Carpool Chaos

I really need to stop writing at night. By the end of the day, I’m not witty. I’m not polished. I’m just… done.

Take today, for example.

I spent half the evening waiting. Waiting for a kid to walk to the car (which would’ve been easier if they could’ve put the iPad down for more than two seconds). Waiting in the world’s longest drive-thru line for the dinner that was supposed to “save me time.” Waiting for a train that parked itself across my route home like it was settling in for the night.

And while all this waiting was happening, I realized—I hadn’t eaten all day. Why? Because Monkey Boy only naps if he’s in my arms. The few moments I did get with free hands went straight to cleaning or working. (The glamorous life of multitasking motherhood!)

Add in the never-ending battle of SpongeBob vs. K-Pop Demon Hunters (don’t ask), and by the time everyone was finally in bed, I was ready to cry, scream, and pass out all at once.

And you know what? I think Elijah would understand.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah hits his breaking point. He’s done with the drama, the conflict, the endless demands, and, I’m sure adulting in general. He tells God,

“I have had enough, Lord… take my life.”

(Relatable, Elijah. Relatable.)

And what does God do?
He doesn’t give Elijah a to-do list.
He doesn’t tell him to power through.
He lets him sleep. Then He sends an angel with food and water.

In other words: nap + snack.

God knew that sometimes the holiest, most spiritual thing we can do isn’t push harder—it’s rest.

I don’t know about you, but I need a “brook moment” (like Elijah in 1 Kings 17, where God provided rest, water, and food by the brook) about every 12 minutes. Motherhood is constant—someone always needs something, and self-care feels like an extra chore.

But God built us with limits. Even Jesus rested. Mark 6:31 says,

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So maybe it’s not lazy if I sneak away with my coffee before the kids wake up. Maybe it’s not selfish if I say no to another activity because this mama is tapped out. Maybe—just maybe—rest is obedience.

Look, my “spa day” usually looks like 15 minutes alone in the Target parking lot, scrolling in silence with Chick-fil-A fries. My “nap” is closing my eyes during an episode of SpongeBob while pretending to watch.

And that’s okay. Because God meets us there. He provides in the little pockets, the brook moments, the naps and snacks.

So tonight, as I finally crawl into bed (without bacon under my pillow, thank you very much), I’m asking God to give me the wisdom to know when to work and the grace to rest when I need it.

Because if Elijah needed a nap and a snack… this mom definitely does too.

👉 Moms, what’s your version of “the brook”? Where do you sneak in those tiny but holy moments of rest?