The other day my 14-year-old asked me if I was a "wizard" because I was somehow able to fix his shorts after they had come out of the dryer inside out and backwards. They were the kind that had an inner lining and the legs had gotten all tangled up. It must have seemed like an impossible task to him, but I was able to figure it out and hand him back his shorts in record time.

Score one for Mom.

The very next day, I could do nothing right by this kid. It's that way with both of my boys, and I have to come to realize, with all of the other children and families around us.

Yesterday, at my son's baseball game, I watched kids of all ages interact with their families. From toddlers to young men, the range of emotions seems to be universal. The little one is crying because he wants another piece of candy from the concession stand, the pre-teen is bored because he has to sit and watch his brother's game, and the teenager is embarrassed because Mom is cheering too loudly from the bleachers.

We are all in this together, parents, just at different stages of the experience.

It can be very hard to realize this when our emotions are high and it all just seems unfair and difficult. But I've come to learn that it's so much better when we can humble ourselves and laugh at our situation, or share a knowing look with the mom sitting next to us on the bleachers. I send up a silent cheer for parents everywhere who are surviving, or who have survived this journey.

Last night, I started thinking about all of the logistics of the coming week. It's the first full week after school is out and the schedule is so much busier than the school year. I realized that Ryder needs new football cleats for camp on Monday, I haven't figured out what to do with Jake Tuesday night since I will be driving straight to the baseball game after work, and why did I schedule that appointment Thursday night when I have plans every other night this week? Yikes!

I made a list and am chipping away at it this morning to get things in order for the week. But not until after stressing about it for awhile and letting myself feel just a tiny bit overwhelmed. I even woke up a few times last night thinking about it and worrying about how I was going to get things done.

Somehow it all comes together, and often a few things fall through the cracks, but we survive those too. The days of these types of things waking me up at night are fewer than they used to be, but they still happen.

I think the hardest part for all of us as we go through this incredible journey raising children, is to see the joy in it all. It's a challenge to be able to smile and feel the happy moments when we are thinking about all of the work ahead of us.

In the midst of the chaos, the best we can try to do is pull ourselves out of the overwhelm and remember the happy moments.

I remind myself that some days my boys think I am a wizard, and they occasionally still let me crawl in bed and snuggle with them, even for just a tiny moment. Sometimes they do their chores without even being asked! And often, they will hug me and tell me they love me in front of their friends, without me having to bribe them. I look back at old pictures, like the one I've attached to this post from 6 years ago, and see the joy in their faces. And I can breathe again.

Those are the moments when I know that I'm doing something right, and am so very proud and grateful to be guiding them on this journey.

Score one for Mom.