Fitting it all in feels like a constant rush. As a father juggling the relentless chaos of three little kids, always moving swiftly from one demanding task to the next without pause. Each day blends into the next with a blur of breakfast messes, diaper changes, school drop-offs, sick kids and activities. There’s rarely a moment to sit still; the noise fills every corner of the house, from the shouted requests for snacks to the spontaneous bursts of laughter that echo through the rooms.
Amid this whirlwind, there’s the rare, quiet moment after the entire house finally goes to bed.
The kids are tucked in, the lights dimmed, and the noise fades to a distant hum of sudden silence. It’s then that a simple run transforms from just exercise into something much more significant—a precious, brief escape. The cool night air from an open garage door on an autumn night dissipating heat as the rhythmic pounding of bare feet hitting treadmill slats becomes a thrumming meditation. The mind quiets. There’s a chance to breathe deeply and find a moment of peace amid the ongoing noise and activity of daily life.
There are always the small but urgent fixes, and though I long for a shower and to dive face first into my pillow, I see my toddler’s prized Millennium Falcon book-light shattered on daddy’s workbench, and I’m reminded of my promise. I hear his gentle sobs in my mind as I pull myself up to the bench to fit the broken pieces back together, hoping in the morning to restore a small yet important sense of comfort and security in a world that can feel overwhelmingly unpredictable.
This life is a delicate balance of chaos and calm, exhaustion and deep love. Every day is a constant forward lean through the sleepless nights, endless demands, and the tiny victories. It’s about turning the volume down on the noise, holding onto the sticky hugs, the whispered “I love yous,” and the shared smiles in the middle of all the mess….
Accountability
From the end of September, over the following 6 months I aim to establish two consistent habits. Hitting my caloric goal of under 1700 Cal with consistent tracking, and not giving up on 10k steps a day no matter what.
