Lessons From Juggling Multiple Roles

Hi friends! ☕

Before we dive in, I owe you a genuine apology for being a bit MIA. Life recently piled itself on me in a way only life can—quietly, steadily, and then all at once. Between college, writing, home responsibilities, and parenting my sweet (and very energetic) two-year-old boy, the days blurred together until I looked up and realized how long it had been since I checked in here.

If you’re juggling multiple roles of your own, especially if you’re a parent, you understand this in your bones. Still, I’ve missed showing up here, and I’m glad to be back with something honest to share—less about fiction this time, and more about what it means to balance creativity, work, and motherhood all at once.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve learned some truly humbling lessons about patience, self-care, and giving myself grace—lessons I think might encourage you, too.

Patience: The Slow Work of Showing Up

Patience has taken on a whole different meaning since becoming a mom. Before, it meant waiting for the right idea to come, or giving myself time to finish a chapter. Now it looks like pausing mid-sentence because a toddler wants a snack. Or typing one-handed while a little voice says, “Mama, up?”

I used to believe patience meant waiting quietly. But motherhood taught me that patience is a full-body practice—learning to breathe through frustration, to find gentleness in chaos, and to trust that progress still counts, even when it’s slow and messy.

There were nights I wanted nothing more than to write, but my son needed me. And in those moments, I had to remind myself that creativity doesn’t disappear when delayed—it waits, just like I do.

Here’s what helped me:

Give yourself permission to move slowly: Slow progress is still progress.
Let your season shape your pace: Some weeks allow for creativity; others demand parenting first.
Release the inner critic: You aren’t “behind”—you are simply living.

What I do: I remind myself that motherhood is not an interruption to my creative life (and vice versa)—it’s a part of it.
What it looks like: Writing during nap times, jotting ideas on my phone while my son builds towers, or accepting that some days the only story I finish is the bedtime one.

Self-Care: Not a Luxury, but a Lifeline

Self-care becomes a whole different animal when you’re caring for a toddler. The days start early, end late, and often include more messes than meals. It’s easy to feel like taking time for yourself is selfish—but I’ve learned it’s the exact opposite.

A burnt-out mom can’t pour from an empty cup, and a burnt-out creative can’t create.

Self-care has become something much smaller but infinitely more precious:

Here’s what helped me:

Redefine self-care: It doesn’t have to be long or fancy—just honest.
Take micro-breaks: Five minutes can change your whole mood.
Forgive your exhaustion: Being tired doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

What I do: I give myself small, restorative moments throughout the day—moments that remind me I am human first.
What it looks like:

Drinking my coffee while it’s still warm because I guard that time fiercely.
A three-minute breather in the hallway while my son stacks blocks.
Listening to calming music during clean-up time.
Reading one page of a book before bed, even if my eyes are half-closed.

Prioritization: A Love Note to Your Future Self

When you’re a single mom juggling teaching, writing, and running a household, priorities shift constantly. Some days are productive. Others are survival mode. And that’s okay.

In this season, prioritization has become an act of kindness to my future self.

Here’s what helped me:

Pick three: A short “must-do” list makes big days feel lighter.
Let priorities breathe: Your list can change with your child’s needs.
Honor rest as a task: Sometimes rest is the most important thing you’ll do.

What I do: I choose three realistic tasks that honor both my goals and my capacity.
What it looks like:
Some days my list is:

Start a grocery list
Do the dishes
Play with my son outside

Other days it’s:

Write a scene
Prep for assignment
Vacuum crumbs (so many crumbs)

And sometimes the list shrinks to:

Keep the toddler alive
Drink water
Breathe

All counts.

Creating Personal Rules: Gentle Guidelines, Not Chains

Having personal rules has saved my sanity more times than I can count. Not strict rules—just quiet boundaries that help me feel anchored.

As a mom and a creative, I discovered that rules need to bend with the day, not break me.

Here’s what helped me:

Follow inspiration quickly: Toddlers don’t wait—and neither do ideas.
Know when to stop: If stress replaces creativity, step away.
Touch your craft daily: Even two minutes keeps you connected.
Remove guilt: Life happens. Often loudly, and covered in peanut butter.

What I do: I treat my rules like handrails, not handcuffs. They support me, but they never shame me.
What it looks like:

Writing in the car while my son naps (my favorite secret productivity hack).
Voice-typing ideas while folding tiny shirts.
Scribbling a line of dialogue on a sticky note during bath time.
Letting myself NOT write when the day has been long and full.

Being More Than One Thing

This may be the lesson that changed me most. Being a mom didn’t shrink my identity—it expanded it. It added depth to my creativity, tenderness to my patience, and resilience to everything I do.

You don’t have to choose one role to be legitimate. You can be many things at once:

A mom and a writer.
A student and a dreamer.
A caretaker and a creator.
A person with responsibilities and a person with ambitions.

Motherhood doesn’t erase creativity; it enriches it with new stories, new emotions, new strength. You are allowed to be complex. You are allowed to hold multiple callings. And you are allowed to move slowly in each one.

There is no single “right” pace when your life is made up of many threads.

Here’s what helped me:

Embrace the stretch: You can be beautifully multifaceted.
Honor both your callings: Motherhood and creativity don’t compete—they coexist.
Let the real-life moments shape your art: They make your voice more human and more honest.

What I do: I remind myself daily that my roles are not in competition—they are in conversation.
What it looks like: A day that includes toddler giggles, a half-finished draft, a sink of dishes, a bedtime story, and a quiet moment of writing after my son finally falls asleep.

Why These Lessons Mattered

These practices didn’t just keep me afloat—they helped me breathe again. They reminded me that being overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing, and slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.

Juggling motherhood, creativity, and work isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, letting things be imperfect, and loving the life you’re living, even in the chaos.

Final Takeaway ✨

If you’ve been juggling multiple roles lately—even if you’ve dropped a few along the way—please hear this: you’re doing better than you realize. The fact that you’re still trying, still caring, still moving forward (even in tiny steps) means you are growing.

This season taught me that balance isn’t something you find—it’s something you build day by day, breath by breath. Give yourself patience. Give yourself grace. Give yourself grace for the days you disappear for a while. Give yourself rest when your body asks for it. And remember that the world doesn’t need you to be perfect—it needs you to be present.

And remember: whether you’re juggling motherhood, work, creativity, or all three—you’re doing better than you think. Truly.

Thanks for being here, friend. I’m glad to be back.

Thanks for being here with me. 💛

— Sarah