The Mother Games.

In the recent weeks, I have had several mom friends express just how difficult motherhood is. And some days, I just think, “Dang…being a mom is hard!” Last weekend, I bought The Hunger Games on DVD (having already read the books and seen it once in the theaters) and I couldn’t help but think that motherhood is a lot like The Hunger Games. If you haven’t seen or read The Hunger Games yet, you are truly missing out. I thought I’d give a quick overview of what I call, “The Mother Games.” I’ll try my best to avoid spoilers, but I cannot guarantee it.

The Reaping

In an effort of pure survival, you give birth to a little person. They are new, beautiful, and half of you. Much like Katniss did for Prim, you’d willingly sacrifice yourself for their own health, safety, and general well-being. You set off on this brave new adventure. You look into the beautiful eyes of your husband (the dashing Gale of course) and know that he’ll be helping you take care of them too (maybe, hopefully).

The Capitol

I like to call this the playground. or the Zoo. or the schoolyard. or Real Housewives of fill-in-your-favorite city. Everyone is dressed to the nines and you’ve barely managed to get out of yoga pants. When you have, the shirt that you so lovingly washed last night already has stains on it this morning. Your hair looks less like Effie and more like Haymitch.

Cinna & his Crew

You finally decide to get yourself dolled up and quickly eyebrow waxing turns into absolute torture because you haven’t done it in years months. You know that the people are talking about you in the Salon, but your hairstylist quickly becomes your best friend as you indulge all about your life and just how long it’s been since you did anything for yourself. The hairstylist becomes your new best friend.

The Entrance

You’ve snagged the hottest {perhaps not as literal as in the Hunger Games} chariot in the group – a minivan. Complete with DVD player & removable seats, you’re all set to be the hottest new soccer mom.

The Other Tributes

Also known as The Mommy Wars. She has a better recipe for chocolate chip cookies than you. She’s been training to breastfeed since SHE was breastfed. She practiced baby-wearing with her little siblings. She’s been training to be a mom since before she was born. Some say it takes a village to raise a baby? She is the village. and then some. You don’t feel equipped or tasked for the job ahead. You have one, maybe two tricks up your sleeve, but even then, you can’t do them unless you have the right weapon tool.

The Hunger Games

AKA life. You spend most mornings traveling for what seems like forever (can you say extracurricular sports and activities?) You’re exhausted after not sleeping or at least trying to catch up on sleep. You spend time on Pinterest trying to perfect a braid that is similar to Katniss and looks put together, but doesn’t look like you spent more than three minutes tossing it in a braid. You spend part of your telling your kids not to eat that (nightlock berries, perhaps?) and the other half trying to get them to eat something! (Eat the broth, Peeta!!!) You camouflage yourself behind the bathroom door, the bedroom door or even just by being completely silent so your kids don’t find you. After realizing you have nothing left for dinner, you find yourself running to Walmart (the Cornucopia) trying to catch the last of supplies, but realize you probably won’t make it out of there alive. You fix boo-boos, nurse little ones back to health, and watch as your own health quickly deteriorates until no one is left to take care of you (that or they don’t want to). By dinnertime, you feel like you’ve been attacked by a pack of tracker jackers because you are delirious and not seeing straight. You realize you just have to survive and pray that your husband hears your screams (enter, Peeta!) But then you realize that the former heartthrob has now been put through the ringer and looks like he was involved in a war himself.  You quickly realize the only way to survive the games is to work together (two halves make a whole right?!)

May the odds {of Parenthood} be ever in your favor.