Some days, it feels like running a household is a full-time job on top of a full-time job. Between appointments, school, therapy, groceries, and the never-ending pile of laundry, the only thing standing between me and total chaos is a system that mostly works—most days.

Here’s what’s helped me keep things together (even when it doesn’t look like it).

I used to think I had to choose between a clean house and a connected home. That if I couldn’t keep up with laundry, dishes, and dust bunnies, I was somehow failing. That belief? I’ve let it go. (Okay — I’m trying to let it go.)

Because here's the truth: I live with a teenager who has ADHD and anxiety. And while some people have tidy houses with well-labeled storage bins, I have a kitchen table covered in unfinished puzzles, fidget toys, and a few abandoned cups. I have half-folded laundry on the couch, shoes in the hallway, and a living room that doubles as a crash pad when emotions get too big.

It’s not Instagram-perfect. But it’s real. And it’s ours.