I’m fairly certain that in the mom “job description” along with chef, chauffeur, and nurse, there is something about being a “fun sucker”.

I swore I wouldn’t be the fun sucker when I was the mom, but I was wrong, I am the fun sucker.

Not all moms are fun suckers, I see cool moms every day that bring fun into the room, but not me.

I am the one that brings reminders about washing your hands, picking up your toys, and eating your vegetables.

I want to stop, I want to be the fun easygoing parent, but someone has to keep things like hand hygiene at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

When Mr. Spreadsheets gets home from work he is a celebrity.

The kids are literally running to meet him. When I get home (granted I rarely leave during the day without at least one of them) the kids are visibly disappointed, the show has to be turned off, mess cleaned up, and real food consumed.

Mr. Spreadsheets is just more fun. He lets the little Spreadsheets watch TV during the day, eat fruit snacks and candy, and stay in their pjs until noon.

In contrast, I think people should be dressed in daytime clothes during the day, save shows for nap time or work time, and forced feed certain children their vegetables. I’m just a fun sucker.

Can we just be honest here, someone has to be the fun sucker.

Someone has to keep the train moving forward.

Someone has to be responsible for making sure no one dies, that their little brains don’t turn to mush from too much screen time, and that we live in a semi inhabitable house.

Someone has to maintain the schedule, make a plan for the day, and take responsibility for the nutrition of the family. Some people are super awesome and can be fun while doing that… and some people are fun suckers.

I am the fun sucker, it takes all of my energy to keep that train moving forward.

I am sure my kids are going to grow and and say things like “remember when Mom wouldn’t let us have play dough because it made a mess!”  or “remember when Mom made us make our beds on Christmas!”

My siblings and I still tease our mom about being a fun sucker, and we haven’t lived at home in a decade.

So here’s to all the other fun suckers out there, ladies, you’re awesome, vegetables, sleep, and clean hands are important, your kids might not appreciate your hard work and dedication but from one mom to another- you’re totally doing the right thing.