Why do I always have to yell like a crazy person for anyone to listen in my house?? Hey, can you pick up your shoes please, and put them where they go? Hey, can you pick up your shoes, please? HEY, PICK UP YOUR SHOES AND PUT THEM WHERE THEY GO — NOW!!!
Or my personal favorite: “It’s time to get in the shower,” and after the 150th time of saying it, I have to lose my mind for them to listen. And I have two boys who play hard, so yes, they have to get in the shower on the daily!
In speaking with other moms, I’m definitely not alone. Something about saying anything three times just doesn’t get heard unless you scream like a banshee, and then they ask me why I’m always an “Angry Karen.” For a split second, I want to laugh at that comment (and sometimes I do) because I realize they are just teasing me to make me lighten up, but then I realize I’m getting labeled the bad guy — when all I’m doing is trying to stick to schedule, ensuring a task gets completed, or just keeping some sort of order in the house. Then that makes me mad. Why am I always the bad guy? Dad over here gets to be the fun guy, and I’m over here dubbed “Angry Karen.”
READ: Mom, Why Are You So Mad?
This isn’t fair. I’m over here running kids to school, packing lunches, running to doctor appointments and dentist appointments, planning dinner, planning family trips and itineraries, school supply shopping, trying to find summer camps, working full time, and on and on and on. I got a lot going on, I’m tired, and I don’t have time to tell you something 15 times before you take me seriously! Then I realize, “Holy crap, I think I am an Angry Karen!” Which is pretty much the opposite of my normal personality.
So, after I take a deep breath and have my moment, I realize this just comes with the mom territory. Maybe I do need to chill out. My kids don’t understand yet the weight on my mom shoulders just to make sure they have a happy, stable childhood. We are the glue that holds the house together. We are the ones who know where everything is if it’s lost, we are the ones our kids love to test the waters with the most.
We are also the ones who they turn to if they are upset, need reassurance, guidance, or just a simple I love you.
So, for now, I guess I will just roll with the punches and try to remember this too shall pass. As annoyed as I get living with a bunch of comedians, without knowing it, they are trying to remind me that it will be okay if every now and then we don’t stick to a schedule, if something is out of its place, or if we skip that shower. I don’t know how to turn that part of my brain off, but I will try.
Moms out there: If you feel the same, just know you are not alone. We juggle a lot and have to remember a lot, so meltdowns are just part of the norm right now (at least for me anyway). I tell myself I will look back at these days when my kids are older and smile. Because you have to admit, that’s pretty funny being called an Angry Karen.
Also, to all the people out there actually named Karen who are NOT angry — sorry you got the label too! I know a few great Karens, and they are some of my favorite friends! GOD SPEED EVERYBODY. GOD SPEED. Here’s to being less angry! Now go put your shoes up.
