Ah, Sunday. The day of rest—if by "rest," you mean running around like a sleep-deprived squirrel trying to get your life together before Monday steamrolls in. Welcome to the Sunday Hustle, where we prep, plan, strategize, and somehow squeeze in a little self-care (or at least, a strong cup of *insert choice of hot/warm beverage here*) before the week begins again.
The Great Household Reset
Sunday mornings start with good intentions: I will reset the house, clean like I live in a Pinterest board, and prepare for the week ahead. The reality? I start by staring at the laundry pile like it personally insulted me. The washer gets loaded, but somewhere between folding towels and questioning where all these mismatched socks come from, I find myself scrolling on my phone. Productivity? 10/10.
The floors get a quick sweep, the counters get a half-hearted wipe-down, and by noon, the house is just tidy enough that no one will report me to a reality show about hoarders. Good enough.
The Grocery Store Gauntlet
The (Shop Canadian, cause thats a thing now) grocery store run is next. I make a list, ignore the list, buy things on impulse, and somehow forget the one essential item (why is it always milk?!). With bags in tow, I meal plan on the fly: "Monday is pasta, Tuesday is whatever is in the fridge, Wednesday is survival, Thursday is 'is cereal a meal?' and Friday we will reassess life choices." IS there school lunch this week... Wait. I did that right?
The Weekend That Was (or Wasn’t)
Despite my best efforts, there was homework that didn’t get done. Oops. Weekend activities? Yup. Did I exercise? Nope, unless you count chasing my very awake five-year-old around the house at 5:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday (holy cow, why?!). Extended family time? Ha! The phone calls and texts I meant to make? Still unmade. But—big win—there were no birthday parties this weekend. Phew.
Solo Parenting Sundays. And Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, you get the idea.
To make things even more fun, my husband works away, which means solo parenting mode is in full effect. Every meal, every meltdown, every question about dinosaurs, and every single bedtime battle? All me. Sometimes I crush it; sometimes I hide in the pantry for 45 seconds of silence. It’s all about balance, right?
School, Bath, Books, and Bed (For One of Us)
The child gets a bath, which inevitably turns into a water park experience. Soap is involved, but mostly for the bathroom floor. Once the bedtime routine kicks in, there's reading, deep life questions, and a last-minute "Mom, I forgot to tell you I need something for school tomorrow." Classic.
The Mental and Emotional Debrief
Now, the real work begins—processing the previous week. And let’s be real, January has felt like a year on its own. Work has been a whirlwind of responsibilities, and navigating projects like a (seasoned?) diplomat. I take a moment to acknowledge the chaos, maybe journal (or at least type out an angry draft I never send), and attempt to strategize for the upcoming week.
The Sunday Night Plot Twist
Somewhere between planning family time, figuring out school logistics, and ensuring my own career doesn’t implode, I realize: Oh right, I exist too. Maybe I should do something relaxing? A bath? A book? A show? Nope. By now, I’m horizontal on the couch, eating snacks straight from the bag, staring into the abyss of next week. I actually drafted this post yesterday. At music lessons.
Monday Looms, But We’re Ready (Sort Of)
Despite the chaos, the Sunday Hustle is its own kind of magic. The house is semi-prepared, the week is loosely planned, and somehow, it all gets done. So here’s to all the professional moms out there making it happen, one overloaded Sunday at a time. Cheers, and may your Monday morning *insert choice of hot/warm beverage here* be extra strong.
