When Working From Home Feels Like Working From Everywhere At Once
Some days, working from home feels like a superpower—cozy sweater, endless coffee, and the quiet satisfaction of crossing things off the list. And then there are days like today. When the house looks like a holiday tornado just swept through, the to-do list is multiplying in the corner, and someone’s already asking what’s for dinner even though we literally just finished breakfast.
Today’s chaos level? Somewhere between “mildly frazzled” and “I might just wrap myself in leftover gift paper and call it a day.”
The Holiday Hustle Meets Real Life
It’s December, which means two things:
- I’m supposed to be wrapping presents like a joyful little elf.
- I’m actually tripping over half-used rolls of tape, trying to remember where I hid the stocking stuffers.
Every time I sit down to wrap, someone needs a snack or wants to tell me a meandering story about their video game or friends’ group that may or may not have a point. Meanwhile, I’m stuck in my office, working all day, wondering if elves ever had to multitask like this.
Meal Prep? Sure. Eventually. Probably.
Somewhere in the fridge sits a bag of vegetables I bought with the best intentions. I keep telling myself I’ll meal prep as soon as I finish the presents… or the paperwork… or the laundry… or whatever it was I forgot because someone just yelled “MOM!” from the other room.
Working from home means constantly toggling between “professional mode” and “household triage nurse.” One minute I’m answering emails, the next I’m refereeing a sibling debate about who finished the last of the good snacks.
The Trip Paperwork Looms
We have an upcoming trip—which should be exciting—but right now it’s just another stack of papers staring at me like, “Hey, remember us?” I keep moving the pile from one surface to another, pretending that counts as progress. Spoiler: it does not.
Older Kids = A Different Kind of Chaos
My kids don’t need help with homework anymore—they’re capable, independent, and thriving. But that doesn’t mean they don’t add to the daily whirlwind. Now it’s more about coordinating schedules, keeping track of who needs to be where, and reminding them that dishes do not, in fact, walk themselves to the sink.
They don’t need me to find anything for them… except maybe the charger that was “right here a second ago,” the hoodie they swear someone stole, or the leftovers they’re convinced have vanished (they haven’t; they just didn’t look).
But Here’s the Thing…
Even in the mess—the literal and emotional kind—there’s something grounding about this season of life. It’s loud, it’s busy, it’s imperfect, but it’s ours. And someday, I’ll miss the sound of teens rummaging through the pantry like raccoons or the way the cats steal bows off the presents like tiny, furry thieves.
For now, I’m choosing to laugh at the chaos, breathe through the overwhelm, and remind myself that doing everything is impossible… but doing enough is absolutely within reach.
And if all else fails, there’s always takeout.
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