Turns Out, I’m Not Italian. But Honestly, That’s the Least of My Chaos...

 

Intro

Look, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about family, it’s that nothing ever goes the way you think it will.

For years, I confidently believed I was Italian. The traditions, the food, the slightly dramatic hand gestures. 🤌Then one day, I found out my mom was adopted, and BAM!! I was not Italian anymore. 

Turns out, identity is weird.

Turns out, family is even weirder.

I didn’t meet my dad until I was 25, so growing up, I never had the full picture of where I came from. And honestly? I’m still figuring it out.

But Forget Identity.....Let’s Talk About Survival Mode

At 31, I’m a stay-at-home mom managing two kids, full-time caregiving for my grandfather-in-law, and a husband who can’t resist adding to our household zoo—leaving me in charge of an ever-expanding parade of pets.

I swear, every time I turn around, there’s a new creature added to the family. He works full-time to provide for us, which means while he’s off being a responsible adult, I’m over here wrangling kids and feeding a small zoo.

At this point, I’ve accepted my fate. I am not just a mom. I am an unpaid caregiver, short-order cook, and now, a reluctant zookeeper.

Some days, I’m crushing it like a superhero. Other days, I’m sitting in my car, on the verge of tears, because the chicken’s still frozen, and dinner has officially become a mystery.

Caregiving teaches you patience (sometimes). It teaches you adaptability (always). It teaches you that love doesn’t look like fancy speeches. It looks like constant appointment reminders, making sure meds are given, and figuring out why the dog is suddenly limping,  why the cat started puking this week, or wondering if the newest addition (baby squirrel) will survive, oh and why there is a bat in my cats mouth, INSIDE THE HOUSE!

New "Rehabber"

BAT- that was safely released

It’s messy, exhausting, and deeply meaningful.

So, What Do I Do With All This?

I started writing.

I write about the traditions I’m holding onto. The ones that actually matter. I write about the ones I’ve let go of because, honestly, some of them were just stressful for no reason. I write about parenting, marriage, family, and the absolutely unhinged rollercoaster that is adulthood.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that family isn’t about who you came from, it’s about who shows up.

That’s the legacy I’m building. The one my kids will carry forward, the one that proves love isn’t about labels, heritage, or perfection. It’s about showing up, in whatever form that takes.

So, welcome to my corner of the internet, where I overshare, embrace the chaos, and attempt to keep my household functioning while living among a growing number of furry, feathered, and (probably someday) scaly housemates. 

Navigating My Own Path

 Finding What I Want to Write About   

 Hi, my name is Ruthie! Welcome to my blogging journey. To this day, I still don’t know what "I want to be when I grow up." I used to think I had it all figured out. I started out as a housekeeper in a nursing home, then worked as a CNA, confident that I would continue my education to be a nurse. The compliments I received made me feel like I was doing what I was meant to do.

 But then life threw me a curveball: two kids, childcare costs skyrocketing, and an economic system that seems to punish those trying to get ahead. How do you justify paying someone else to raise your children, while you work just to cover the cost of paying them? It never added up for us. So, I became a stay-at-home mom and gave up more than I could have imagined—my financial, social, and mental freedom. 

I’ve been working since I was 13 years old, so stepping into this new role wasn’t easy at first. But as much as I struggled to adjust, I’ve discovered just how hard—and rewarding—it is to be a stay-at-home mom, wife, and caregiver all rolled into one. 

So, I figured, hmmm, maybe I should write about all these treasured, rewarding moments I’m learning about—because even in the chaos, there’s so much worth celebrating. And maybe, one day, my children will have something of value to reminisce on, a record of the love and effort that shaped these moments.💗

What Do I Say?

I’ve always known I have stories to tell, but deciding which story to focus on felt impossible. As I juggled the chaos of family life and caregiving, I kept asking myself: "What do I really want to say?" 🤔

Then, one late night, running on fumes after a long day filled with siblings fighting, caregiving responsibilities, and grasping for just a moment of peace, I found myself standing in the kitchen watching the beautiful chaos unfold around me, and it hit me....this is it. This is what I want to write about! Not the polished, picture-perfect version of life we see on social media, but the raw, messy, and heartfelt moments that make life truly meaningful.

Prime Examples of the Messy Moments

• The kids having too much screen time, but it helps you get things done in peace 😔
• Four cats fighting and the dog breaking it up, causing a raucous
• Grandpa asking me to heat up his dinner plate again because it cooled off too fast.
• My husband walks through the door after a long day at work, only to hear the kids arguing/ not listening, I instantly notice his frustration.
• Looking out the window and seeing that a chicken or turkey escaped the run again 🙄

The answer wasn’t in trying to find perfection—it was hidden in the everyday chaos, in the layers of love and struggle that fill my world. I realized that my journey, with all its imperfections, was exactly what I wanted to explore. ✅

Through this blog, I hope to show others that it’s okay to embrace the chaos, because that’s where the beauty lies—in the space between the moments of challenge and joy.

This is my way of navigating life’s layers, and I hope it inspires you to do the same. Let’s dive into this messy, wonderful adventure together.

What would you be interested in hearing more about? 

Comment below👇

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Thank you!😁