Today my daughter didn’t get her full morning nap because I was trying to work on my business.
Today I gave my daughter a bath out of pure desperation to have a minute to just be.
Today I looked at the full laundry bin and knew there wasn’t much I was able to do about it.
Today I held my head in my hands as it pounded, yearning for the day that words will replace the shrieking.
Today I gave my daughter a whole banana because I needed her focused on something but me for just a few minutes. It didn’t even work too well. Half of it ended up in her hair.
Today I think I’ll bring in dinner. There’s too much going on for a home-cooked meal.

But that’s not what matters.

Today my daughter was nurtured and safe.
Today my husband told me I’m being the wife he needs.
Today I am fed and watered. And my child is too.
Today I kept my voice calm and breathed through every challenge.
Today I made a nutritious lunch even though it felt impossible.
Today I thanked Gd for all the goodness that’s keeping my hands so full.

And tomorrow I’ll do it all again.

One day my children will be living in their own homes
And I’ll wonder where the time went
I’ll think back to these long days
When I watched the sunset in disbelief that the whole day had gone by
And I hadn’t yet gotten dressed
And yesterday’s dishes were still on the counter
And my head felt as though it were splitting in two

But that’s not what I’ll remember.

I’ll remember the way my daughter laughed when I put her on my shoulders and danced- not the feeling of not knowing what else to do that brought me there.
I’ll remember making silly noises and my sweet girl making them back at me, not the overflowing diaper I was changing while we made them.
I’ll remember how she slept on my chest so softly and peacefully, not the initial struggle to get her eyes to close.

Today might be a challenge.
And tomorrow will be too.
But the challenges are blessings in disguise.
They’re the memories I’ll cherish as my little one has little ones of her own.

I might still order in dinner.
And that’s ok.
Because I’ve done my best today.

And 20 years from now
When all is said and done
I’ll have nothing but pride for the me of the past.

She was a warrior like no other.

She raised a beautiful family and took every day on the chin with maximum effort and showed her children what it looks like to be resilient and strong.

And that-

That’s more than enough for me.