09/22/2026
The kids are with my mom today, and I’m catching up on work. I have room to think, be alone, and enjoy something I rarely get: time when I don’t have to talk or answer anybody.
I miss them. And I’m enjoying knowing they’re cared for while some of the weight is off my shoulders. Both are true.
But something I notice in the quiet is that I’m still tired. I rarely get enough good sleep to actually feel rested, and that exhaustion doesn’t disappear just because I have a few hours to myself.
Then comes the urge to rush. Suddenly, I feel like I need to get 1,000,001 things done yesterday. Work, clean, catch up—fit everything into this little window before they come home.
I’m trying to remind myself that I’m allowed to use some of this time to simply exist. Finish a thought. Sit in silence. Take my time doing one thing.
Having help doesn’t mean I owe the day more productivity. Sometimes I need to let myself feel the relief, too. 🤍