August 6: It’s OK To Be Tired
It's OK to Be Tired
Somewhere along the way, many parents seem to have absorbed the same message. When you're tired, keep going. When you're overwhelmed, keep smiling. When you're running on empty, just get through one more day.
Parenthood has a way of convincing us that exhaustion is simply part of the job and that admitting we're struggling somehow means we're not coping well enough. During the summer holidays, when routines change and the demands of family life often increase, those feelings can become even more intense. Being tired doesn't mean you're failing, it means you've been giving a great deal of yourself to the people you love.
Tired Looks Different for Everyone
Exhaustion isn't always about lack of sleep. Sometimes it's physical, sometimes it's emotional, sometimes it's the mental load of remembering everything, making countless decisions and constantly thinking one step ahead.
It can be the tiredness that comes from balancing work with childcare, worrying about finances, supporting children through big emotions, keeping everyone fed, managing the house and still trying to find a moment to enjoy the summer yourself.
By the end of the day, many parents haven't just been busy. They've been carrying people - emotionally, mentally and practically and it’s important to recognise that.
We Weren't Meant to Do It All Alone
Modern parenting can sometimes feel surprisingly lonely. Many families live far away from relatives, communities don't always have the same support networks they once did, friends are often juggling their own responsibilities. As a result, many parents find themselves trying to do everything without the village that previous generations often spoke about.
When support is limited, it's hardly surprising that so many parents feel exhausted. The problem isn't that you're not coping well enough it’s that you're often trying to carry far more than one person was ever expected to carry alone.
Rest Is Not Something You Have to Earn
One of the biggest misconceptions about rest is that it should come only after everything has been finished. The house should be tidy, the washing should be folded, the emails should be answered, the children should be entertained, the meals should be prepared. Only then, we tell ourselves, can we finally sit down.
But there will almost always be another job waiting.
If we wait until everything is complete before allowing ourselves to rest, we never truly stop. Rest isn't a reward for finishing every task, it’s something that allows us to keep going with kindness towards ourselves and the people around us.
What Our Children Learn From Us
Throughout this series, we've talked about the example we set for our children and perhaps this is another opportunity to think about what we're teaching.
When children grow up believing that adults should never stop, never ask for help and never admit they're tired, they may carry those expectations into their own lives. But when they see us taking care of ourselves, asking for support when we need it and recognising our own limits without shame, they learn that wellbeing matters. And not just theirs but everyone's.
Be As Kind to Yourself As You Are to Others
Imagine a friend told you they were exhausted after weeks of balancing work, childcare, cooking, cleaning and trying to make the summer holidays special. You wouldn't criticise them, you'd tell them they deserved a break and remind them they were doing an incredible job.
You deserve those same words and the same understanding you offer so freely to the people around you.
You Are Allowed to Slow Down
If today feels heavier than usual, if your patience is wearing thin, if you're counting down to bedtime, if you've wondered whether you're the only parent who feels exhausted - you’re not. You’re human.
And human beings were never designed to give endlessly without taking time to recover.
The summer holidays don't have to be perfect, you don't have to have endless energy and you don't have to smile through every difficult moment. Acknowledge that you're tired and allow yourself a little grace.
Because your children don't need a parent who never gets exhausted, they need a parent who knows that caring for themselves is part of caring for the people they love.
So, if you needed permission today to pause, to breathe or to simply admit that you're tired, here it is.
You have nothing to feel guilty about.
You've been carrying a lot.
And it's okay to be tired.
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