The Week We Watched Way Too Much Mickey (And Why I Don’t Regret It)

💥 The Real-Life Messy Mom Moment

This week, I relied on the TV.
And I mean really relied on it.

As an educator, I’ve always been super mindful about screen time. I’m not 100% against it… I just believe learning happens best through hands-on play, connection, and conversation. I want to be engaged with my kids, not just distracted around them. And lucky for me, my daughter hasn’t really been much of a TV watcher. And, I don’t judge others for it… everyone does what works for them and their family, but it just isn’t something we do a lot.

But last week?
Last week, I was sick.
They were sick.

And schools were closed on Thursday and Friday.

So there I was, achy, exhausted, and barely functioning... trying to care for two sick kids while I could barely lift my head off the pillow. And you know what we did?

We watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Over. And over. And over again.

Not the new one. The old-school, OG Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. (Apparently now they have a new version called “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+” which makes me laugh because that plus sign was doing all the heavy lifting in my household.)

And honestly? I don’t regret a second of it.

🧠 What Was Really Going On

In the moment, I felt the guilt creeping in.
That familiar voice whispering, “You’re just using the TV as a babysitter.”
“You should be reading books or setting up sensory bins.”
“You’re not doing enough.”

But the truth?
I was doing what I could.

I don’t have family nearby or that is really involved in our lives. I’ve never had help with my kids. It’s always been just me, doing the best I can. And while I’m so lucky to have a wonderful neighbor across the street who will step in during emergencies, she’s raised her kids. I try not to lean on her unless I truly have no other choice, like when I need to pick up my daughter sick from school and my son is napping.

This wasn’t one of those “pop on a show for 20 minutes while I fold laundry” days.
This was “I physically cannot function and need something to keep them safe, still, and mildly entertained while I survive” kind of sick.

And guess what?
They were fine.

More than fine.
My 17-month-old now knows two new words: Mickey and Minnie.
And he can identify them with absolute confidence.

I call that a win.

✅ What I’m Reminding Myself (and Maybe You Too)

I used to think moments like this made me a “bad mom.”
That screen time meant I was failing.
But now? I see it differently.

Parenting is full of gray areas.
And sometimes, survival mode calls for a little Mickey Mouse magic.

Here’s what I’m holding onto:

• There’s a difference between relying on TV every day and leaning on it when you truly need it.

• We don’t need to feel guilty for getting through hard weeks in the ways that work.

• If your kid watches more TV than usual while you’re sick, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

• And most importantly: your kids don’t need perfection… just love, presence (when possible), and grace.

💬 Final Thought:

Sometimes motherhood is messy.
Sometimes it looks like screen-free crafts and educational outings.
And sometimes? It looks like back-to-back Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes while everyone’s curled up on the couch in their pajamas at 2 p.m.

And that’s okay.
That’s more than okay.
That’s real life.

So if you're in a season where you're doing what you can with what you've got, even if what you've got is Disney+, you’re not alone.

You're doing just fine.
And your toddler learning to say Mickey might just be the cherry on top.