Most days, 5:00 pm rolls around, I look at my house, and I think, "I have gotten nothing accomplished today."
Some days, that's entirely true. Some days, my depression and anxiety kicked my ass onto the couch and didn't let me up. Some days, the weight of fighting my own brain has exhausted me, and left nothing else.
But some days - maybe even most days - it's a lie Mildred (my anxiety) likes to tell me.
Because while it may be true that the house is a disaster and we're eating leftovers again because I forgot to order the groceries (again), it is completely ridiculous to think I did nothing.
Every single day, I hug my kids and tell them I love them.
Every single day, I check in on a friend to make sure they're okay, when a Facebook post from them worries me.
Every single day, I make sure my children eat three meals and two snacks. Even if I buy them McDonald's from the drive-thru, I'm making sure they're fed.
Every single day, I spend what seems like hours listening to my daughter tell me about her gazillion imaginary sisters, and my son explain something I've never heard of as though I have an intimate knowledge of it.
Every single day, I make sure Miles is reading something.
Every single day, I make certain my children are learning something, even if it's "just" the social skills they gain by playing with friends, or how to treat a stranger with kindness.
Every single day, I make sure the pets are healthy and taken care of, at least at a very basic level.
Most days, I pick up things I don't want to. I sweep floors I just swept. I wipe some unknown substance off a surface. I talk to a friend, and remind them that they are going to be okay, that we're going to get through this rough patch together, and that this parenthood thing stinks sometimes.
Every single day of my life, I try. Even when I don't want to. I do the things that have to be done, even if it's just the bare minimum. But I do it.
No matter how many times Mildred tells me I'm useless and lazy, I need to remind myself that she lies. I am not useless. What I do matters.
And I do a lot during the day. It may be nothing big, but I do a million little things that keep our lives moving forward.
And I think that's a pretty important accomplishment.
