The so-called joys of being an adult! Hold on—am I an adult yet? When did this happen? I don’t remember signing up for this! Where’s the contract? Oh, wait, it’s just life sneaking up on me. Well, God have mercy on me!

It’s like this happened overnight. No matter how much we’d like to stay young at heart (because who doesn’t love adulting with a dash of childlike wonder?), life has a sneaky way of dumping responsibilities on us until—surprise!—we’re adults.

Let’s be real here, and I know this isn’t a groundbreaking revelation: adulting is hard. Just the other day, I tried to make a banana cake. I pride myself on my baking skills, but guess what? I forgot to put the bananas in. I only realized this minor detail after I pulled the cake out of the oven. The result? A dish that was more “Pinterest fail” than “master chef.” It’s moments like these that remind me being an adult is less about having it all together and more about laughing through the chaos.

Remember when we thought adulthood meant having everything figured out? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. We imagined perfect homes, flawless routines, and knowing exactly what to do in every situation. Instead, we got mismatched socks, bills we forgot to pay, and the eternal question: “What’s for dinner?” Throw in a divorce, two kids, and being a single mother, and you’ve got a recipe for daily chaos and unpredictability.

Being an adult is like being on a game show where the rules keep changing, and no one told you what the prizes are. It’s a daily adventure filled with surprises, most of which involve wondering if it’s socially acceptable to order fast food for dinner…again.

Take, for instance, my recent grocery store adventure. I went in with a list, feeling like a responsible adult. I came out with everything but what was on the list—sweets, chips, sodas, and cereal. I mean, who can resist the lure of the snack aisle? And let’s not forget the time I planned to cook a healthy dinner but ended up with a cart full of impulse buys instead. By the time I got home, I realized I had nothing for dinner but enough snacks to fuel a small party. Adulting is full of these everyday adventures, and the best way to survive them is to laugh at ourselves.

Even as adults, we don’t always feel like adulting. Sometimes, we just want to be taken care of and not have to deal with all these responsibilities. It’s perfectly normal to crave a break from the endless to-do lists and serious decisions. Being an adult doesn’t mean we have to take everything seriously all the time. It’s important to find joy in the little things and remember that it’s okay to have fun and let loose occasionally. Adulting is full of these everyday adventures, and the best way to survive them is to laugh at our misadventures and pretend we know what we’re doing.

No, but seriously. We need to chill. Yes, we need to adult, and yes, we have responsibilities, and yes, we have souls depending on us, and yes, life throws all sorts of things at us. But we need to have mercy on the little child that lives inside of us. This inner child is the part of us that still holds our wonder, dreams, and the pure joy we felt as kids.

Remember yourself as that innocent child—full of curiosity, laughter, and boundless imagination. Taking care of that inner child means allowing ourselves to experience joy and wonder, even amidst the chaos of adulting. It means giving ourselves permission to play, to dream, and to take breaks from the relentless responsibilities we carry.

Nurturing your inner child is essential because it helps maintain your emotional well-being. It brings balance to your life, reminding you that life isn’t just about work, bills, and responsibilities. It’s about enjoying the journey, finding delight in small things, and not losing touch with the playful, carefree aspects of our nature.

So, how do we take care of this inner child? Well, start by giving yourself permission to act like a kid sometimes—yes, that means you can have ice cream for dinner and build a pillow fort in your living room. Embrace your creativity: finger-paint, sing at the top of your lungs in the shower, or attempt that ridiculously complicated Lego set you’ve been eyeing . Allow for spontaneity—take an unplanned day off just to binge-watch cartoons or have an impromptu dance-off in your kitchen. And don’t forget self-compassion: when you inevitably mess up, tell yourself, “Hey, it’s okay, even superheroes have off days.” Finally, seek joy in the simplest things, like jumping in puddles, swinging at the park, or indulging in your favorite childhood snacks. Taking care of your inner child is all about finding those moments of pure, unfiltered joy and not caring who’s watching.

As adults, we often feel the pressure to control everything and strive for perfection. But it’s okay, even necessary, to take a step back and simply be. To remind ourselves that it’s okay to breathe, to make mistakes, and to not have it all figured out. Embrace those moments of stillness, let go of the weight of the world, and allow yourself to just chill from time to time.

But until we figure out how to hire a personal assistant to handle all the adulting for us, here are a few tips for navigating the chaos of adulting:


  • Always keep a frozen pizza on hand. Culinary disasters are inevitable, and pizza is the ultimate backup plan.
  • Embrace the mess. Your home doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread. As long as you have a clear path to the fridge, you’re doing just fine.
  • Celebrate the small wins. Managed to pay a bill on time? High five! Finally fixed that squeaky door? Victory dance!


It’s important to recognize and celebrate the little things we accomplish every day. Did you remember to take out the trash? Awesome! Managed to get to work on time? Gold star! These small victories add up and remind us that we’re doing just fine, even if we don’t have it all figured out.

So here’s to embracing the chaos of adulting. Let’s laugh at our mishaps, celebrate our small wins, and remind ourselves that it’s okay to not have everything under control. After all, adulting is more about the journey than the destination, and the only way to navigate it is by rolling with the punches and embracing the chaos with a grin.


Today’s Wisdom

“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” – C.S. Lewis

This quote is from C.S. Lewis’s essay “On Three Ways of Writing for Children,” found in his collection “Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories.” Lewis highlights the importance of retaining a sense of wonder and playfulness even as we grow older. He believed that true maturity involves embracing the joy and simplicity of our inner child, rather than conforming to rigid notions of what it means to be an adult. 

This quote beautifully ties into our discussion today. Even as we navigate the chaos and responsibilities of adulthood, it’s essential to embrace the joy, wonder, and playfulness of our inner child. Let go of the need to always be serious and grown-up. Allow yourself to find delight in the little things and approach life with a sense of humor and a light heart.

Remember, keep whispering your truth—because in the chaos of adulting, it’s those childlike joys that keep us grounded and truly alive.


Leila ❤️