Life Lately
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Life Lately: When You’re Tired in Your Bones But Still Showing Up
Some days, I’m not just tired – I’m tired in my bones. The kind of tired that doesn’t go away with sleep. The kind that’s wrapped up in mental load and overstimulation and wondering if I’m doing enough, being enough, loving well enough. Life lately has been…full. Beautiful, for the most part, yes. But also heavy. Loud. Messy. Three kids. Social work school. Trying to grow GentlyJenn again. Dishes. Diapers. Papers to write. Snacks to cut into very specific shapes or risk a meltdown. There are moments I look around and think – How am I still standing? And the answer is: I’m not always. Sometimes I’m slumped on the…
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Celebrate Your Wins: You’re Doing More Than Just Surviving
Life has a funny way of piling it all on at once, doesn’t it? Between juggling responsibilities, healing from old wounds, showing up for the people we love, and just trying to keep our heads above water, it’s easy to lose sight of something really important: how far we’ve come. Recently, a friend suggested I write this post. They reminded me that I’ve been through a lot this past year – not just the hard stuff, but the growth, the accomplishments, the moments of quiet strength. Sometimes, we need someone on the outside to point out what we’re too busy or too humble to notice ourselves. So here I am,…
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A Letter to Myself in the Thick of It
Dear me, I see you. Sitting on the bathroom floor for just one minute of quiet. The kids are yelling (again), there’s dried up yogurt drink on your shirt, and you’re not sure if you’ve had lunch or just finished your kid’s leftover granola bar. This is the thick of it. I know you’re tired – like soul-deep tired. I know your body aches from carrying children, laundry baskets, emotional weight. I know your brain feels foggy some days, and the to-do list never seems to shrink, no matter how many things you check off. But I want you to know: You are doing it. Even when it doesn’t feel…
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From Sweet Tooth to Coffee Curious: My Espresso Era (Thanks, Kids)
It all started with a white hot chocolate. Sweet, creamy, basically dessert in a cup – which, as a sleep-deprived mom of three under five, was exactly what I needed. I wasn’t a coffee person. The smell? Meh. The taste? Too bitter. The vibe? So tempting…but I stayed firmly in hot cocoa territory. Then one day – mid-toddler meltdown, probably – I asked for a white hot chocolate with a shot of espresso. Just one. A little kick to keep me vertical during snack prep and sibling squabbles. And just like that, I was hooked. That single shot changed everything. Suddenly, the bitterness wasn’t offensive – it was balance. Depth.…
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Rewriting My Story: A Return to Myself After Motherhood
Hey there, beautiful soul! It’s been a while – and honestly, that’s okay. There was a time I would’ve started this post with an apology – sorry for disappearing, sorry for being inconsistent, sorry for the silence. But today, I’m coming back with something different: grace. For myself, for the journey I’ve been on, and for the woman I’ve become. The truth is, life happened. Big life. Big time. In 2020, I welcomed my sweet son into the world. Then in 2022, life doubled down on the magic – I gave birth to twin girls. Three children in just over two years. It’s still wild to say that out loud.…