What If You Can’t Do It All (and That’s Okay)?
Do you ever feel like if you can’t make work and family life flow effortlessly, then maybe you’re just not trying hard enough... or worse, that you’re not good enough?
Let me say this clearly: you are not failing.
I truly believe we’ve been set up to feel this way.
The question I hear most from working parents is this:
How can I do it all... and do it well?
So let’s name what we mean by “all”:
Happy, well-rounded kids.
A connected relationship with real love and the occasional hot date.
A fulfilling career where you feel like you’re making a difference.
A healthy body.
Eight hours of sleep (sometimes).
Nourishing meals and regular movement.
Building wealth.
A beautiful lifestyle.
Spontaneous adventures.
Time for friendships, holidays, mindfulness, nature walks, time with extended family and cousins.
[Insert your version here.]
It’s a lot.
And with housing as expensive as it is, many families need two incomes just to keep things going. That often means long hours, commuting, and precious little time left over for family.
“Flexible” work often means logging in after bedtime or responding to emails while cooking dinner.
It doesn’t usually mean less work... it just means working in the margins.
So if work takes the majority of your time, and family gets the rest, where is the space for you?
What happens to your sense of joy, aliveness, and purpose?
Here’s what we’re seeing:
A rise in stressed, anxious parents who are trying so hard.
And a rise in children’s mental health challenges.
Resilience Youth Australia surveyed 240,000 students aged 8 to 18 and found that almost 1 in 2 high school students are struggling with a mental health issue. That’s huge.
We need to stop pretending it’s working.
Because if we’re honest — for most families — it’s not.
And that doesn’t mean we’re broken. It means the system is.
Things can change.
They have to.
“What got us here, won’t get us there.” ~Anonymous
The more I hear “can we do it all and do it well?” the more I return to this:
Maybe not all at the same time.
But yes... all, at different times, is more than possible.
It starts with getting clear on your version of success.
What matters most. What season you’re in. What you’re ready to let go of, and what you want to keep.
Because you’re not here to run faster in a race no one’s winning.
You’re here to live a life that feels real, connected, and yours.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. What does "all" mean to you right now?
If you’re ready to reshape your version of “having it all” into something more grounded and aligned — where your child thrives, and you do too — let’s talk. Book a free call to explore how I can support your family.