The start of a new school year always feels like a reset button. Days that stretched wide open in summer suddenly get carved into neat little boxes: early alarms, packed lunches, after-school practices, pickups and drop-offs.

And for me this year? That reset button feels more like a juggling act. I’m navigating back-to-school (turned homeschool) life with the twins — my chocolate babies, who are full of questions, energy and opinions — while also caring for our newest addition, our chocolate sonshine who is already five weeks old. Breastfeeding is its own full-time schedule, and somehow every person in this house has their own routine, including the baby. And then there’s me, trying to make one for myself in between it all.

In fact, I’m writing this article in real time while the twins are sitting beside me resting and the baby is latched on, feeding. That’s motherhood. That’s life. That’s wellness in its truest, most unpolished form — showing up however you can in the moment you’ve got.

And here’s the truth I keep coming back to: balance is not the goal.

Balance sounds lovely in theory — a little of this, a little of that, all perfectly distributed. But life doesn’t work that way, especially not in seasons of new babies, school schedules and sleep deprivation. Some days are heavy on family. Some days give you a sliver of space for yourself. Some days it’s all about surviving the to-do list. That’s not imbalance — that’s real life.

While approaching the beginning of our homeschool journey and my slow return to movement, instead of balance I’m leaning into grace and kindness:

Because wellness isn’t about squeezing myself into an unrealistic routine, it’s about creating less stress and finding movement that actually feels good. Movement can be a stroller walk. A stretch while dinner simmers. Dancing in the living room with the chocolates. Even bouncing sonshine while breastfeeding. All of it counts.

And let’s be real: none of this is new. You’ve heard me say these things before, and I’ll keep saying them — because we all need the reminders, especially in the middle of a season that can feel so overwhelming.

So here’s the takeaway, for me and for you:

If you’re reading this while your children are at practice, or in between work calls, or while rocking a baby to sleep — you’re already doing enough. And probably doing better than you think.

Here’s to the beautiful chaos of back-to-school life, the sleepless newborn nights and the reminder that wellness does not require perfection. It just requires showing up with grace, kindness and the willingness to keep going.

Happy Wednesday fitfam. As usual, remain unapologetic about your entire fitness and wellness journey, stay true to yourself and always be honest with your efforts.

Time to burp lil chocolate sonshine.

• Dre Hinds is a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict” with more than 20 years’ experience. She specialises in nutrition, weight and sprint training, operating out of HindsSight Fitness and Wellness at the Berkeley Cultural Centre. Contact her at absbydre@gmail.com or on 599-6683. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under @Absbydre