Today was one of those days. You know, the kind of day that makes you question everything about your life.

The baby was fussy and wanted to eat constantly, while my toddler kept grabbing my hand asking me to come sit on the floor and play (cue ugly cry).

The laundry was piled higher than usual. Every time I emptied the sink, I found dishes when I returned. Was there a hidden person living there or did my son just keep sneaking Tupperware into the sink? He has a slight obsession with using bowls for everything.

My 3-year-old had a potty training relapse and peed on himself twice and still refuses to poop on the toilet.

He didn’t listen to one round of instructions the first (or second) time it was given at soccer practice. He kept trying to run off the field as I tried to keep up with him while wearing my 6-month-old.

I had a writing deadline that I pushed.

Today was a just add the dirty dishes and re-run the dishwasher to feel productive kind of day.

It was a make mac and cheese for dinner and add sprinkles of shredded cheese to feel fancy kind of day.

It was a mommy needs to sneak into the kitchen and shove a piece of chocolate into her mouth kind of day.

These days always seem to appear when firefighter daddy is on 24+ hour shifts.

We made a run to the coffee shop. We broke out the paint and water pouring station. We even brought the hidden bubble wands out today. We were trying to survive it, my friends.

I re-ran the washer because I couldn’t remember if there was laundry detergent in it. I re-washed my hair because I couldn’t remember if I put shampoo or conditioner in first.

I was the mess of all messes today.

I love motherhood. I love everything about raising my little munchkins. I love the way my son says his sister is his best friend. I love the way he runs to hand her the toucan stuffed animal she plays with the second she drops it. I love the chaos of it all—the nonstop laundry, the constant vacuuming, it is exactly what God has called me to do.

But, friends, that doesn’t mean there won’t be THOSE days.

The days you feel like you aren’t getting a single thing done, find boogers on the baseboards, and have infant vomit running down your arm on multiple occasions.

The days you have to re-wash your hair, cry in the bathroom, or apologize for not having it all together.

The days you can’t use the bathroom alone, you hear nothing but whining, and no matter how hard you try, the housework never gets caught up.

The days you feel like you need more mom friends, MUST get out more, and question everything.

Guess what, mama? It’s OK.

There are also days that melt your heart.

The days your toddler sits on the couch and reads books with you.

The days your infant’s constant grin makes you feel like you’re on cloud nine.

The days you have showered, started laundry, and mopped the floors—all before 9 a.m.

The days they whisper “I love you” or mispronounce words that leave you giggling because you can’t imagine anything cuter.

The days they seem so full of joy you can’t even remember the re-run the dishwasher, make fancy mac and cheese, shove chocolate in your mouth days.

Stay strong, mama, whether you are having a re-run the dishwasher day or a can’t stop smiling day. Bad days will happen, and good days will happen.

Push through the difficult days and bask in the good days like a child playing in the leaves as fall makes its debut.

Remember the giggles and not just the tears.

Remember reading books together and not just hiding in the bathroom.

Remember the cute mispronounced words and not the unfinished housework.

Remember the rough days help you appreciate the beautiful ones.

Remember the days in the trenches make you stronger and more appreciative of moments of seeing your wee ones excel.

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