Motherhood and Momnesia

October 16th, 2008 · No Comments

Momnesia. Probably caused by severe sleep deprivation and other stress factors, this is when memory becomes too blurry to remember where you placed your keys, where are the nappies you just bought and makes you ask silly questions like why can’t those socks stay together??

Stress and lack of sleep will not only bring zits. It brings domestic disaster. Forgetfulness can cause serious trouble such as forgetting to strap the harness on when the baby’s on the highchair, or the seat belts is not securely fastened from the car seat before getting out of the driveway or when the faucet is left flowing while the baby is in the tub.

Although being scatter-brained, most moms suffering from Momnesia become hypervigilant on other areas. “It turns you into someone who serves that little infant, to keep it alive no matter what,” says Brizendine, founder of the Women’s and Teen Girls’ Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California in San Francisco. “Other parts of your brain that are usually on high alert are sort of taken offline.”

I think this comes in package with motherhood. I know because I find myself forgetting some things lately. I always always forget my account passwords! But I just don’t think “Momnesia” should be considered an illness at all. I mean, motherhood is a tough responsibility and when you’re working in an office, you come to a home that needs cleaning and a dinner to make - knowing your baby could wail anytime for attention. Women who are unprepared for scenarios like this won’t probably even remember their own name!

Although this is not the case for me because I am blessed to have a very supportive husband and family, and my office is just 2 steps away from my baby’s crib, I feel for those moms who are into difficult situations right now, juggling work, home and the baby without any support from anyone at all. Moms do not need acne treatments and memory boosters but extra hands when she’s got a baby to care for and a home to run. When a mom looks after so many things, she needs someone to look after her.