared for…

Then I did my job for the day.

With love,
Momma Riah 💜