Parent Fatigue Syndrome. I have a mild case, as most single moms do. But, and there’s always a but, I have other complications. I have an acute case of mom anxiety brought on by teen-age daughter mood-swings and chronic irritation triggered by daycare children and their parents.

The diagnosis sounds grim, but there is treatment available. I’ve prescribed for myself tonight a quiet night alone, a movie that does not have a yellow sponge or Mylie Cyrus in it, and a cold drink that no one but me is allowed to drink out of. I’m adding a little extra dose of no one knocking on the bathroom door or trying to hold conversations through it while I’m in there and I think I might be feeling better by Monday.
 
Now, all kidding aside. Read this article. Now. ARE YOU OVERSTRESSED AND IN NEED OF SOME “MOM” TIME The author addresses a very serious issue. So serious sometimes that it can’t be dealt with alone.
 
But if you have a mild case, like I do, try these things.

1. Enlist a relative to watch the kids for a couple hours and just be alone. Don’t do housework. Take a bubble bath, walk around your favorite bookstore or go to the library. Watch what you want to on t.v. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it needs to be for you.

2. Tell your kids you are off work at a certain time at night, say 8p.m. And after that time, take time off from household stuff. Homework has to be given to you before then to be checked. Any missing items need to be located. (Cause Mom has a running inventory in her head and an exact location of every item owned by every member of the household. What? You didn’t know that?)

3. If you can afford it, don’t cook one night a week and order a pizza or take the kids to that place with the clown and the paper cups. You know the one. Meet up with a friend who has kids, too, and let them wear themselves out in the playground while you have some girl talk.
 
I couldn’t count how many times I’ve vented to my friends after a horrible day with the daycare and my own kids that days like that are what make good mothers run away to live in caves. Take care of yourself first, because if you don’t, you won’t be able to take care of the kids.