Embracing the Marathon of Motherhood: It’s Not a Sprint (and You Probably Forgot Your Trainers)

Let’s face it: motherhood is not for the faint-hearted. If you thought you were signing up for a gentle jog through the park, surprise! You’re in a full-blown marathon, and someone keeps throwing Legos on the track. The truth is, raising little humans is a long, often exhausting journey that requires more endurance than you ever knew you had. But the good news? You’re not alone, and there’s a way to find joy (and humour) in the chaos.

1. Finding Your Pace (Or Just Trying to Keep Up)

Let’s get one thing straight: there’s no right way to run this marathon, and any advice that starts with “you should be…” should probably be tossed out faster than a nappy at 3 a.m. Some mums are sprinters, zipping through school runs, meal preps, and craft projects like they trained for the Olympics. Others of us… well, we’re just hoping to make it to the finish line, even if we’re limping a little by the end of the day.

And guess what? That’s okay! If your version of motherhood involves catching up on Peppa Pig while trying not to fall asleep with a teething ring stuck to your elbow, you’re still absolutely smashing it.

2. “Fueling” for the Journey (Coffee Counts, Right?)

Athletes might load up on carbs before a marathon, but mums? We’re fueled by caffeine and whatever snacks our kids didn’t finish. Who needs a balanced diet when you’ve got the leftover crusts of a ham sandwich and a half-eaten banana on standby?

And let’s talk about hydration—because let’s be honest, the last time you drank enough water was probably before you had kids. But don’t worry! That cold cup of coffee that’s been sitting around since breakfast? Totally counts.

3. Endurance Training (Also Known as “Why Am I So Tired?”)

Motherhood will have you saying, “Just one more step,” every single day. Whether it’s one more bedtime story, one more snack, or one more toy you swore you just put away, it’s the ultimate endurance test. And while you probably thought you knew tired before kids, motherhood redefines it.

But here’s the beauty of it: with every sleepless night and every “How many times can we watch Frozen today?” moment, you’re building a kind of strength that’s pretty much superhuman. You’re running on empty sometimes, but you’re still running.

4. The Unexpected Obstacles (Or, “I Didn’t See That Coming”)

In every marathon, there are hurdles along the way. In the motherhood marathon, those hurdles include projectile vomit, “I want to get out!” tantrums (usually as soon as you hit the motorway), and the delightful surprise of finding melted icecream in the bottom of your bag.

But instead of letting these throw you off, embrace the absurdity. Next time your toddler is crying because you cut their sandwich into squares instead of triangles, just remember: every mum is right there with you, baffled and laughing, even if just to keep from crying.

5. Crossing the Finish Line (Or Whatever Version of It You Imagine)

Here’s the kicker: in this marathon, there isn’t really a finish line, just endless milestones. Maybe it’s the first time your little one says, “I love you.” Or when they finally sleep through the night (yes, it’ll happen eventually). Maybe it’s the first school drop-off without tears (yours or theirs).

Every milestone is a little finish line you can celebrate, even if it’s just with a deep breath and a hot cup of coffee. And while you may not get a medal for making it through the day, there’s something pretty magical about seeing your child grow, knowing you’ve been by their side every step of the way.

Embrace the Chaos, and Keep Running

So, here’s to you, mum: the ultimate endurance athlete. You might be sleep-deprived, snack-stained, and barely hanging on some days, but you’re still running. Embrace the marathon, laugh at the bumps, and remember: even on the hardest days, you’re making memories (and probably some great stories) that you’ll look back on with a smile (one day, anyway).