Do You Suffer from SAHGS? (Stay at Home Mom Guilt Syndrome)

By Traci Anderson, published Apr 05, 2007
Published Content: 20  Total Views: 7,244  Favorited By: 10 CPs
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It seems there is a disorder for everything today. Here's one you may suffer from without even knowing it - S.A.H.G.S. (Stay at Home Mom Guilt Syndrome).

I have a pretty severe case of SAHGS. It flared up at 5:10 this morning when my three year old daughter happily pranced into my bedroom. "Mommy, it's not morning-time yet, but sometimes we get up in the dark and eat candy...don't we?" "No, we don't...Jenna". It was too late. She'd snuck out of bed and devoured at least a half-dozen malted milk balls that I'd left on the counter last night following my own midnight binge.

She was flying high on sugar-frenzy and the sun hadn't even risen yet. By the time my husband and son woke up (three hours later) she'd colored on our walls, fed play-dough to the dog, spilled dog food all over our laundry room, smashed an egg on the counter, and single-handedly destroyed her bedroom and playroom.

By the time normal people were just pulling into a rush hour traffic jam, I was completely frazzled. I begged my husband, "can I please go to work for you? please, please please....". He is a police officer and I've never, ever envied his job. However, today was one of those days where I would have been thankful to trade two hyper-active preschoolers for a few gun-toting criminals.

He laughed. "Hang in there...I'll give you a hand when I get home, I promise." My horrible day continued. When my daughter crashed from her sugar high she cried hysterically (and for no apparent reason). "Mommy...I don't like spiders, they are soooooooo icky" she wailed. Mind you, there wasn't a spider in sight. She was completely losing it. My son (as always) followed suit. "Mommy...spiders...scary". He screamed.

After about three dozen nonsensical, hysterical outbursts later, I had one of my own. I called my husband at work. "I am losing it....I need chocolate, wine and cheetos...stop at the store and get all three...or else".

When my husband got home from work he handed me my vices and helped me put the kids to bed. As soon as the house was quiet, he offered to put away laundry and wash the dinner dishes. "No, I'll take care of it...just go ahead and relax".

Stay at Home Mom

Credit: phaewilk - Morguefile.com

Copyright: phaewilk - Morguefile.com

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I am right there with ya sister, after teaching for 10 years being home with my babies is such a pleasure but I can't seem to completlely enjoy it because of this nagging guilt. I do "clock out" after school hours, meaning NO housework, if there is a load in the dryer, it will wait until morning to be folded, dishes also wait, this gives me a little more structure then I just relax in the evening with my husband.

Posted on 10/04/2007 at 9:10:00 AM

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