Ever spend weeks planning something down to the last detail, only for it to almost completely unravel in five minutes? Welcome to my week. Let me tell you about freedom, family chaos, and black lipstick.
Halloween Chaos
After all the effort I put into the Halloween outfit—black lipstick, face paint, the whole works—my daughter decided she did not want to dress up on school dress-up day. Like, ahhhhhh! I had been ready since September, living my own little fantasy of being the coolest, most organized parent ever… and then bam—defeat.
Cue two calls from beautiful, lovely mums asking if they could bring the outfit to school for her, because apparently she’d “forgotten it.” Meanwhile, I’m stuck at the hospital for an appointment, thinking, this is parenting glory? This is what winning feels like?
Mini reflection: When you think you’re winning as a parent… spoiler alert: you’re not. But it’s okay. Chaos is part of the fun.
Recovery Lessons (aka Parenting Lessons)
Even amidst the black lipstick debacle and early-morning madness, 12 weeks of recovery has taught me a few things:
- Morning chaos can be productive if you lean into it
- Friends who accept your raw, messy self are treasures
- Music is literal therapy
- Journaling > perfection
- Letting go of control is powerful (seriously)
- Planning ahead is great… until it isn’t, and then you laugh
Outro: Messy, Bold, and Totally Worth It
Recovery—and parenting—is messy, loud, funny, and frustrating. But it’s also full of little wins that remind you who you are. This week? I reclaimed my brain, my time, and my sanity… mostly. And that Halloween outfit? It made it to school after all, thanks to two heroic mums.
Sometimes greatness is just a little messy, a little bold, and entirely out of your control—and honestly, that’s part of the fun.
