Confessions from a mom who hides in the closet (and the car, and the bathroom…)

Hello Lovies!

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve posted anything. Please forgive my absence—things have been quite hectic as we get closer to our big move back home. With my husband’s work and travel schedule, this momma has been doing all the things: packing, coordinating trucks, finding doctors, gathering medical and school records…all while managing the emotions of a 16-year-old and a 5-year-old, each struggling in their own way with the transition.

And honestly? It leaves me looking for any opportunity to escape, even for just a little bit. The other night, I saw Michelle Williams in a late-night interview admitting that she once used her local Social Security office as her “refuge.” I laughed out loud—because wow, can I relate. I’ve been there. Sometimes standing in line at the grocery store feels like a mini vacation. (No kids tugging on my shirt? No dog pawing at the door? Yes, please.)

As moms, we preach about self-care, but let’s be real…when? where? how? I’ve locked myself in the closet. I’ve “blown up the bathroom” just for a sliver of quiet (if you know, you know 😉). And still, my dog follows me like we’re tied together with an invisible string.

If it’s not the kids trailing behind, it’s the dog. It’s always something. And when the kids are finally asleep, that’s when we tackle whatever didn’t get finished—or we shift gears to invest in our marriages, giving our spouses and our relationships the time they deserve. Which is beautiful, but again…when do we ever get time for just us?

Lately, I find myself choosing the longest line at the grocery store or even letting people go ahead of me just to stretch out a few extra minutes. (Shhh…that’s not me being polite, that’s me clinging to my sanity. 😉) Sometimes I park around the corner from the house and sit in the car, finishing a chapter of my audiobook or listening to a favorite song before heading in. These little pauses become survival tactics.

And we wonder why moms are so tired, so stretched, so worn thin. When do we actually get to slow down? I’m not saying it’s so much different for men, but they don’t always operate the same way we do—especially in the emotional sense. Men tend to be more pragmatic, while we as women carry so much of the unseen weight: the emotions, the transitions, the worry. And most of the time, that balance keeps the family afloat…but it also leaves us drained.

So to Michelle Williams, and to all the mommas out there finding creative ways to escape—I hear you. I see you. You’re not alone.

What about you, Lovies? Where’s your “refuge”? Is it the grocery line, the closet, the bathroom (wink, wink), or five stolen minutes in the car? I’d love to hear your stories.