Rebranding how to be present.

I'm the best mom outside of my home.

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

I can’t look away. I’m on the floor with my kids, trying desperately to focus on building the train set that’s in front of us. I want so badly to be present, to form core memories for and with my kids. And yet it’s all I can see. It’s all I can think about.

The mess.

The dishes. The laundry. The vacuuming. The moping. The general tidying of all the things that are out of place.

The constant list.

The to-dos engulf me.

It’s almost impossible for me to ignore the house chores when I’m sitting among them. I’m that person, the one who can’t relax after dinner until all the dishes are done and the kitchen is put back in order. I don’t even sit on the couch and take a breath after the kids are in bed until all the toys have been cleaned up and I’ve done my nightly house reset.