Why is it so hard to admit you are having a hard time raising kids 24/7? Because it means you probably don't love your children.A year ago, I had a really nasty bout of postpartum depression.The most common remark I got was "well, it was your choice to have 5 children..."
Recently, my grandmother told me how she said to my father "even your daughter is smart, I don't why she didn't finish college, but she is actually kind of smart, believe it or not..." I am not sure the purpose of her remarks.
If I went to these family members who made these remarks while I was in let's say medical school instead of being a SAHM, and mentioned "Oh yes, school is good, it is difficult, but going well..." which I could see saying about my life as a SAHM, I would get tons of sympathy, and praise for doing the right thing.
Not so with being SAHM. Why on earth would I mention I had a rough day when all I get is laundry list of how having 5 kids is about the dumbest thing I could do?
I am digressing to my usual whining about my family's foolishness. But I don't think I am alone in this sort of pressure form family and peers. All of my energy is exhausted on justifying my choices, and none is left for simple admissions of "I had a bad day," without feeling like an utter failure.