“Live in the moment,” they say.

That’s the biggest crock of poop emoji I’ve ever heard.

Not entirely. I know what they mean.

They mean the little moments. The baby’s first smile. The first laugh. Rolling over. Sitting up. Walking. Talking.

The hug from your daughter when she still wants one.

The validation from your teenager that his mother is actually “pretty good” at skateboarding.

Those moments matter.

But if we’re being honest, most moms are living approximately four months in the future at all times.

Let me explain.

Every year, people post those First Day of School pictures in late August and early September.

I’m taking the picture too.

But while everyone else is saying, “Happy First Day of School,” I’m texting my friends, “Happy New Year!”

Because September is basically January for parents.

The first few weeks are spent figuring out schedules, remembering which kid has gym on which day, and locating the water bottle that disappeared over the summer.

Then suddenly it’s October.

In my house, October starts the holiday season.

We have three birthdays and Halloween crammed into a two-week stretch. By the time we’ve survived that, we’re staring down Thanksgiving.

Then Christmas.

Then New Year’s.

At that point you’re not walking into the holidays. You’re sliding into them like you’re trying to steal home.

Then January arrives.

Everyone talks about fresh starts and new beginnings.

Meanwhile, I’m just trying to survive winter.

I spend January and February snowboarding because otherwise I’d have to acknowledge that Maycember is already lurking around the corner, waiting to kick. my. behind.

And then somehow it’s spring.

School concerts.

Field trips.

Teacher appreciation.

Sports.

All the things.

Before you know it, school’s out.

No alarms.

No homework.

No rushing from one activity to the next.

Just camp.

And baseball.

It is the sport that never ends.

(Yes, you sang that.)

Except here’s the thing: by the time school ends, I’m already mentally in September.

And camp?

Guess when I register for camp.

July.

Of.

The.

Previous.

Year.

I wish I were kidding.

No wonder we’re exhausted.

We’re constantly trying to enjoy today while planning tomorrow and scheduling next summer.

So yes, live in the moment when you can.

Take the walk to the ice cream parlor.

Throw the football under the porch lights.

Stay outside a little longer.

Because motherhood is somehow living in two places at once: preparing for what’s next while trying not to miss what’s happening right now.

And if we’re lucky, we get a few moments where those two timelines overlap.