Both

Overwhelmed because I don't know who I am Because motherhood didn't do that Life did Overwhelmed because my husband can't read my mind Even though he tries Despite my complaints Overwhelmed because I can't afford a house Because I'm choosing to stay home And raise our children Overwhelmed because my children scream and cry Over the littlest things And I'm still supposed to have it all together Overjoyed because I get to find out who I am again All while being in the midst of motherhood And this time… I get to choose her Overjoyed because my husband takes care of me And knows me most days Even when I don't know myself Overjoyed because I am the house My presence is the roof And my arms are where they come home Overjoyed because my children scream and cry And still reach for me Like I'm the only place that makes sense So I am both. Falling apart and holding it together. Lost and somehow exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Overwhelmed by this life. Overjoyed it's mine.

Author's note:

I didn't write this to be inspiring. I wrote it because I was sitting in the middle of a hard day and needed someone to say — it's okay to name both. The mess and the miracle. The exhaustion and the gratitude. You don't have to choose which one is more true. They both are. If you're somewhere in the middle of your own overwhelmed and overjoyed — this one's for you.