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Wide Awake with Gratitude
It’s late. The kind of late where the world feels quiet, where even the hum of the fridge sounds louder than usual. I can hear the dog snoring under the bed – his favourite place to sleep. Sleep just isn’t coming tonight, and instead of tossing and turning, I find myself sitting with gratitude. My kids are sleeping peacefully, each one such a miracle in their own unique way. They push me, stretch me, challenge me, and teach me more about love than I ever thought I could hold. Sometimes, in these quiet moments, I just feel overwhelmed with how lucky I am to be their mom. Then there’s my…
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Finding My Way Back: Motherhood, Isolation, and Relearning Friendship
Motherhood has a way of pulling you inward. At first, it feels natural – necessary, even. The early days are a blur of feedings, diaper changes, endless cuddles, and the constant, overwhelming work of keeping a tiny human alive. You blink, and somehow the world outside your home feels farther and farther away. I didn’t set out to isolate myself. It just…happened. Texts were read but not responded to. Group chats became overwhelming. Even when I wanted to say yes, the logistics of finding childcare, figuring out nap schedules, or even just scraping together the energy to shower and get dressed felt impossible. And so, little by little, my world…
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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…