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A Note from Chelsea: This episode was pre-recorded, but the content definitely still applies to my current situation. I've been battling a respiratory virus on top of chronic illness and exhaustion in an endless germ cycle. In this episode, and today, I remind myself that some phases of parenting aren't about thriving; sometimes, just surviving is enough. 

🗝️Key Takeaways

• The Revolving Door: The constant cycle of sickness—one kid, then the other, then the spouse —leads to chronic illness and deep exhaustion for the primary caregiver.
• The Guilt of Survival: There is intense guilt associated with being tired, wanting space, and craving more than just survival.
• Self-Care is Relative: True self-care becomes nearly impossible, reduced to fleeting, low-effort tasks like washing their face or putting on a mud mask.
• A Shift in Mindset: The key is accepting that some seasons are just about getting through and finding moments of breath inside the chaos, rather than waiting for the chaos to stop.
• Resilience is Showing Up: Kids don't need a Pinterest mom or perfection; they need resilience modeled by a parent who shows up anyway, even when it's hard.

💬Sound Bites

• "It feels like my family is living in a revolving door of sickness."
• "The mental wear and tear of never being able to just stop and reset."
• "I feel guilty for wanting more than survival."
• "Parenting through these cycles feels like running a marathon that has no finish line."
• "Survival is okay. Some seasons of this whole parenting journey are not going to be about thriving."
• "They don't need a Pinterest mom. They don't need perfection. They just need me and their dad."

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 Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection

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