An Antidote to Mom Brain

Kate Moreland shares about the benefit of persevering in mentally challenging activities, even when kids make the task hard. 

I've lost count of how many times I attempted to start writing this article, because about every five seconds or so, one of my twins would barrel through the room yelling as they raced each other in circles through the living area. When their laps removed them from my direct vicinity, the baby spit up and needed to be wiped. My 9-year-old then reminded me again how he felt about learning his multiplication facts. I wrote a word or two and then realized something very bad: the 3-year-old was quiet.

And when I finally began typing again, a spider slowly dropped down directly in front of my keyboard. Hello, Charlotte.  

Why do I bother? This is not a peaceful season of life, and definitely not a quiet one by any stretch. The house is organized and mostly clean at 4:30 PM every day after chores, and remains so approximately ten minutes, after which it reverts to its previously lived-in condition. With five young boys and a baby, “lived-in” is a very generous term.  

However, despite the myriad of constant interruptions and my own lazy streak, there is a benefit for busy, tired, young moms to persevere in activities that challenge us as intelligent adults. That could be writing, participating in a book club (Well-Read Mom is a great one!), sewing, or some other activity that engages your mind in an adult and challenging way.

Our intellect was given as a gift to be used, not only in multi-tasking through the busy days, but also in growing. When we push through the challenges to complete a book that was hard to read or a craft that took several tries to do, we reap the benefits in multiple ways. 

Be a Role Model 

Our children are used to being told they have to do things that are hard, and undesired. My 9-year-old’s multiplication table memorization is a good example of this. He sits at the table in his Spiderman suit, flopping about, and hoping that his work will go away with neglect. He does not see my day-to-day activities as a challenge, as to him, they simply are. However, when he sees me spending my quiet time reading a book club book that he knows I do not enjoy simply because it is good for me, I model for him how to do the exact task I ask of him every school day.  

Your Mom-Brain Antidote 

There is only so much one can do to avoid the dreaded “mom brain.” However, despite the mental fogginess that often accompanies new babies or lack of sleep, engaging our brains and keeping them sharp can help. Think of it as Vitamin C for your mental acuity — it will not guarantee health, but it helps.  

In our world where everything has instant gratification, from quick and constant scrolling on devices to two-day shipping from Amazon, relearning the art of focusing is vastly underrated. We all had this skill, once upon a time, but I would wager that most of us have lost it if we are not in the group already striving to regain it. Reading — not just beach rom-coms, but actual literature — is a lost art.

Writing, crafting, and other mentally challenging work does the same. Our minds are forced to slow down, learn and use vocabulary we likely do not often encounter, and solve problems. It is valuable for our children to do this, and it is no less valuable for us as adults to cultivate these skills. 

Persevere! 

Persevere, moms. Endure the interruptions, distractions, and questions. Growth is still growth, even if you are puttering through it in very small bursts. Sometimes that is all we can manage at a time, and that is okay! Just push through, and then when you start realizing that what was once hard is now easy, you will be so proud of yourself. Keep it to a manageable amount, and let yourself have an activity that is just for you, to make you a better, sharper mom and wife for your family. 

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Copyright 2024 Kate Moreland
Images: Canva