My Life Looks Quiet on the Outside, But My Days Are Loud

Most mornings start the same way. It’s still dark when I roll out of bed, trying not to trip over a toy or a stray charger. I tiptoe to the kitchen to make breakfast and pack school lunches before my youngest boys—ten and eight—tumble out of bed still half-asleep, asking what’s for breakfast.

We move fast in the morning. Breakfast, uniforms, reminders about homework, and double-checking if someone has art supplies or a PE shirt. Then we’re out the door. I drop them off, take a breath, and start all over again.

By the way, I also have a teenager and two young adults. They might not need baon anymore, but they still need me. And somewhere in the in-between—between cleaning the house and managing a business, I write.

Writing is my job, my passion, and oddly, my quiet place. I do most of it in the evenings when the house finally slows down. That’s when my brain starts firing again, and the stories come. It’s peaceful. But it also means I live on very little sleep, and a lot of tea and sometimes, wine, and until recently, very little thought about my health. Especially my lungs.

The Wake-Up Call I Didn’t Expect

One day, I realized I was breathing shallow. Not in a dramatic, panicky way. Just… tired. I would get winded too easily. My coughs stayed longer. And when one of the kids got sick, I would always follow, like clockwork.

I brushed it off for a while. After all, moms get tired, right? But it started to bother me that I was always running on empty. I thought about how much time I spend waiting through traffic, waiting in pick-up lines, cooking in a hot kitchen, and staying up late to meet deadlines. And I wondered, when was the last time I cared for my lungs?

August came, and with it, National Lung Month. It felt like a quiet tap on the shoulder. A reminder that maybe this was something I could no longer ignore.

My Small but Steady Start: LAC Lung Protect

A colleague introduced me to LAC Lung Protect. He called it the “lungs’ daily shield.” I liked the sound of that. It’s an herbal supplement made with eight traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. What stood out to me was that it’s not just for people who are already sick. It helps support breathing, soothes cough and sore throat, and even helps strengthen your respiratory immunity.

That spoke to me. Because I don’t always have time to stop and rest when I’m not feeling 100 percent. So I started taking it, three vegicaps in the morning and again at night. And for my two little ones, just three vegicaps once a day.

It became a quiet ritual. Take it after brushing my teeth, right before the school drop-off, and again when I wind down before writing. It feels like I’m doing something gentle and protective for my body, and for the boys, too.

For Immunity That Keeps Up With Me: LAC TriAction C1000

If there’s anything I’ve learned from raising five kids, it’s this—someone is always catching something. So I’ve made peace with being the family’s first line of defense. LAC TriAction C1000 has helped with that.

It gives me 1000mg of Vitamin C through a time-release formula, so I don’t crash mid-day or forget to take another dose. Plus, it’s packed with Grape Seed Extract, L-Glutathione, Citrus Bioflavonoids, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. I don’t need to understand every ingredient. I just know I feel stronger, more stable, less reactive to the daily physical drain.

I usually take one caplet, two if I know it’s going to be a long day. Or a long night.

The Small Things That Help Me Breathe Easier

Beyond the supplements, I’ve started adding small breathing moments to my day.

• I roll down the car window when traffic is bad, just to get real air.
• I light lavender oil at night, close my laptop, and take deep breaths before bed.
• I drink warm water first thing in the morning.
• I try to move, not in a big, workout way, but walking while waiting or stretching while stirring the pot.

These things are not grand. They are quiet and doable, and they feel like they belong in my life.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Being a mom means putting yourself on hold a lot. But I’ve learned that when I’m not well, everything stops. I lose patience faster. I feel drained. I can’t write the way I want to. And I definitely can’t show up for the kids the way I need to.

This National Lung Month reminded me that I have lungs that need care. Not when I’m sick. But every single day.

And that self-care isn’t always spa days or yoga retreats. Sometimes, it’s a quiet decision in the morning to take something good for your body. Something that helps you breathe easier. Something that lets you show up again and again for the people you love.

That’s what LAC Lung Protect and TriAction C1000 have become for me. Small acts of care. That I can carry with me from breakfast to bedtime, through story edits and spilled milk, from school bells to quiet writing hours under the moonlight.

So here’s to better breathing and stronger days for all of us mamas just trying to do our best.