More Than One Thing – Mini Series (1 of 3)

Tired and Thriving

Two truths. Both yours.

You know that moment when you’re finally sitting down with your coffee and someone needs a snack. Again.

And you pause, cup halfway to your lips, calculating whether you have the energy to be the snack person right now. Whether “we just ate” is worth the battle. Whether goldfish crackers count as breakfast if there’s protein somewhere else in the day.

There’s a particular kind of parenting fatigue that lives in moments like this. Not the “I didn’t sleep last night” tired, although that’s woven through everything. It’s the tired that comes from being on all the time. From constantly calculating snacks, moods, logistics, the next ten minutes.

And yet.

Somehow, you’re also thriving.

Not in the big, shiny way the internet wants to celebrate. In the way that means your kid laughed at something ridiculous in the grocery store today. You remembered the sunscreen without being asked. You answered the text instead of letting it sit for three days. You paused, just for a second, before reacting to the fourth meltdown before noon.

You’re not one thing. You’re the full, contradictory thing—exhausted and brilliant both.

You can want rest and want to be present. You can be proud of how you’re doing and still want a nap. You can show up messy, and still get it mostly right. You can love them fiercely and also need them to stop talking for five minutes.

There’s space here for all of that. No tidy wrap-up needed. Just this quiet reminder: You’re allowed to be both.

Next week: “The Space Between” – what happens in those tiny moments when no one needs anything from you.

The Pause Point - Grounding Practice

“The Hands-Free Reset”

When everyone needs something right now and your nervous system is frayed, this one’s for you:

• Set the snack down.

• Gently press your hands flat against a table, countertop, or even your own thighs.

• Feel the surface. Notice the pressure.

• Unclench your jaw. Lower your shoulders.

• Take one full breath before answering.

That’s it.

No deep philosophy on this one, just one pause where you don’t reach for anything.

Parent Pick of the week:  Mini Karaoke Machine for Kids — $11.99

Not everything needs to be calm to be good.

This tiny karaoke machine has a mic that actually works, lights that don’t overwhelm, and volume you can (mercifully) control.

Sometimes thriving means letting them belt “Let It Go” at full volume… while you sip coffee in the next room.

Chaos? Yes.

But contained chaos.

amzn.to/4e3WcIK 

Café Note

At Branch & Bean this week: •

Working with our last list of potential investors. If you know anyone that would be interested in what Branch & Bean is bringing to the community, give them our info before we finalize investing!

Next week: “The Space Between” – what happens in those tiny moments when no one needs anything from you.

With love and (hopefully hot) coffee

Gin & Evie

Branch & Bean