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Mush Brain

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I used to be smart. I had a great job at a large law firm. I was making a lot of money and got a lot of satisfaction from my life.

That all changed six years ago.

Have you heard of Pregnancy Brain? It is a mysterious, debilitating affliction with no known cure. I came down with a bad case of it while I was pregnant with my oldest child, now 6 years old. Little is known about Pregnancy Brain. For some moms, simply giving birth is enough to help them recover. For others, the unlucky ones, Pregnancy Brain actually progresses to something even worse. Mommy Brain.

I am one of those unlucky women. Not only did I get Mommy Brain, I am one of the heartbreaking cases of women who got multiple cases of it. With each subsequent pregnancy and then baby, my brain became more and more riddled with this horrible syndrome. I am now a Mush Brain.

I can’t remember events. Can’t even remember to put them on the calendar. I often do not know the date and am sometimes completely unaware that the month has changed. Talking to adults is difficult, because I’ve forgotten my ‘grown up’ words. I find myself talking about the kids a lot. A lot! They’re interesting and funny, but I used to have more to contribute to a conversation. Current events in my world are how well the baby (isn’t) sleeping at night or how the girls are doing in school, not wars or the economy or other things adults should be interested in.

Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love my life. I am lucky enough to be able to stay at home with my children and I appreciate my husband working so, so hard to make that possible. I just wish I felt a little bit more like I used to. Like an adult.

With a brain.

Comments

  2. Oh, how I can relate! Then, on top of 4 kids, add home schooling. Now my vocabulary is equivalent to the grades I am teaching/mentoring!

    Thanks for visiting me at A Season for All Things. I’m your newest follower and am looking forward to reading more of your posts.

    ~ Ellen

  3. Awww…. that is a cute story.. and I totally understand that you would like a little more balance when it comes to remembering things! I am sure with time will come a little more clarity ;))) I am a new follower hopping over! I would love for you to visit us too! Have a fabulous Friday!

  6. Mush brain does get better with time…thank goodness!!
    Following from the Friday Blog Hop 🙂
    childhoodmyths.blogspot.com

  8. I’m not a mother so I’m afarid I can’t relate personally, but my best friend is. She was actually just talking to me about this the other day; how she used to have more adult conversations with other adults. Now she’s a stay at home mom to a toddler. I assume that, while she adores her son and would have it no other way, it is a diffucut ajustment to go from hanging out with friends to juggling schedules, diaper bags and play dates.

    I often think mothers must have the hardest job in the world, (even if it is amazing and worthwhile) which is why I always take the time to salute mothers. From one woman to another, hats off to you! I’m sure you do an awesome job.

  10. I have this same problem! I think I wrote about it before too! At least it’s all for a good cause 😉

  11. same here, after my first born was born i decided to become a sahm and then suddenly my whole world was different from my friends’ world! i could no longer relate to them and they couldn’t relate to mine…sigh. but it’s my decision and everyone’s happier because of it. 🙂

    thanks for following, followed you back! <3

  13. Ha! I totally feel you- though I used to have a fulfilling career and multiple degrees on the wall, yet now I hear myself repeating the same non-sensical banter over and over! What’s wrong with me?

  14. ROFLOL! I can totally relate. I have 3 kids. The oldest is 16. I launched into Mush Brain a long time ago. I have a problem with conjuring up words that I should know. You know, it goes something like this:

    “Little Joe, please go get Mommy the, um, err, um, [thinking to self – WHAT is that thing called?], um, *sigh* [Come on, brain, you can do this!], TRASH CAN. [Ah, yes, THAT’s what it’s called! Phew!]”

    Another problem, I will make a list and even take it with me, then I will forget to use it. It will be right there in my purse and everything!

  15. Haha, I blame everything on pregnancy brain… even though I’m not pregnant anymore! I think having kids takes a lot out of us, not just right after we have them but while raising them for the next 18 years or so. 😀

  16. I used to have a memory like a steeltrap. Now it malfunctions every now-and-then and I have to manually reset it. I will remember what you wore the last time we had lunch three years ago (just an example, we haven’t met. Your mommy brain isn’t confusing you), but I will forget to get milk for my son until he reminds me the third time.

    Oh yeah, you owe me $20, remember?

    Come enter my TinyGoatStudios giveaway!

  18. I am so glad that I am not alone in this!! I have gotten even worse in the last week because I lost my job and am now on a completely different schedule. This will change even more in the coming weeks when I take my children out of daycare. I will love the chance to bond more with my children, but it will just be so different after 3 years of working. Mommy brain here I come!

  19. The mush brain definitely will improve over time. Blogging should help even if it is a post about mush:)
    I am a new visitor and follower via I love my online friends.
    I hope your week gets off to a good start!

  20. Just popping by via ‘I Love My Online Friends’ blog hop to say hello and wish you a lovely week ahead.
    Helen x

  21. I know how you feel. I thought that after I had my little girl it would all go back to normal but nope, I feel pretty dumb all the time. Can’t beleve I have no memories.

  25. I am stopping by via the Monday Blog hop and I am now following you via GFC! I hope you will stop by my site and follow me as well at http://www.makobiscribe.com Have a GREAT week! Cute post from another with Mommy brain.

  26. Something my husband and I do, we set time to be us. Not only as a couple, coffee after dinner, no kids unless 911 must be called. And I have to make time to listen to the news or a DIY, etc. Our children must learn to be independent. To play alone, to listen to that show mommy or daddy watch, teaches them to come outside of themselves.

    Personally, I find talking about wars and the economy dull. I want to talk about landscape, wallpaper, craft, etc. There aren’t to many I run into like that either.

  27. new follower and i love this post!!! i am so happy that i’m not the only person that feels like this and sometimes it’s extremely frustrating. i started by blog just so i felt like i could relate to people again! thanks and ur not alone!

  28. Man, I can totally relate. I have 4 and I think I have lost about 25% of my brain with each child…DOH! Which means I have no brain left. If only we had a zip drive for our brains that we can save to each time and then insert info when needed. Newest GFC follower from blog hop. Hope you can visit my blog and follow back. Have a great day!

  29. Add me to this list, while I may not have mush brain totally (let’s face it, someone in the family has to remember something, god knows my hubby won’t) I do forget things A LOT! UGh! I wish ice cream could cure it, because I actually can remember to eat that! 🙂

  30. I can relate!! I’ve got it too! It stinks, because I used to be able to hold an intelligent conversation with other adults – now I don’t feel like I can, so I am a homebody. Being a SAHM for the last 7 years has been a blessing, but it’s taken a big toll on my social life and social skills! lol

    Have a great weekend!
    aimee
    http://www.justkiddingaroundatlanta.blogspot.com

  31. I hear you – even when the kids are not around, I find myself telling people “I’ll be right back, I need to use the potty.”

  32. I have the exact opposite effect. My mind is sharper and seems smarter than ever now that I am pregnant.

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