Spirited Essence Works

Can we talk about beverages for a second?
You know what I mean. The morning coffee or two or maybe four that’s less of a drink and more of a lifeline. The favorite water bottle that goes everywhere with you (and honestly deserves its own seat in the car at this point). And then there’s the evening beverage, maybe a seltzer, maybe something a little stronger on particularly rough days. It’s like we’ve created our own emotional support beverage rotation just to make it through the week.
If you’re nodding along right now, WELCOME! You’re in good company.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about modern parenting: it’s relentless. Work keeps asking for more. Life keeps demanding more. And somewhere in the middle, you’re supposed to show up as a functional human being who remembers to pack lunches, respond to emails, shuttle kids between activities, keep the house from looking like a disaster zone, and…oh, yeah…take care of yourself too.
Most days, I swear I live in my car. It’s become my mobile office, my thinking space, my brief moment of silence between dropping off at school and racing to work, between picking up from practice and stopping for groceries. The car knows me better than most people at this point.
And through all of it, there’s this nagging voice whispering: You should be doing more. You should be better at this. Why can’t you keep up?
This past weekend, my husband did something I didn’t even know I desperately needed. He announced we were going hiking.
I’ll be honest…my first thought was adding another thing to the mental to-do list. The kids dragged their feet. There were complaints about leaving the house. Classic.
But he knew. He could see what the stress from my current job has been doing to me mentally. He saw me drowning in the solitude of my own overwhelm and threw me a lifeline disguised as a family adventure.
And you know what? Once we got to the trails, everything shifted.
The kids’ complaints turned into excitement as they tracked animal footprints in the dirt. We searched for interesting rocks. We breathed in air that actually felt clean and clear instead of recycled through the car’s air conditioning. We existed in Mother Nature’s wonderous space where the only deadline was getting back before dark.
After the hike, we sat together, had snacks, and just…were. No rushing. No checking the time every five minutes. Just us.
Then came the surprise stop at a local market for huckleberry fudge because apparently, my husband is actually amazing and knows exactly how to seal the deal on a perfect day.
When we got home, something miraculous happened. We slowed down.
We didn’t frantically tackle the laundry or meal prep for the week. We didn’t dive back into emails or clean like our lives depended on it. We took our time with whatever needed doing, and honestly? Most of it could wait.
It was a recharge I didn’t realize my soul was begging for.
My husband is my constant reminder that it’s okay to stop. That perfection isn’t the goal. That sometimes the most productive thing you can do is absolutely nothing at all.
As a Virgo, I come by my perfectionism honestly. It’s practically written in my astrological DNA. Virgos are known for their attention to detail, their desire for order, their drive to get everything just right. Which sounds great on paper but in reality means I’m constantly battling the urge to do ALL THE THINGS perfectly.
And can we please talk about the Pinterest Mom myth? You know the one, she meal preps organic lunches in adorable bento boxes, her home looks like it belongs in a magazine, her kids are always dressed in coordinated outfits, and she somehow still has time for self-care and looking flawless.
Here’s the truth: she doesn’t exist.
Even the people who look like they’re doing it all are struggling behind the scenes. We’re all just trying our best with the energy we have left after giving everything to everyone else.
You Are Not Failing…
Read that again, please.
You. Are. Not. Failing.
No one and I mean no one is supposed to be able to do everything that’s expected of modern parents. The expectations are impossible. The standards are unrealistic. The pressure is unsustainable.
Sometimes you need a moment of slow. Sometimes you need a moment of silence. Sometimes you need a moment alone to remember who you are underneath all the roles you play.
That’s not weakness. That’s survival. That’s wisdom.
Your kids don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be present. They need you to be you: the real, imperfect, sometimes exhausted version of you who loves them fiercely even when you’re running on fumes and on your third emotional support beverage of the day.
So here’s your permission slip for today: You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to be flawless. BREATHE! You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace or standards.
You are amazing exactly as you are. Your kids are loved and they know it, even when you think you’re falling short. They’re happy because you’re their parent. You make their world better simply by being in it.
Find your person who reminds you to slow down (or be that person for yourself or be that person for someone that feels like their drowning). Take the hike. Buy the huckleberry fudge. Let the laundry wait.
You are more than enough.
Keep going. Keep smiling. Keep shining.
The world is better because you’re in it.
What helps you recharge when you’re running on empty? Drop a comment below. I’d love to hear what works for you!