Wife, Mom, Boss – In That Order (Sometimes)

The invisible load of motherhood is real (google it...it's a thing!).  It's more than just managing the  endless list of tasks that keep a household running; it’s the emotional and mental energy of remembering, planning, organizing, and making decisions for everyone in the family. This load falls disproportionately on the default parent (typically the mom), leaving us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and stretched thin - wondering which way is up! Over the past fifteen years, life has been a whirlwind. Kids' activities, work demands, and major life changes — new jobs, selling our first home, navigating a global pandemic, virtual school, living with in-laws, moving into a new home, and even surviving a derecho. There was no space or energy to create routines or structure. I was constantly reacting, saying "yes" to everything while ignoring my own needs. The busier life got, the more I felt stuck in survival mode—just putting one foot in front of the other to get thr...

After deciding to start counseling in December 2023, my therapist encouraged me to take things a step further. In July 2024, at 44 years old, I was officially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). What I've learned in the past few months is that ADHD affects executive functioning — making planning, organizing, time management, and staying focused much harder. It often looks different in girls and women, who tend to experience Inattentive ADHD more than Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD. While boys may exhibit physical hyperactivity, women are more likely to struggle internally — with focus, memory, organization, and regulating their thoughts and emotions. Suddenly, my whole life made sense. Since childhood, I’ve always known that something felt different about how I functioned. I loved school, but I constantly procrastinated and left assignments until the last minute — somehow thriving under the pressure. I was quick on my feet and good at finding solutions witho...

This past year has flown by. I've shared moments of joy, heartache, but not much in between. What I haven't really talked about is how much I’ve been learning about myself — and that centers around how and why I’ve struggled with prioritizing self-care and boundaries.  Being self-employed for the past 14 years, I have balanced pregnancy, motherhood to 3 kids in 19 months and finding a new normal in each phase of life.  I haven't really stopped to think how I could do things differently because there didn't seem to be a break to do so.  I kept working, kept supporting, and kept showing up for everyone else. The last two years have been emotionally overwhelming. My youngest sister moved in with us in August 2022, my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer and other ongoing health issues, while both Scott’s mom and my mom started facing health challenges. After my dad passed away in February 2024, we moved my mom into our home to support her emotionally while helping her manag...

Hello!  It's been awhile.  I started out putting this as a FB post and realized that wasn't going to work as I really needed to dump some thoughts and refocus.  This last year has been a rough one for me personally.  Work has been so busy, school just got out, and all three kids are doing sports.  We are coaching and running in 3 different directions!  I have fallen back into bad habits of no sleep, putting exercise aside and letting my crazy life lead my schedule.  One of weaknesses I have always had is putting myself to the back burner...I think it might be genetic (thanks mom😊). Daily routine and exercise have fallen to the wayside partly due to our crazy schedules of having kids in activities and Scott leaving at 6 am/working 30 minutes away and my work life being in high demand. I guess I could continue with my list of excuses on "why", but in end it comes back to what a lot of parents/moms struggle with...guilt free time to themselves...and, l...

Tonight is a good night to post my feelings on staying at home/working at home with 3 toddlers.  It is pure chaos...and a love/hate relationship:)  this weather has just been hard on all of us...they need to run off energy and i need some sunshine and space to myself.  Staying at home has been the hardest thing i have ever done...it's constant mess, screaming, laughing, touching, diaper changing, chore doing, lecturing, hugging...and there are days when i am not at my best at it...those are the days when i wish there was someone i could bring in for 1 hour just to get my bearings.  the constant guilt that i'm not giving everyone what they need, including myself.  I honestly would not change it for anything and i have to remind myself of that. Adam will be 4 in July and is becoming a much better helper around the house.  The twins will be 2 1/2 in August.  Alli likes to do whatever Adam does (except pick up:)) so she is working on potty training an...

The title of this blog is really meaningful to the 1st half of 2013.... It's been awhile since i posted so i apologize as life keeps getting by me too fast!  To bring you up to speed on why life has been so crazy and where we are to date...i felt blogging would be the great way for me to have an outlet of my emotions i would not normally post on FB.  We started off the year celebrating our Sieren Xmas at our house in January.  here is a pic of Gpa and Gma Sieren with their crazy next generation offspring (aka Grandkids).   On February 9th, Mom and Dad (and family) came up to celebrate the twins 2nd bday.  Dad ended up falling down our stairs and breaking 4 - 5 posterior ribs...after a trip to the ER in Cedar Rapids he was sent home to our basement with pain pills.  From there things got worse with pain and mobility and ended up reaching out to the local hospital back home to admit dad for pain management.  ultimately, every bad thing that coul...