I have always found it fitting that my name is Carrie.

For so long, I felt that I was always “carrying” stuff. In my younger years, I was lugging my things to and from school - I had a year in elementary school without a backpack for some reason. And once I was older, I always seemed to have my arms full walking into work.

Of course, once I had children, I felt that I was truly living up to my name. I barely had enough room to tote the tiny humans themselves between the diaper bag, toys, blankets, teethers, and endless snacks.

With the focus on the external, physical stuff, I never paid much attention to what was going on inside. I would get stressed or face complicated feelings, and I would blame it on not enough time, organization, sleep, money, or maybe even someone or something outside of myself.