Ever wondered what it’s like to juggle parenting, a full-time job, household chores, and grad school, all while growing a tiny human inside you? Well, buckle up, because this is Boss Level Parenting—where the stakes are high, sleep is low, and snacks are a lifeline.
🌅 Level 1: The Early Morning Rush
06:30 AM: My alarm goes off. Do I wake up feeling refreshed? Hah! That’s a good one. Pregnancy fatigue and parenting don’t care about alarm clocks. But up I go—because there’s no pause ⏸️ button in this game.
By 07:00 AM, I’m in full speedrun mode:
✔️ Morning routine? Check.
✔️ Getting my tween ready? (Which feels like herding glitchy NPCs.) Check.
✔️ Packing bags, finding lost socks, negotiating what to bring for lunch? Check, check, and check.
By 07:20 AM, I’m out the door, driving my 12-year-old to school (ON-TIME!). Mission complete—but the game has just begun.
🚗 Level 2: The Commute & Work Grind
After drop-off, I head to work while listening to audiobook, where I swap my Mom Hat for my Service Coordinating Hat. My job isn’t bad, but let’s be real—some days, I’d rather be napping. Pregnancy hunger kicks in mid-morning, and I’m counting down the hours until my next meal. (Seriously, why does growing a human make me feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks?). Imagine bringing 3 sandwiches and a whole ramen to work!
By 05:00 PM, work is done, and I race to pick up my 12yo, mentally preparing for the evening raid: dinner, chores, and assignments.
🏡 Level 3: The Home Dungeon (Where the Stamina bar run out)
05:45 PM. we’re finally home. My husband is amazing and helps as much as he can, but let’s be honest—parenting and running a household is like a never-ending side quest. He is keeping my 3-year-old entertained with Baby-Shark songs (yes, it’s still a thing!) 🦈.
✔️ Dinner? (Something quick, preferably Asian-style because that’s my comfort food.)
✔️ Dishes? (delegated to my lovely spouse.)
✔️ Laundry? (Didn’t I just do this??)
✔️ Prepping for tomorrow while preventing the toddler from summoning chaos? (Multitasking skills: MAXED OUT.)
Somewhere in between, I sneak in assignments for my MS program—because apparently, I thought this was a good time to level up my education, too.
🥱 Level 4: The Final Stretch
By 10:00 PM, I’m exhausted, starving (again), and running on fumes. If I’m lucky, I sneak in some gaming or reading time before I crash. But let’s be real—most nights, I respawn straight into bed.
And just like that, another day is done. No trophies, no fanfare—just the quiet victory of making it through.
🤜 Final Thoughts: No Cheat Codes, Just Teamwork 🤛
Some days, I feel like I’m barely keeping up. Other days, I surprise myself with how much I can handle. But no matter what, I remind myself:
🌟 Parenting is a co-op game. I don’t have to do it alone (takes me long enough to realize…!)
🌟 There’s no “perfect” playthrough. Messy is normal.
🌟 It’s okay to rest. Even heroes need health potions.
To all the parents out there grinding through their own boss levels—you’re not alone. We’re all in this chaotic, beautiful game together. 💛
Now, if you’ll excuse me, pregnancy cravings are calling. 🍜😆 midnight take-outs hit differently! 🍴
**I don’t know how, but Butch is BONDED with Valerie*
**Someone needs to give him a trophy for being such a good big brother**