Okay, let’s be real for a second. Who else thought marriage and parenting would be this magical, Instagram-perfect journey? 🙋‍♀️ Spoiler alert: it’s not. It’s messy, chaotic, and sometimes downright exhausting. But here’s the thing—it’s also the most rewarding adventure I’ve ever been on.
Let’s start with marriage. When I said “I do,” I genuinely thought I had it all figured out. I mean, how hard could it be? You love someone, you live together, and boom—happily ever after, right? Wrong. Marriage is like a never-ending dance where sometimes you step on each other’s toes. There are days when my husband and I are so in sync it’s like we’re sharing a brain, and then there are days when I’m convinced we’re speaking completely different languages.
Take last week, for example. I was juggling work deadlines, a toddler who decided sleep was overrated, and a kitchen that looked like a tornado had hit it. All I wanted was for my husband to notice and maybe, just maybe, offer to help. Instead, he came home, plopped on the couch, and started scrolling through his phone. Cue the internal meltdown. But here’s the kicker—when I finally mustered the courage to tell him how I felt, he looked at me and said, “I didn’t realize you were drowning. Why didn’t you just ask?”
That’s the thing about marriage—it’s not about mind-reading or grand gestures. It’s about communication, even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s about showing up, even when you’re tired. And it’s about choosing each other, day after day, even when it’s hard.
Now, let’s talk about parenting. If marriage is a dance, parenting is a full-blown circus. You’re the ringmaster, the clown, and the audience all at once. And just when you think you’ve got it under control, your kid throws a curveball that leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew.
My daughter is three, which means she’s equal parts adorable and terrifying. One minute she’s telling me I’m the best mommy in the world, and the next she’s having a meltdown because I cut her toast into squares instead of triangles. It’s a constant balancing act between nurturing her independence and keeping her from accidentally setting the house on fire.
But here’s the thing—parenting has taught me more about myself than I ever thought possible. It’s shown me my strengths, my weaknesses, and my capacity for love in ways I never imagined. It’s also taught me the importance of giving myself grace. Because let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. We’re all just doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
One of the biggest challenges of parenting is finding time for myself. Between work, household chores, and keeping a tiny human alive, it’s easy to lose sight of who I am outside of being a mom. But I’ve learned that taking care of myself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Whether it’s a bubble bath after bedtime or a solo trip to the grocery store (yes, that counts as self-care), those little moments of peace are what keep me sane.
Marriage and parenting are hard, but they’re also incredibly beautiful. They’ve taught me the value of patience, the importance of forgiveness, and the power of unconditional love. They’ve shown me that life isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection.
So, to all the mamas out there who are juggling it all, know that you’re not alone. Your messy house, your toddler’s tantrums, and your occasional marital spats don’t define you. What defines you is the love you pour into your family, even on the hardest days. And trust me, that’s more than enough.