My kids and partner were already settled in the car, ready to head to the pep rally for my children’s swim team. I was determined to wait until the very last minute to take the food out of the oven. Like many other parents, I often bring snacks to keep our little swimmers fueled. Interestingly, I’m also the go-to person in our family for transporting all the essentials whenever we head out.
5:56 p.m. It’s time to roll.
With a strategic approach, I start loading myself up with everything I need. My overstuffed, navy-and-green-monogrammed bag from Land’s End goes on my left shoulder. Next, I turn off the oven, lift the lid, and carefully place the serving spoon onto the aluminum foil covering the massive tray of pasta. I slide my hands into mismatched oven mitts, then grab the warming tray and kick the oven door shut with my right leg, executing it like a seasoned pro.
It’s a skill my partner, Jake, would never master. Roar!
Thankfully, he left the side door cracked open, and I use my foot to nudge it open. Just before stepping outside, a pacifier catches my eye. That small piece of BPA-free blue plastic could very well determine whether the evening unfolds as a sweet cuddle session or transforms into a scene from a horror movie. We definitely need that pacifier.
Okay, I’ve got this. Roar!
I slide my right hand underneath the tray, precariously balancing it. Shaking off the mitt on my left hand, I lean down to grab the pacifier. I stretch and reach out.
And then, well—you can probably guess what happens next.
The tray tilts a little too far, and instinct kicks in as my un-mitted left hand attempts to steady it. In the nick of time, I remember that the tray is hot! My entire focus shifts to balancing it.
I can manage this! Quick Roar!
But as my wrist bends awkwardly, the scorching metal edge grazes my arm. Without thinking, I scream from the searing pain and the whole tray crashes to the floor.
Did that really just happen?
I stand there, momentarily stunned, staring at the noodles scattered at my feet. In a burst of frustration, I drop the swim bag to my side and, in a fit of anger, I spike the pacifier into the noodles. Just for good measure, I reach down, reclaim the fallen serving spoon, and hurl it out the door with a frustrated roar (I might have also muttered something under my breath).
Seeing the noodles littered across the doorway and the spoon flying, Jake casually approaches from the car. He looks at me, bewildered, and asks, “Why were you trying to carry so much?” Roar!!!
After a cleanup, we finally made it to the pool. The kids devoured the food while I shared my noodle disaster story with a neighbor, displaying my burn. During our chat, she revealed her own heavy burden—a recent diagnosis that would forever change her life. “I have so much going on, I just don’t know how I’ll manage it all.” Tears glistened in her eyes.
Jake’s question echoed in my mind: “Why were you trying to carry so much?”
Friend, it’s time to put something down.
Ladies, I have to ask: When did we start carrying so much? How did we end up with arms overflowing? We see everyone else juggling so many responsibilities. We’re all busy and overwhelmed, and we often feel guilty if we can’t keep up. Throughout my motherhood journey, I’ve heard that relentless call to “do more.”
But could it be that I’m listening to the wrong message? Because in moments of stillness, I hear a gentle voice urging me to let go.
Right now, in this stage of motherhood, I possess the strength to juggle the responsibilities of raising young children. However, I refuse to allow busyness to overshadow the joy I want to carry with me. I need to be intentional in curating my to-do list so that I don’t drop peace, joy, or kindness in the chaos of my day-to-day life.
Each of us carries unique burdens, even if we don’t always share them. In some seasons, we simply have to bear what life throws our way. But no one can sustain that indefinitely.
This year, I’m making a conscious choice. I will carry only what I must and what truly matters. I refuse to be so overloaded that sleepless nights filled with anxiety become the norm. Life has its share of challenges, and I want to focus on holding my children’s hands and nurturing my relationship with Jake.
So, if you see me letting something go, you’ll understand why.
You’re welcome to join me on this journey. After all, we simply can’t carry it all.
For more insights on managing the complexities of motherhood, you might want to check out this blog post. If you’re considering at-home insemination, Make a Mom offers reliable kits to help you on your journey. And for further information on pregnancy and insemination, the CDC provides an excellent resource.
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