Let’s face it: it takes a village. Or, as I like to say, it takes a vineyard.
Momming, Cocktails, and the Power of Friends: Because It Takes a Village (and a Vineyard) to Raise Kids
Let’s face it: parenting kids in elementary school and junior high is like trying to herd cats while riding a roller coaster — chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes a little nauseating. But lucky for us, it takes a village — and maybe a vineyard — to get through these wild years without losing our minds (completely). It’s a nonstop adventure of missing jerseys, homework battles, and trying to remember if you actually brushed your hair today. Sometimes, surviving it all requires more than just patience — it calls for a little help from your friends... and maybe a cocktail or two.
The Art of Momming
Momming is an Olympic sport — and I’m pretty sure I’ve earned a gold medal in multitasking. I’ve juggled spilled juice, scraped knees, and a toddler’s tantrum all before breakfast. One time, I managed to referee a toy fight, answer an email, and hide a chocolate bar from my kid all at once. Spoiler: I lost track of which task I was doing and ended up eating the chocolate myself.
The Elementary School Circus
Ah, the late years — the age of “I can do it myself!” which often translates to “Help, I’m drowning in homework, and I forgot to pack a snack.” One day, I watched my kid try to make a sandwich, only to realize they’d used the entire jar of peanut butter. I’ve also spent afternoons chasing down missing shoes, broken pencils, and a deluge of “Mom, I’m bored” while I’m supposed to be working. Juggling all this and still trying to be an active member of the PTA Board brings me to one of my favorite things, a tall glass of something mommy approved…Wine, Ketel One Cosmos, Crown and 7, depends on the day of my kiddo. Haha.
The Junior High Jungle
Then there’s junior high — the land of eye rolls, secret texts, and “I don’t need you anymore, I have friends” (but really, they’re just hiding beneath the bed). I’ve had conversations that went like this: “Mom, I need money for the school dance,” followed by, “Can you tell me how to get a boy to like me?” Meanwhile, I’m just trying not to cry because my little one is growing up faster than I can keep up. And the drama — oh, the drama — about who’s wearing what, who’s mad at whom, and whether or not they’ll survive the next group chat. Don’t get me started on all of the homework. It really should be band. Am I able to do a mix of math that makes sense and new math? Spoiler alert: I’ve mastered the art of pretending I know how to help with math homework I haven’t seen since 1995. Thank goodness for YouTube!
The Magic of Friends
Now, I have a secret weapon — my tribe of fellow moms. On occasion, we meet for “wine therapy” after the kids are finally in bed, and it’s basically a masterclass in venting, laughing, and swapping horror stories. Whether it’s the mom who burned dinner for the third night in a row or the one whose kid announced taking up yet another sport to fill our already packed after school schedule, we’ve all been there. And we all agree: sometimes, you just need a friend and a glass of wine to remind you that you’re not drowning — you’re just floating.
The Vineyard of Life
Let’s face it: it takes a village. Or, as I like to say, it takes a vineyard. Because nothing cures chaos like a good glass of wine while sitting on a porch with friends, or if you are me with your amazing husband, watching the sunset, and pretending that tomorrow will be better. Raising kids may be a full-contact sport, but a little vino makes the game more bearable — and way more fun.
The Ultimate Mom Hack
Here’s my mom hack: when life gets overwhelming, grab your best friends, pour the wine, and laugh until your stomach hurts. Because in the end, it’s not about perfection — it’s about the village, the vineyard, and knowing that you’re not alone in this crazy, beautiful chaos. Your besties may be a set of girls you have known since high school, ones you just met this year, or sometimes your fur baby.
Cheers to all the moms out there — you’re doing an amazing job, one cocktail at a time.
