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When my eldest daughter was an infant, our whole family fell victim to a brutal stomach virus. As if two adults and a baby throwing up for a week wasn’t challenging enough, we were on vacation when it struck. We endured a grueling seven-hour drive home, all while our little one had a messy blowout and vomited all over her car seat, while my partner and I dealt with our own digestive nightmares. To top it off, we arrived home to discover that our floors were being refinished, forcing us to move nearly all our furniture amidst cleaning up the chaos.
It was, without a doubt, a week from hell.
The day after we finally started feeling better, I ran into a friend while taking a stroll with my daughter. “How’s it going?” he asked. “Fantastic! I’m actually thrilled to be doing laundry today!” I replied with genuine enthusiasm.
And I meant it. After a week of dealing with bodily fluids and feeling like I was hauling a 20-pound weight around, the thought of an ordinary—dare I say, boring—day ahead felt liberating.
I’ve been mulling over that blissful feeling, realizing how a typical day can be utterly delightful after weathering a storm. We often grumble about the repetitive nature of parenting: laundry, snacks, more laundry, tidying up toys, meal prep, and—oh yes—more laundry. (Seriously, does the laundry ever end?) But once we’ve navigated through a literal or metaphorical shit show, the monotony of daily life suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. A boring day transforms into something beautiful, and what was once ordinary feels extraordinary.
Lately, I’ve been yearning for a mundane day filled with the familiar rhythm of parenting. Life has felt overwhelmingly chaotic, much like that hellish week, with plenty of messes to clean up and the weight of the world on my shoulders. The typical chaos of trying to raise a family, balance a career, and juggle countless responsibilities feels like an endless treadmill, and I know I’m not alone in this feeling.
On top of the usual parenting pressures, there’s been a palpable tension in the air, like a rubber band stretched too tight, threatening to snap at any moment. Everything from social media debates to work deadlines to parenting crises has felt heavier, more challenging, and less healthy than usual. Have you felt it? I certainly have.
For what seems like an eternity, I’ve been longing for a day that’s refreshingly ordinary—one where the busyness subsides, the overwhelm eases (at least to manageable levels), and the burdens we carry feel lighter. I want a day filled with laundry, dentist appointments, household chores, silly emails, and cute cat videos. Honestly, I’d love a news feed that’s just cat videos—no more distressing news, please.
There’s a sweet, understated beauty in a mundane day that often goes unnoticed until we’ve trudged through a tough time. We learn to appreciate those simple moments—folding laundry, washing sippy cups, and navigating toddler meltdowns—only when we’re also dealing with the fallout of chaos and feeling like the world is collapsing around us.
I still find myself waiting for that dull day. The overwhelm persists, and there are still messes and burdens many of us carry. But perhaps this is just a part of life right now? It might be enough to recognize the beauty in the mundane and discover joy in the repetitive tasks of laundry, dishes, and yet another grocery run—even when life isn’t as tidy or straightforward as we wish it could be.
I’m still hoping for a day when my news feed is filled with #soblessed posts and humblebrags instead of divisive comments and alarming headlines. I look forward to a day when sorting laundry, cleaning the closets, and reminding my daughter to finish her homework are the biggest worries on my plate. I’m ready for the circus of parenting and all its associated drama to dial it down a notch. And I can’t wait for a gloriously boring day.
It will arrive eventually, and it will be magnificent. Until then, I’ll savor the snippets of ordinary goodness that life has to offer. And of course, there’s always laundry—boring day or not, laundry is forever.
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Summary: This article reflects on the unexpected joy found in mundane days of parenting after enduring chaotic times. It highlights how the ordinary can feel extraordinary after navigating difficulties, emphasizing the beauty of daily routines amidst the challenges of life.