Somewhere in the Mess: Motherhood, Me-Time, and Making It Work

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m living in a beautiful mess — a whirlwind of motherhood, endless housework, and a constant effort to not lose myself in the chaos. Some days I wake up ready to conquer it all — make breakfast, fold laundry, kiss boo-boos, clean, cook, and maybe even sneak in a shower without a toddler barging in. Other days... I just don't want to do anything at all. And on those days, the guilt creeps in like an old friend I wish would stop visiting.

I love my kids with every fiber of my being, but being a mom doesn’t mean I stopped being me. I still crave a moment of silence, a cup of coffee I can finish while it's hot, a little time to breathe without someone needing something. But when you’re the glue holding it all together — the meals, the mess, the emotions — it’s easy to forget who you were before the titles of “Mom” and “House Manager” took over.

Then there’s the money. We’re stretching every dollar, trying to make it last till the next check, the next blessing. Planning meals on a budget, saying no to outings, or ignoring the latest sale at Target because every penny counts. And honestly, that stress adds another layer to the exhaustion.

Some might call it laziness when I spend a day doing nothing — but I know it’s not. It’s survival. It’s my body and mind begging for a break. It’s me trying to stay afloat with the weight of everything on my back.

But even in the middle of the mess, I’m still here. Still trying. Still showing up.

If you're reading this and feeling the same — you're not alone. It’s okay to feel tired. It’s okay to not have it all together. You’re doing your best, and that’s more than enough.

So today, I’ll find a few minutes just for me. I might write. I might cry. I might stare at the ceiling and breathe. But I’ll remind myself that I matter too — not just as a mom or a homemaker, but as a whole person.

Here's to all of us trying to find ourselves in the mess. You’re not lazy. You’re living. You’re loving. You’re surviving. And that is powerful.


"In the middle of the mess, I’m still showing up. I may be tired, but I am not defeated. I am a mother, a woman, and I matter too."

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

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