I’m Not Perfect—And That’s Okay.

I remember this one week that nearly broke me. My husband was on a work trip, leaving me solo with our two girls—and the schedule was brutal. Swim and track practice on the same nights. Girl Scouts on other nights. Homework, dinner, and a full-time job in between.

And then the chaos really kicked in. My 10-year-old’s hormones were in overdrive, my 9-year-old’s ADHD was nonstop, and they were constantly fighting. As if that wasn’t enough, I got a call from the school nurse—my youngest had a “fever.” I was in the middle of an important meeting, but of course, I had to drop everything to go get her.

By the end of the week? Exhausted didn’t even begin to cover it. I wasn’t sleeping. My carefully planned schedule had imploded. And for someone who needs structure, that was the worst part. But somehow, we got through it.

And when my husband finally walked through the door, I handed over the reins, grabbed my dairy-free ice cream, and collapsed onto the couch to binge Zero Day on Netflix.

Here’s what this week taught me:

1. Plans will fall apart. And that’s okay. Flexibility is survival.
2. Kids need space, just like we do. A little separation saved my sanity.
3. It’s okay to ask for a break. We need to recharge, guilt-free.

To every parent balancing it all—you’re doing better than you think. And if this week is feeling like that week for you, give yourself some grace (and maybe some ice cream).

How do you handle weeks like this? Hit reply—I’d love to hear your strategies.