Coping with Momnesia

It’s something every mom laughs quietly about and completely knows the meaning of – momnesia. From forgetting where you put the keys (on the rack, where you always do) to mixing up the digits of your phone number or blanking so badly that you can’t even grocery shop properly – losing our minds per se is part and parcel of the rite of motherhood.

We blame it on hormones, sleep deprivation, multitasking and kids who demand so much from us that we can’t possibly have room in our heads to store simple information. But, really, no one actually knows why moms are an exceptionally forgetful bunch.

It’s a phenomenon that seems to make a stop in every mom’s brain. Experts say that it’s a survival mechanism that keeps us focused on new babies needs, makes us more vigilant about our kids, and that other pieces of life just simply take a back burner – especially in the early years.

But, I’ve got to say that momnesia – even while I seem to be keeping good company – keeps me perpetually embarrassed and feeling just a bit off of my game. There’s something at least mildly disenchanting when you find yourself standing in the juice aisle at the grocery store calling your husband because you can’t remember that you need to buy, well, juice.

My favorite is when I am standing at a public event with one of my best friends and go to introduce her, but can’t pull her name out of my brain.

I know I’m not alone leaving the laptop on the top of the car or circling back half way to a destination after forgetting over and over to bring the diaper bag or my wallet. I absolutely love it (ha) when I go upstairs to grab something I finally remembered to get and – by the time I get there – forget what I went upstairs for.

Is there a cure?

Besides the perpetual list-making (which I forget to make) and claim that exercise may help, professionals say not really.

They’ve left me a bit panicked, as I am confident that eventually I will leave the house without my pants on or forget my shoes on a snowy day.

But, in the end, it makes me feel better knowing that all of this memory malaise is allowing me to be the best mom I can be. The almighty “They” say that while women are forgetting their phone numbers, they are learning how to multitask. While they are passing by their pocket books, they are becoming the most aware of danger they’ve ever been. While they are skipping their shoes they are becoming incredibly efficient with time, space and tolerance.

There’s even talk that women are SMARTER after having children because of it.

With all of that ammunition behind me I say bring on the Momnesia. It quite possibly might be the best thing that ever happened to me. The results are … I can’t remember.

Tags: children, family, Kids, mental health, momnesia, Moms, Motherhood, Our Big Earth Media Co., women's issues

Category: INSPIRED ACTION, On Motherhood