To All the Moms Out There Juggling It All

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Time seems to slip through our fingers like sand. Each day is packed with work, family obligations, and a seemingly endless to-do list, leaving little room for quality time with friends who matter. So when my close friend Emily suggested we finally catch up after what felt like ages, I was determined to make it work.

Our original plan involved a leisurely meeting on a sunny patio, soaking up the last rays of summer while sipping wine and sharing stories. But, as life would have it, we had to settle for a brief chat in my car while I picked up my teenager from work. I suggested it out of sheer desperation to keep our date, but a wave of horror washed over me when I realized how messy my car was.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind—actually, the last couple of months have been downright chaotic. My car was a disaster zone, littered with remnants from summer outings, football practices, and the myriad places teenagers “need” to go. I had to own up to my share of the mess too—those empty coffee cups and granola bar wrappers were definitely my doing.

As much as the clutter stressed me out, cleaning it was never high on my priority list. I’d hop out of my car, leaving the chaos behind, only to face the whirlwind of family life inside—meal prep, laundry, and all that fun stuff.

And so goes the daily grind, with endless tasks and only so many hours in a day. It’s no wonder we feel like failures when we can’t do it all. I was about to expose my “failures” to Emily.

As soon as she arrived, I dove headfirst into apologies: “I’m so sorry about the mess! Life’s just been crazy busy.” I felt the need to justify how I let things spiral out of control. I even jumped in the car ahead of her, hastily brushing crumbs off the seat. Emily flashed a reassuring smile and said, “Don’t worry! My car looks just like this.” I found it hard to believe, especially considering she looked like a poster woman for having it all together, dressed in a flowing dress with perfect hair.

I imagined her car with maybe one empty coffee cup from yesterday’s commute and a few stray receipts. Instead of voicing my doubts, I appreciated her effort to ease my embarrassment, reminding me once again why she’s such a treasured friend.

We spent our brief ride laughing and chatting about kids, work, and everything in between. As she gracefully exited, I cringed at the half-eaten muffin that had rolled out from under her seat. We said our goodbyes and promised to reconnect sooner this time because, let’s face it, it had been way too long.

Later, as I sat at my desk feeling frazzled from the morning rush, I received a text from her. It made me smile—like, a huge grin. The woman I thought had it all together was, in fact, just like me. Why do we always assume others are handling life better than we are? In that moment, I felt less like a failure and more like a regular mom doing her best to juggle everything, which is a lot more realistic.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve adopted this idea that every aspect of our lives must be perfect to be deemed successful. Because of this, we hide our messes and struggles, fearing judgment. But maybe we should embrace our vulnerabilities a bit more. Sharing our highs and lows can remind us we’re not alone. So, thank you, Emily, for showing me that even the “perfect” moms are navigating the same storm.

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In summary, we’re all just doing our best to manage the chaos that comes with motherhood. Let’s embrace the messiness together.