As a single mom to four boys with a full time job plus a growing business digital marketing of my own, I’m sure you can imagine the chaos that surrounds me. Which is why I get asked, pretty much, on the daily “How??? How do you do it??”

I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t matter if you have two kids or twelve, this quicksand that we are standing in is all the same! Growing strong and stronger everyday. And the more we fight it, the quicker it will over come us. If the last 11 years has taught me anything at all, it’s that you have to stop fighting. You have to quit trying to over take it. “It” as in your life! You won’t win that battle, friend! Never in a million years. You may feel like you’re winning at moments. Maybe you won the day or that month. Maybe you won a whole freaking season!! But I’m here to warn you, it always catches up!

You have to lean into it.

That’s right! Roll with those chocolate covered fist punches that have just stained your beautiful white couch, that the furniture salesman promised would “wipe right on off there” with their new stain shield micro-super-kid and pet- wicking fabric, in the most Mississippi voice you can muster up! Or whatever he sold me on! You must succumb to this volatile, messy, wonderful, scene from “Nanny McPhee” (yes the one where they are in the kitchen, pretending to cook the baby) that is now your perfectly, imperfect life!

Your house is lived in. Your kids are loud. There will always be dishes. The laundry is never going to stop. And you will never know that you ran out of milk until you make it all the way home at the end of the day! And all of that, is your beautiful life!

I’m going to share a few things I have found to be my go-to survival resources!

A Laundry Service

Remember me mentioning that the laundry was never going to stop? Having four boys, there is always a full laundry basket (or two, or three). And I’ll be honest, I don’t want to spend my days in the laundry room with all the sweaty baseball socks and dirty boxer briefs trying to figure out the magic formula to get pit stains out of white undershirts. Call me crazy, but that is below cutting the entire front lawn with nail clippers. That is how badly I dislike that idea!

So, I use Hampr! It’s a super simple service. They send you three collapsible hampers when you sign up. You fill up the hampers, how ever many you need at the moment. Scan the barcode on the hamper in the app. Add in your washing preferences and set that baby outside! It gets picked up by a washer and is delivered back at your door washed, dried, and folded within 24 hours! And just like that, the laundry undertaker doesn’t look as scary!!

Batching Your Meals

My kids are picky sometimes. I’m mean, honestly, what kid isn’t? What I have found that helps so much, especially on week nights, is finding meals that they will eat more than one night in a row. I know that sounds like such a “duh” suggestion! But, if you’re not intentional about finding these specific meals and keeping them handy, you’ll spend your time chasing your tail! So, find some good ole crockpot meals, pasta dishes, soups, dishes that you can make a big batch that will last last a few nights! Even getting a few rotisserie chickens and making a few different dishes out of that. Chicken spaghetti, pulled chicken sandwiches, chicken salad, chicken enchiladas, okay, okay, I’m feeling like Bubba Gump now. You get the picture!

Use Your Help

That’s right! You have help right under your nose! Those little humans that created this whole mess. Believe it or not, they can actually do things to help you! They can do dishes, put up laundry, feed the four legged babes. They can actually do way more than they let on. My 11 year old is GREAT at doing laundry and dishes. Emmitt, the 8 year old, is the perfect dog feeder. Even the 4 year old knows how to put away the Tupperware and is excellent at matching socks!

You feel alone! You feel like it’s up to you to save the world. Or at least save the house! But you’re not alone! You have a team right there with you. Day in and day out. They may whine at first, but I promise they will get over it. And they will probably even start to like that they are needed around there! My kiddos know that I NEED their help. We are a team and it takes all of us to make this little world of ours work. They love when I have extra time to spend with them or time to go do fun activities. They understand that we can do more of the fun things, if they help me with more of the necessary things! Try it! You will be surprised at how helpful those little humans of your really are!

Give yourself some grace. Give yourself some breathing room. Focus on the things that you can control. And soak up this season of life. As dirty and chaotic as it is!