Some days, being a working mom in Effingham County feels like I accidentally signed up to be an underpaid chaos coordinator with unlimited overtime. There is no manual and certainly no bonus check. What I do get is a lot of love, a little laughter, and the constant joy of explaining that a Christmas tree cake is not a balanced meal.

Morning madness

Most weekday mornings start with my alarm at 6:20 a.m. I roll out of bed, step over two dogs who sleep like they pay the mortgage, and stumble across the house to wake the pre-teen and teenage gremlins who refuse to rise until the last possible second. Once I hear a few groans that land somewhere between annoyance and mild betrayal, I head back to the kitchen. I pop sausage biscuits in the microwave—no judgment, still slightly better than a Pop-Tart—to feed said gremlins before throwing on an outfit that, I hope, gives the impression of effort and swipe on just enough makeup to say, “I am doing my best. Please do not look too closely.”

On mornings when I set my alarm for a completely disrespectful 4 a.m., the routine shifts to a quiet scavenger hunt in the dark. I fumble for workout clothes, try to remember if I brushed my teeth, and pack myself into the car to teach a one-hour cycle and fitness class to a room full of equally confused adults who also woke before sunrise. There’s something very bonding about sweating together at 5 a.m. while nobody’s brain is fully online yet.

By 6:50 a.m., the house is in full motion. One kid cannot find a shoe. The other cannot find the will to live. Someone suddenly remembers a permission slip due right that second. Then we sprint to the bus stop like competitors in the Effingham Olympics. If your children catch the bus by 7:10 a.m., congratulations—you’ve already worked half a day before most people finish their first cup of coffee.

Work, side hustles, and the commute

Once the bus pulls away, Mom clock number two begins—reserved for actual paying jobs. Effingham moms fall into three groups: moms who work in Effingham, moms who commute outside of Effingham, and God’s favorites who work from home. To the commuters, I say a special prayer for your patience. May your coffee stay hot, and may Highway 21 treat you kindly.

The moms who stay local are not sitting around relaxing. Many of us work full time and then stack a side hustle on top of it. Some even turn hobbies into businesses. I teach fitness on the side because I figured if I’m going to get sweaty anyway, I might as well get paid for it. Effingham moms are a special breed. You have not lived until you’ve watched a woman put in eight hours at her day job, squeeze in an hour of fitness, coach a youth sports team, and still manage to pick up groceries with the speed and accuracy of a NASCAR pit crew.

Evening shuffle

Then comes the evening shuffle. This is rarely a peaceful sit-down dinner. It’s more like rotating shifts based on practice times. Effingham Recreation is wonderful, but I am convinced the practice schedule was created by drawing numbers out of a hat. Soccer at 5, basketball at 6:30, volleyball at 7:45. And of course, someone always forgets a crucial sports accessory that must be delivered immediately, or the world will end.

Dinner is another adventure. The question, “What do you want for dinner?” should honestly be banned from every household. I lean heavily on HelloFresh, which has saved me on nights when my brain is too tired to choose between spaghetti or cereal. On other nights, it turns into “you are on your own,” but Christmas tree cakes still do not count as a meal.

Laundry is always running. The dishwasher is always full. At least one child always needs a very specific shirt washed immediately. Meanwhile, I try to stay upright until at least 8 p.m. The time change, which throws darkness at us at 5:30 p.m., really tests my spirit. Time change and I are not on speaking terms.

Why it’s worth it

Even with all the chaos, raising kids here feels grounding. Effingham has the kind of warmth that makes you feel like you belong. Schools are strong. Teachers actually know your children. Recreation keeps kids active and teaches life lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and how to bounce back after taking a volleyball to the face.

Effingham moms juggle a lot, but it is comforting to know we are raising families in a place that feels like home—a place where people wave at each other, neighbors check in, and your child might play ball on the same field you once did.

So here’s to the moms of Effingham County. We may be tired, but we are tough. Resourceful. Funny without trying. And we show up for our families in every way we can. The laundry will always be waiting, but the chaos will not, so we savor these days while we have them.

— Lauren Eargle is a wife, mom of four, Springfield City Manager, and co-owner of Revolution Cycle and Fitness. She juggles city hall, spin classes, and the daily chaos of raising her kids in Effingham County—sometimes all before breakfast.