Who knows? Not me!

People often say that to me, “How do you do it all?” I never know how to answer. They know I write a lot, have five kids, and look put together. I look at some people busier than me and wonder the same thing. But I also don’t know what medications they’re on (not judging), how happy they actually are or if inside they are frazzled all the time.

One advantage I do have is I have a helpful husband, but he works a lot. And my saving grace is my house doesn’t need to look perfect. Three boys in between two girls ensures that…they are like a demolition crew. “Seamus is colored on your bed with markers!” Finnegan, my middle son, came into the living room to tell me. I’ve learned that washable markers are not always so. At least they’re pretty colors. Yeah, I hide markers and candy from him, but he finds them better than a drug-sniffing dog would find a stash. He has used Sharpies on himself. (I had to hide one in my purse.) Good thing he’s cute. My life is messy. Maybe for some I put up a good front, but I think it’s normal to have crazy. We’re all just doing the best we can and putting our best foot forward. Sometimes, it’s super obvious my life isn’t seamless.

Last night I carved out mommy time to go dancing…not at a club…Hip Hop Yoga. My friend-yoga teacher-soul sister, Cailin Callahan of Golden Buddha Yoga was throwing a workshop that featured three of my favorite things, yoga, music, dancing. I love Hip Hop music especially and music is one of my go-to mood lifters. I cannot convey how much fun this was, I’d have to show you through booty poppin’ and making my dancing face with duck lips. Epic and wonderful, I was so in the moment. At the beginning of the workshop, we were given the mantra “I ain’t trippin’!” How perfect. I had left all my mom-ish energy as I exited my minivan (I folded a mountain of laundry beforehand, made baby food, and kept the kids from killing each other on a cloudy day where we stayed inside.) As I got out of my minivan I was approached by a man that thought I was lost.  He said he wasn’t hitting on me, but made a joking, weird comment about my chest. I’m like Dude…mom of five here! That always surprises strangers. I have a high energy, young vibe when I’m at my best, and a haggard, grumpy lady when I’m on overload. That is why I do things like yoga to center myself.

During the workshop, all the business, hustlin’ stuff fell out of my head, as I was in my true free spirit mode. I danced my little heart out. It was like a Sweat Lodge as I was dripping with happy sweat. As it came time to lay in Shavasana (lying flat on your back, completely relaxed, eyes closed-you know not to be morbid but AKA Corpse pose). I hear my phone ring and think…oh crap…it’s my mom I bet. With hubby working, as well as my older daughter, and my babysitter too, my mom had volunteered to babysit because she knew how important it was to me. I had a few crappy days the previous week where I was not feeling Jennylicious (summer is no vacay at times for moms with kids all out of school-it’s like managing chaos). I grab my phone after I creep over all the yogis and jet out the door. I see two missed calls, a text. I call her back. Baby had been crying for a half an hour. I had to leave before saying goodbye and finishing the full class just a smidge early. Cailin was singing and I could listen to her for hours. Her voice belongs on the radio.

Funny I worried about my two younger boys giving my mom a hard time with their wildness, as she had two little girls, and I have kids who can embarrass me with their aggression or potty mouth. In the past, I would have felt guilty and worried she would be upset, but I thought…I ain’t trippin’. I thanked my mom for babysitting and told her I had the best time ever and she smiled. She’s the best. As a working mom, she continues to teach me not even to attempt to do it all. Do your best and remember if your mind starts gettin’ all crazy with a to-do list of life, think…”I ain’t trippin!” Thanks Mommy and Cailin. Have a fun weekend all.