Workout, work through, work on.

Some days feel long before they even begin. The kind of long that settles into your bones and sits behind your eyes. Today is one of those days — battling exhaustion and fatigue from the moment my feet hit the floor. But deep down, I know the tiredness isn’t just weariness. It’s growth. It’s the weight of pushing forward, choosing better, doing more — not just for me, but for my children.

There’s something powerful about conversations with new people who share the same morals, the same quiet understanding. People who don’t need everything explained. Those conversations balance the mind, soothe the soul, and somehow, even on the hardest days, bring smiles back where they belong. They remind me I’m not walking this road alone.

The alarm went off early — 6:15am — and the cold morning air bit as I headed into the gym. A room full of smiles, familiar faces, and shared motivation. No excuses, just effort. That workout gave me the kick-start I needed. From there it was a blur: rushing home, preparing lunch boxes, serving breakfast, feeding the dogs, feeding the cats, showering, and school drop-off — all before my own hectic day in the classroom even began.

An earlier finish today meant switching gears, refocusing. Planning the term. Looking carefully at each child in front of me and asking myself what they need to learn, where they need to grow, and how I can help them get there. Inside the four walls of my classroom, their development is my responsibility. That’s not something I take lightly. It’s heavy. It matters.

Then it’s back into mum mode. School pick-up done. Tea made. Plates cleared. Before sitting back down at the computer for more work, because the day isn’t finished just yet.

At 8pm, I escape. Dance practice. An hour to move, to breathe, to be with friends. To push my body across the room, even through the pain in my aching foot. It’s not called a senior team for nothing — every step reminds me of my limits, and every step reminds me I can still push them.

Home again. Bedtime routines done. Lights out. And here I am now, 11pm, still working. Still going.

I’ve worked out.
I’ve worked through.
And I’ll keep working on — until I’m not sure what hour the clock says anymore.

Because this season demands effort. And I’m answering it.