Woman highlights why moms take 3-5 business days to text back, and it's too relatable

A new mother's life is often a whirlwind of emotions—an unpredictable mix of joy and chaos. Between caring for a little one and managing a household, simple things like answering a phone call or attending a social event can feel like distant dreams. Toddler mom Alyssa Smythe—known as @allthingsaly13 on Instagram—shared a hilariously relatable take on what it’s like being friends with other moms.

"When I'm texting my mom friend but her 10-minute active window is now over so I won't hear from her for 3-5 business days," Smythe wrote in the text overlay of a lighthearted Instagram clip. In the video, she’s seen texting while lip-syncing to the popular audio, “A win is a win.” Her caption added even more humor: "A win is a win, also it's me I'm that friend too." The concept of the elusive “active window” for moms struck a chord with her followers, who couldn’t agree more about the blend of humor and truth in her post.

This reality is backed by research. According to a Pew Research Center study, more than half of moms report they don’t have enough time away from their children to spend with friends or pursue hobbies. And even when they do, many say the persistent “mom guilt” follows them everywhere.

It seems that mothers in the comment section shared the same sentiment. Many took to the comments to agree and express how much truth Smythe's statement held. "I need people who understand this about me lol," wrote @caitlinmarilyn_. "Me trying to catch my USA friends before they stop scrolling to get up for the day while I’m in Australia winding down toddler-free," added @valeri.fonseca. "That's me, the only one that hears from me is my mom, she'll be texting me on literally every social media I have (including both IG)" expressed @headovermeals_angie. "Still waiting for the bestie to text back," joked @thesocialgeek_uk. "Haha, we all have those days, moments or seasons to be honest sometimes. It’s usually different for everyone. May we all be helpful, and graceful and not make it more stressful for others. Lol!," added @abiolabygrace.

Parenting can be very difficult and it is all the more challenging for women who, even in the 21st century, often remain the primary caregivers. No amount of handbooks can truly prepare you for the life change that comes with having a child. In another video, a mother named Sabrina Perkins (@seriouslynaturalsabrina), took to TikTok to talk about the things she realized only after having a kid. The mom spoke about her experience of going to the gas station to pick up something and realizing that she could no longer just pack her things and go. "Like I had to get all this sh*t and that's when I realized I'm responsible for somebody else and I'm a mother," Perkins shared. She said that it was the first time she had this realization. "If you are not ready or if you don't want that responsibility, don't do it because she couldn't have said truer words," concluded the mother.

You can follow Alyssa Smythe (@allthingsaly13) for more parenting content on Instagram.