Welcome back to November Notes: A Month in the Trenches — my daily journal through the chaos and calm of work, motherhood, and finding fulfillment in the middle of it all.
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It’s Thursday, Day 6, and we’re deep into the first week of November. Some parts of the week are getting easier, and others… definitely harder.
This morning started off a little rocky — my husband had to leave unexpectedly early (again), and after a long evening of practice the night before, we all crashed hard. That meant none of our normal nightly prep got done — no bags packed, no lineup ready, no snack stash stocked.
Normally we can recover from that kind of disruption pretty easily but today was a rescheduled softball game (thanks to a rainout a few weeks ago).
Dugout Chaos… Minus the Lineup Board
If you’ve been following along, you know that my husband is the assistant coach, our daughter plays, and I’m officially Team Mom — which means most of my time is spent in the dugout with a dozen energetic 8-year-olds.
Especially on weeknight games, structure is key: school + activities all day = tired kids who need a little extra help staying focused and game ready.
My magical backpack usually contains our lineup board with magnetic names so the girls can clearly see who’s batting and what positions they’re playing. Visual clarity is everything — and it prevents me from being the only source of information. It also includes dugout sunblock, bug spray, wipes, first aid supplies, and a ridiculous amount of snacks, because let’s be real: these girls often haven’t had dinner yet.
But because of the morning rush, I completely forgot the backpack. No lineup board, no snacks, no extras. The good news? We had uniforms, coaches’ shirts, and water bottles — so I counted that as a win and moved on.
Community Comes Through
After another full (but fulfilling) day at work, I grabbed a notebook as I left the office and hand-wrote the batting order and positions. I knew I wouldn’t have time to stop at the grocery store for snacks — but rather than panic, I took a deep breath and asked for help.
“Hey! I forgot snacks today — if you can, please throw something in your daughter’s bag. They’re going to be looking for them!”
And wow — it worked. Almost every girl showed me what their parent had packed, and at least five of them reminded me how much they love Z Bars. Message received!
Fulfilled Hustle Tip:
#thefulfulledhustle
When things feel like they’re falling apart, don’t panic – pause and delegate.
You don’t have to do it all to keep it all together. Whether it’s a forgotten snack bag or a missing lineup board, asking for help isn’t a failure – it’s a strategy. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. Lean into your community, simplify where you can, and remember: you’re doing your best, and you’re not alone.
Losing the Game, Winning the Night
We ended up losing the game, but wow — those girls played their hearts out. I’m so proud of them, of the coaching team, of the parents — and of this community we’ve created.
Softball has become such a powerful part of our family life. It challenges Big E (who might just get her perfectionist streak from her mom), and it teaches her — and all of us — that you can’t be perfect. You’re going to strike out. You’re going to miss plays. But you keep going, you show up for your team, and you grow stronger from the challenges.
Wawa Tradition + A Little Rest
We stuck to our post-game Wawa tradition — treats for the kids, iced coffee for mom and dad — and even threw in a few turkey gobblers for dinner (because yes, they’re back!). Everyone was sound asleep before 9:00 p.m., and honestly? That might’ve been the biggest win of the night.
Looking Ahead to Friday
This week has been frantic, not as fulfilled as I’d like — but tomorrow I work from home, and that means space to breathe and refocus. I’ll be leaning into the tools that work best for me: mind mapping, Pomodoro timers, and just a bit of quiet time to get everything out on paper. If you want to learn more about these tools, read the post, Setting Yourself Up for Success: Three Weekend Tools to Try Today!
Time to reclaim the calm, figure out what can be delegated or deferred, and knock some lingering things off the list as we inch closer to the holidays — and closer to fulfillment.
R
Read Yesterday’s Post: Day 5: Chaos, Compost & Costco – Finding Balance in the Hustle
Check out the next post in this series: Day 7: Work-From-Home Reset and a Surprise Ball Pit Moment
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