Hey Chaos Crew,
It’s me, your resident mom-preneur, adventure junkie, and chief wrangler of five wild boys. If you’ve been following along, you know my life looks like a whirlwind of muddy knees, impromptu fishing trips, late-night coding sessions, and the constant hum of “Mom! Mom! MOM!” echoing through our house. And, if you’re like most people, you probably see the highlight reel. The perfectly framed sunset hikes, the synchronized chaos of a family game night, the smiling faces plastered across my Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Let’s be real, though. That’s not the whole story.
Where there’s beauty, there is also messy!
I’m 42, and let me tell you, I’ve learned a thing or two about the gap between curated online life and the messy, beautiful reality of raising five boys. We’re not perfect. Far from it. In fact, some days, I feel like I’m failing spectacularly.
You know those picture-perfect families you see on social media? The ones with the spotless houses, the kids who always eat their veggies, and the parents who seem to have it all together? Yeah, I used to think they had some secret sauce I was missing. I’d scroll through my feed, comparing my chaotic life to their seemingly serene existence, wondering where I was going wrong.
Here’s the thing: everyone’s struggling. Everyone.
Even us. Papi and I, we’re a team. We’re fiercely dedicated to our boys, to our business, to making the most of every single moment. We plan, we strategize, we hustle. We build forts, we bake cookies, we read bedtime stories until our voices are hoarse. But even with all the love and dedication in the world, sometimes things fall apart. Even for us.
Recently, we’ve been navigating some… intense challenges. I won’t go into specifics – privacy is paramount for my boys – but let’s just say we’ve been hit with a series of curveballs that have left us reeling. The kind of challenges that make you question everything you thought you knew about parenting, about life, about yourself.
There have been nights where I’ve sat on the edge of my bed, tears streaming down my face, wondering if I’m doing any of this right. Days where I’ve snapped at my kids out of sheer exhaustion, instantly regretting it. Moments where I’ve felt completely overwhelmed, like I’m drowning in a sea of laundry, deadlines, and emotional needs.
And you know what? That’s okay.
It’s ok to stop editing!
We’re so conditioned to present a polished version of ourselves to the world. We edit out the messy bits, the meltdowns, the moments of doubt. But life isn’t an Instagram filter. It’s raw, it’s unpredictable, and it’s often incredibly hard.
I remember a few years ago, when my oldest, who’s now 11, was going through a particularly tough phase. I was convinced that if I just provided the right environment, the right activities, the right amount of love, everything would be perfect. I’d read all the parenting books, listened to all the podcasts, and tried to implement every expert’s advice.
But kids don’t come with instruction manuals. They’re individuals, with their own unique personalities, challenges, and timelines. What worked for one child didn’t necessarily work for another. And sometimes, despite my best efforts, things just didn’t go as planned.
There were times when I felt like I was failing all of the boys. Like I was making all the wrong choices. Looking back, I realize that I was putting an immense amount of pressure on myself, trying to create this perfect little bubble of happiness for them. But life isn’t a bubble. It’s full of bumps and bruises, and sometimes, the best thing we can do for our kids is to navigate those bumps together.
In those hard moments, I was thankful I had Papi, he was such a rock. He reminded me that we’re in this together. That we don’t have to have all the answers. That it’s okay to ask for help, to lean on each other, to admit when we’re struggling. He’s the one who pulled me back from the brink when I was about to spiral, reminding me that we’re doing our best, and that’s enough.
But what happens when you don’t have that rock? Sometimes life’s moments get so hard you actually turn on each other. The famous duo, the parenting rockstars, the immaculate coaches of an unbeatable team of 5 boys… even we fail. We fail each other, we lose sight, we get lost.
It will always be ok!
We’ll all be ok in the end; we have God and that’s all we need. We know this. And for now, we’re all just trying to figure it out as we go along. We’re all making mistakes, learning from them, and trying to be better parents, partners, and people.
I know I’ve been a bit quieter here lately. Life has demanded my full attention, and honestly, I needed to step back and prioritize my family. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for understanding and respecting our privacy during this time. Your support means more than you know.
To my avid readers, thank you for sticking with me. I appreciate each and every one of you. I hope this post serves as a reminder that we’re all in this together, facing our own battles, and striving to find our own balance amidst the chaos.
So, to all the moms and dads out there, to all the entrepreneurs juggling a million things, to everyone who’s ever felt like they’re not enough – you are not alone. Your struggles are valid. Your imperfections are what make you human.
Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. Don’t let the curated perfection of social media fool you into thinking that everyone else has it all figured out. Because they don’t.
Embrace the chaos. Embrace the mess. Embrace the imperfections. They’re part of the journey. And remember, you’re doing a fantastic job, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Wishing you all strength, love, and a little bit of peace in the midst of the beautiful chaos.
Until next time,
Your Chaos Planner