In The Midst Of The Juggle

Words & Photography
by Kari Jensen





Her eyes get heavy from waiting ever so patiently for her mother to finish up a few work-related things. She quietly flips through the pages as her mother busily taps on the keyboard in the other room. Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

Guilt fills her mother’s heart as she watches her peaceful baby sleeping, waiting for her....⠀

Eyes getting more heavy, she curls up with a blanket to rest her head. Her mother finishes her work only now to see that her baby is peacefully sleeping, holding onto the book she was supposed to read to her.

We have days where the balls seem to drop no matter how carefully I juggle them. Guilt. Shame. Disappointment come knocking and it’s all in how I chose to greet them that will shape the moments that follow.⠀

To all the mamas, dads, foster parents, grandparents, caregivers: be gentle on your heart in the midst of the juggle. Know that you are enough. That you’re doing your best. That you are what they need even when you feel like you have failed them in the moment. ⠀

...She rises from her peaceful sleep, mother greets her with a smile. A kiss. An "I love you so much", and cuddles next to her to start reading the books her baby carefully selected hours ago for story time. ⠀