Ah, weekends. The sweet, fleeting moments when I might get a nap—if I can just squeeze it in between the chaos of mom-ing, cleaning, laundry, and catching up on the kids’ ever-evolving social lives. Spoiler alert: naps are rarely on the agenda. But when I woke up this Saturday morning, there was no illusion of sleep—just a gut feeling that the day would be anything but restful. Oh, the joy.
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The Cat Poop Fiasco: A Morning to Forget
So, my Saturday started like any other. I was cleaning up the aftermath of a snack party my girls, Sophia and Olivia, had thrown the night before in celebration of… well, laziness and increased screen time. (Hey, no judgment here—just survival mode.) After tidying up the living room, I ventured into their room to grab the vacuum. Now, their room? It’s not exactly an Instagram-worthy minimalist haven. I couldn’t even open the closet door, it was that bad.
As I attempted to move things around with my foot to clear a path, I noticed a few dark specks fall to the floor. My first thought? “Maybe it’s just stray chocolate.” Then the smell hit me. And that’s when I realized: those were cat turds.
Cue the horror.
We’ve told the girls a thousand times to leave the door open for Maggie, our eldest cat, so she can freely use her litter box at night. But kids? They just don’t listen, do they? So there we were—my husband and I in full-on quarantine mode. We swiftly contained the poop-infested area, shooed the kids, clothes, and toys out for a thorough decontamination, and then executed a cleaning session that would make even the most seasoned medical professionals proud. All the while, we lectured the kids about cleanliness, responsibility, and, of course, the importance of listening to us. The fact that they’d slept in a room with fresh cat turds and couldn’t tell the difference? Well, it’s a testament to just how bad things had gotten. (Don’t ask how I know the turds were fresh. Let’s just say I’m a mom with experience.)
Balancing “To-Do’s’ and Home Life: The Struggle Is Real
After the poop fiasco, the day kept trudging on. And by “trudging,” I mean I spent the rest of the day cleaning, cooking, and whisper-shouting at the kids to be quiet so my husband could nap before his night shift. If you’ve ever juggled work and home life, you know that it’s no easy task. This working mom was in full-on battle mode. I was trying to fit in budgeting, online shopping (for essentials, obviously!), and wrestling with paperwork for our lender. Weekends are typically my only chance to tackle personal tasks, given that I’m already exhausted after my 2-hour daily commute (yes, both ways).
As a self-proclaimed perfectionist and lifelong goal-setter, I can be hard on myself when I don’t check everything off my to-do list. But let’s be real—trying to get 15 things done in one day when my husband can’t help because he’s prepping for a night shift? Yeah, not exactly realistic. Still, I try.
Survival Mode: Lowering My Expectations
But after the cat poop incident, I decided to lower my expectations for the day to just one thing: survive.
And honestly? The rest of the day didn’t turn into a full-blown catastrophe. Sure, Luca, our toddler, was crankier than usual because he hadn’t slept much the past two days. But let’s face it—what toddler isn’t cranky at some point? One minute, he was a little monster, the next he was a lovable Sour Patch Kid. (If you know, you know.) I just made sure to give him extra patience, love, and tickles while we rode out the mood swings.
Naps? Ha. Not Today..
Speaking of moods… naps? Forget it. I tried to coax Luca into sleep with his favorite Kendrick Lamar tracks and some gentle rocking. But, nope. We carried on with the screaming until it was time for dinner. At that point, I decided I deserved a much-needed shower. The only problem? Luca—of course—needed a bath too. So, naturally, I tossed him in the back of the shower with me. He was happy playing with the shower toys, so I thought I could at least enjoy a few minutes of peace while I scrubbed off the grime of the day.
The Toddler Tub Incident: A True Mom Moment
But just when I thought things were looking up, I had one of those moments that only parents of toddlers can truly relate to. Right as I rinsed the cleanser off my face, I looked over and saw Luca grinning like he’d just won a gold medal in cuteness. Behind him, though, was a dark pile of something floating in the water. I blinked, wiped the water from my eyes, and… yup. You guessed it: Luca had shat in the tub.
What. A. Day.
The Reality of Mom Life: You’re Not Alone
To every mom out there—whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or juggling both—just know that you are not alone in the chaos. It’s okay to laugh (or cry) through it all. After all, it’s these little shitstorms that make life, well, memorable.
Until next time, my fellow warriors—keep surviving, keep laughing, and don’t forget to tell your kids to open the damn door for the cat. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
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