What If We Didn’t Let Busy Be the Norm?

This morning, I had one of those conversations that seems to come up a lot lately. I was talking with a parent at my child’s school, and somewhere in the small talk came the all-too-familiar phrase:

“Just wait until your life is totally consumed by all your kids’ activities!”

It wasn’t said with bad intent—just a passing comment that’s become part of the parenting script. But I couldn’t help but feel that nudge again… the one that says: Does it have to be this way?

And I don’t think it does.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve accepted busy as the norm. We've started measuring our success as parents by how full our calendars are—how many sports, lessons, and extracurriculars we can pack into a week.

But we’re allowed to question that.

We don’t have to sign our kids up for everything.
We don’t have to spend every weekend in the car or every evening running from one activity to the next.
We don’t have to say yes just because everyone else is.

There’s nothing wrong with activities or structured time. But we lose something when we forget the value of unscheduled time—the moments where we slow down, connect, and just be.

Rest matters. Stillness matters. Simplicity creates space for presence. And that’s not just good for us—it’s a gift for our kids too.

When we choose a different pace, it might feel like we’re doing something wrong—especially in a world that celebrates hustle, overachievement, and packed schedules. But:

• You are not falling behind.

• You are choosing differently.

• Intentionally. Mindfully. Lovingly.

If you’ve ever felt that pressure to do more, to keep up, to fill the calendar because it seems like everyone else is—this is your reminder:

• You’re allowed to trust your gut.

• You’re allowed to create a rhythm that feels right for your family.

• You’re allowed to say no to more, so you can say yes to what really matters.

Find the people who get it. The ones who are also opting out of overwhelm. They’re out there, and they’re likely craving the same kind of peace you are.

You don’t need to do a million things to be a good parent.
You just need to do what’s right for you—and that’s more than enough.