Coffee, Chaos,
and Carrying On:
My 3 Cs of Mom Life

Why resilience looks a lot like reheating your coffee three times before 9 A.M.

Adjusting to Being
with My Kids All Summer
(and Still Liking Them by August)

Welcome to Summer,
Where the Days Are Long and So Are the Snack Breaks

The school year ended with a blur of glitter glue, end-of-year parties, and “what even is this lunchbox smell?” And now, here we are — it’s summer. The kids are home.
All. Day. Long. Every. Single. Day.

And listen, I love my kids…
But that first week of summer hits like a full-body cannonball into the deep end — loud, chaotic, and disorienting. I went from structure and bells to “Mom, what are we doing today?” shouted at full volume by 7:02 a.m.

Coffee: My Emotional Support Beverage (Even When It Goes Cold… Again)

A young boy joyfully runs down a path, showcasing playful energy in a Czech outdoor setting.

Summer mornings go like this:
Wake up. Make coffee.
Teen slams a door. Reheat coffee.
The 7-year-old asks for a snack while literally eating a snack. Reheat coffee.
Someone’s mad about the color of their cereal bowl, someone’s sticky, someone’s asking what the vibe is for today like we’re running a resort. Reheat coffee.

Coffee isn’t just a drink. It’s a brief pause. A moment to breathe.  A whispered reminder: You can do this. A gentle reminder that I exist outside of snack distribution and WiFi troubleshooting.

I used to sip it slowly. Now I chug it lukewarm between mood swings and messes. Growth.

Chaos: My Seasonal Co-Worker (and It’s Definitely Full-Time)

By mid-morning, the household has already cycled through:
Loud laughter
Sibling warfare
Someone crying because the teenager finished the last “good cereal”
17 snack breaks
And a debate over whether cereal + string cheese = a balanced meal

How do they eat so much?
Is there a hidden metabolism switch that activates in June? Are they part squirrel? Why do I feel like I’m running a 24-hour diner… but no one tips?

And let’s talk about the irony: I have unreal patience for my students. I mean — full-on Zen, “let’s talk through this” energy. But my own kids? I snap when I hear “Mommmm” for the 143rd time in an hour, and I genuinely wonder if I should enroll myself in time-out.

There’s no school bell to structure the day, so suddenly I’m the principal, lunch lady, camp counselor, screen-time police, snack distributor, and designated fun-haver.
Also me: Google searching “Is it bad to sign your kid up for 5 camps in a row?” But here’s the mindset shift: Chaos doesn’t always mean failure — sometimes it just means a full life. One filled with giggles, spontaneous dance parties, and the occasional scream over whose turn it is on the iPad.

Carrying On:
My Superpower in Leggings

Here’s what I’ve come to realize: I’m not trying to be Supermom. I’m trying to be present — in the chaos, the cuddles, and the carpool loops.

Carrying on means:

pexels-photo-32452712-32452712.jpg

Letting boredom be the birthplace of creativity

Vibrant close-up of a child's hands covered in colorful paint, expressing creativity and fun.

Saying “yes” to popsicles at 10 a.m. because why not

A child crouched under cushions on a couch, conveying a sense of playfulness or fear.

Taking that 10-minute bathroom break with TikTok in hand and zero guilt

A mother and daughter enjoying a happy and playful moment together indoors.

Laughing through the madness, even if it’s maniacal

Mini Mindset Shift: They’re Not Trying to Drive Me Nuts
— They Just Live Here

My kids aren’t wild at me.
They’re just wild with me.
Because I’m their safe space.
Their comfort zone.
The human version of a couch pillow and a snack drawer.
And honestly?
That’s kind of beautiful. ...Also exhausting. But mostly beautiful. (But definitely exhausting.)

My Kids, My Summer, My Lukewarm Coffee

So here I am — adjusting. Not perfectly. Not Pinterest-style. Just real-life style. Some days I kill it. Some days the house wins. And most days, I’m somewhere in between — managing moods, microwaving coffee, and mentally counting down to bedtime while also secretly loving these weird, snack-filled summer days with my chaos crew.

So, if you’re a fellow mama wondering how you’ll make it through July without Googling boarding school
(joking… mostly), just know:

You are doing enough. You are carrying on. And you deserve warm coffee at least once a day.

Coffee, Chaos & Carrying On Essentials

These mom-life essentials keep me going.
If you grab something through these links, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for fueling the chaos with me!

Cheers to thriving, not just surviving
— and remember, your Mommy Mindset Matters.
Until next time,

Get In Touch!
I read every message and try to respond as soon as possible.
Let’s support each other, grow together, and remind one another that our mindset truly does matter.

✨ Can’t wait to connect with you!

Don't miss new posts on the Mommy Mindset Matters!

Contact form and message

×