I Run These Towns

  A few months ago someone brought beverages to my house called "Mom Water". I'd never heard of it, and after looking it up (because you know I did not and would not drink it) found out it is fruit infused vodka water. It sounds disgusting.  On the Mom Water website they say they're trying to celebrate moms b ut I immediately jumped to the premise that being a mom is so terrible that we have to create a gross new wine cooler in order to cope. It made me realize I'm really over the negative mom culture.  I get it: being a mom is hard work. I've had late nights and early mornings. I haven't slept through the night in years. I've been thrown up on and given every virus known to humankind (except COVID surprisingly). My son was home for 15 months without childcare during the height of the pandemic. There were some very long days, and you bet I lost my patience. Sometimes I still do.  But it feels like we're in this place where it's trendy to compla...

I am the type of person who aggressively has my shit together. What makes me so insanely anal? Was I born this way? Did I mold myself into this organized maniac as a result of environmental circumstances? Did my parents see me behave as the together one and as a result created a world where I didn't get to be anything else? My guess is: yes. I appreciate that I'm ridiculous. I fully unpack the moment we get back from a trip even if it's really late. I have a packing list in a spreadsheet that I update for each trip. I do laundry every other day. When my son gets home from school I pack his lunch for the next day before we even think about dinner (also I LOVE packing his lunch, picking out his clothes, packing his backpack. Won't relinquish it). I have recurring calendar reminders to send birthday cards and presents to people I love. I go to the gym at 5 am so I can fit it into the day. I pick out my clothes for important events weeks in advance.  The other day, at 6:30 ...