Halfway through grocery shopping, my girls were losing it—Mila crying over gummy sharks, Laina upset about sticky sleeves. Then we passed the fish tank. Instant calm.
They watched the fish quietly while I grabbed milk and bread nearby. When I came back, a woman accused me of abandoning my kids and threatened to call CPS.
The manager arrived, saw the peaceful kids, and dismissed her. But two days later, CPS came. They were kind and reassured me I was doing my best. I still cried afterward.
My sister joked about leaving her kid under a clothes rack with no calls. We laughed, but it stuck with me.
Later, the same woman reported my ex for letting the kids eat sandy ice cream. I told her, “If you care so much, help kids who really need it,” then walked away.
That moment made me look into foster care—not to prove anything, but because I realized I’m a good mom. Three months later, we welcomed Keira, who’d never seen the ocean. At the fish tank, she whispered, “They look fake.” I said, “They’re real. And they’re not going anywhere.”
Parenting isn’t perfect—it’s showing up, every messy day. So if you’re barely holding on, keep going. You’re doing better than you think.
And if you need a break? Fish tanks work like magic.