“You looking good, birthday girl!” My 4-year-old showers me with compliments, even when it’s nowhere near my birthday. If you tell him otherwise, he’ll insist it is. From “check you out” to “I’m proud of you, you did such a good job,” his tiny voice fills our feel-good buckets in the sweetest, most unexpected ways. Of course, in true sour patch kid fashion, the sweetness often follows right after an insult. But that’s life with my little one—spicy and sweet, all wrapped up in love.

Toddlers have one volume setting—LOUD. Whether it’s a burst of excitement, a tantrum, or a random shout during their favorite show, the noise is enough to leave me startled and overstimulated. Yet the moment my toddler hears another loud sound, he covers his ears and says, “Too loud, Mama!” Oh, the irony. But even in the chaos, I see the beauty of his growth, his personality, and his becoming—and I wouldn’t trade it for quiet.

When you're a work-from-home mom on summer break, there are no boundaries between meetings and missions to Mars. One minute you’re answering emails, the next you’re dodging aliens and flying a yoga ball spaceship with Woody, Buzz, and Captain MJ. It’s overwhelming, exhausting, and absolutely unforgettable.