Barely Holding it Together - Chapter 1

Before we begin, let’s get one thing straight: if you’ve decided to read this, you’re probably already barely holding it together. Welcome. You’re among friends.

When I first thought about how I’d introduce this blog series, my brain immediately went to: ‘Who am I to write this? I’m just a mum.’ I don’t have any fancy qualifications. No ‘expert’ insights. Just another woman with a messy house, a questionable relationship with caffeine and a pile of dirty laundry that at this point may actually be classed a biohazard.

But then I stopped myself, because isn’t that exactly what we do as mums? We put ourselves down and throw the word just in front of everything. I’m just a mum. I’m just a wife. I’m just trying to not lose my shit.

Well, let me tell you something: there’s no just about us. Women are fucking superheroes in leggings and greying bras. We’re multi-tasking experts, crisis managers, the emotional support team and amateur detectives (I can find a lost shoe in under a minute, but that’s a whole other book).

And you know what else? We are experts – experts in our own kids, our own lives and in the art of surviving the madness that is being a woman and motherhood.

So hi. I’m a mum. And I’m an expert.

I’m not some flawless guru who wakes up at 5am for a Reformer Pilates class, followed by a green juice for breakfast. I’m just someone who’s been there – in the chaos, in the guilt and in the trenches. And my goal here is simple: to remind you that you’re not alone, to make you laugh and to give you permission to let go of the things that don’t matter.

Because being a mum is hard. Life is hard. But women? We’re amazing. Even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it. So let’s stop saying just. And let’s start embracing the barely-holding-it-together lives we’re all living.