Last week was…a lot.
My husband was out of town. The kids were home because of more snow days.
The puppy was doing puppy things.
And while I fully recognize how fortunate I am (healthy kids, a true partner, a life I’m grateful for), I found myself saying something to my coach last week that made both of us pause.
“At least I’m not a meth head.”
Not my most elegant moment.
To be clear, I was being coached on something completely unrelated to home life. Something work-related that felt heavy. And like many of us do, I quickly skimmed past the chaos that had been unfolding at home so I could focus on the “real” topic. But at the end of the session, my coach asked me to do something simple.
She said, “Walk me through what a realistic day would look like if you tried the new actions we’ve been talking about.”
So I started talking. Out loud, I described the day before. A pretty typical day in our house, except this time I was flying solo.
Kids. Busy schedules. The puppy. Clients I LOVE. Logistics. Meals. School stuff. Texts. Emails. The mental load. The emotional load. The constant pivoting.
Somewhere in the middle of explaining it, I started laughing, but it was the kind of laughing that happens when you’re also kind of crying. It sounded insane hearing it all out loud.
When I finished, my coach was quiet for a moment. Then she said, gently, “Did you hear yourself?” In that moment, I realized how much I was actually carrying.
Not in a dramatic way. Not in a “woe is me” way. Just in a very real, very human way.
She gave me space to acknowledge it, validate it, and to recognize that yes, the week had been long! I felt a lot better.
So why am I telling you this?
Because I don’t have it all figured out either.
I’m juggling many of the same things you are. The details may look different, but the mental gymnastics are pretty similar.
The only real difference is that because of the work I do, I have access to a lot of tools that help me move through stress faster.
But like you, I’m human. And sometimes I don’t use them.
And you know what? I’m not beating myself up about that. Last week, I did the very best I could.
My kids were fed. They slept. They played. They’re clean. We even had a little fun.
Sure, I may have earned the title of “mean mommy” at one point, but everyone made it through the week mostly unscathed.
Here’s the part I want you to really hear:
It’s a new week. Which means I get a choice. On Sunday, when my husband was home again, I decided to take myself to Costco. Alone.
Which, if you’re a parent, you know can feel like a mini vacation.
About halfway there I realized I was still wearing my slippers. Not cute ones. House slippers.
Instead of turning around, I laughed and kept going. Because honestly? That felt about right for the week I’d had.
Later that day, I told my husband I needed a long walk outside. It felt like the first real hint of spring, and I could feel my system wanting a reset. Fresh air. Movement. Space.
And somewhere during that walk I decided something simple. I’m starting fresh.
Because I actually do have a choice in how I show up.
As a mom. As a partner. As a leader. As a human.
I don’t have to carry last week’s stress into this one. I can release it. Right here. Right now.
I’m sharing this because sometimes people assume that because this is the work I do, I’ve mastered it. That I float through my days calmly regulating everyone’s energy.
I assure you…I do not.
But what I do have is perspective. And perspective reminds me that rough weeks happen.
They don’t mean you’re failing.
They don’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
They just mean you’re human.
And the beautiful thing about being human is that we get to begin again.
Even if we’re doing it in slippers at Costco.