You see a mum juggling life like a pro—balancing work, school runs, and endless appointments like it’s no big deal. What you don’t see are the late nights spent catching up on work because I’ve had to shuffle everything around for therapies or appointments. The exhaustion is there, but there’s no time to stop because the to-do list keeps on going.

You see a woman who seems to have it all together—kids dressed, bags packed, everyone where they need to be, on time. What you don’t see are the frantic mornings where I’m bribing one kid to eat breakfast, reminding another for the hundredth time to put their shoes on, and silently questioning if I’ve showered recently or even if I remembered to brush my own hair.

You see a mum who is super attentive—listening to her kids’ stories, helping with school projects, and soaking in every word they say. What you don’t see are the moments I desperately want some quiet, where I spend a little longer in the bathroom just to sit for a second and hear my own thoughts (and even then, it’s often interrupted)

You see a house that’s mostly tidy, with toys tucked away and dishes done. What you don’t see is the kids asking to play with me while I say no because I’ve got washing to do, and then the guilt that follows when I’m fighting in my mind, telling myself “It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

You see me cheering my kids on—clapping the loudest for their achievements and beaming with pride. What you don’t see is the mum guilt I carry when I can’t always give 100% because my mind is juggling a million things or the guilt over the possibility that I have given one child more attention than another.

You see me smiling, laughing, and joking with my kids, always having fun. What you don’t see are the nights I cry quietly, feeling like I’m not doing enough, not getting it right, or just utterly overwhelmed.

The past month for me has been rough. I have been flat, not feeling like myself and exhausted. This happens from time to time. But the thing is, I will do everything in my power to hide this from everyone. Just recently someone came up to me while I was out and told me I was doing a great job, not realising the struggles I was going through emotionally and I ended up in tears. There are times where I just struggle to believe it because all I see are the cracks  and the messy, imperfect parts of myself or my life that I try so hard to cover up.

But those words, while they occasionally will make me cry, they stick. They remind me that maybe I am doing something right. They remind me that behind the chaos and the exhaustion I may be feeling, I am doing my best. I do it every day and my kids are loved.

So, for anyone who feels like they are holding it together – you’re not alone. And if you need to talk, I’m always more than happy to talk and even cry with you!