Executive Function Strategies Blog

We’ve all been there.  It’s a Monday morning and you’re feeling pretty good about the week. You are rested from the weekend, the fridge is stocked, everyone has clean clothes for the week, kids’ lunches are packed, you are headed out the door on time, and hey - you even remembered your phone, keys, and wallet.  Smooth sailing.  Ah, glorious Monday! Fast forward to Wednesday.  You are 126 emails behind at work, out of bread at home, late to your meeting, and - whoops - you just got reminder call for the kids’ annual doctor appointment for tomorrow and wouldn’t you know it, you’re double booked. Meanwhile, you sit paralyzed at your desk - should I start the project due in a month? Should I answer emails? Should I go to the meeting even though I’m 30 minutes late at this point? Holy moly - is this what my kids go through with school? Feeling overwhelmed, you decide to take an early lunch and deal with it later.  

According to the urban dictionary, “mommy brain” is “the phenomenon known to mothers where their brains become useless piles of goo after being around their children for too long.” In my world, the useless pile of goo is what remains of my once perfect ability to plan and prioritize, manage my time, sustain attention, and regulate my emotions. In short, my children have devoured my Executive Functions!

Well, lately I have been really wondering why.