🎧 Learning Which Balls to Drop: The Rubber and Glass Balls of Parenthood

You Can’t Juggle Everything — And You’re Not Supposed To

If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling a thousand things — laundry, dinner, tantrums, work, and your own emotions — you’re not alone. Parenthood can feel like one big balancing act.

But here’s the truth: you can’t juggle everything perfectly, and you’re not meant to.

Some balls will drop — and that’s okay.

The trick is learning which ones bounce back (rubber) and which ones break (glass).

That’s the heart of this week’s podcast episode on The Ashley Show — and today, we’re diving deeper into how this powerful analogy can help you find balance, protect your mental health, and focus on what truly matters.

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⚪ What Are the Rubber and Glass Balls?

Imagine every part of your life as a ball you’re juggling:

• Family

• Work

• Health

• Marriage

• Friendships

• Self-care

• Housework

• Kids’ activities

Some of these balls are rubber — if you drop them, they’ll bounce back.

Others are glass — if you drop them, they can shatter or leave cracks that take time to repair.

Rubber balls might be:

• Skipping a workout

• Ordering takeout instead of cooking

• Being a few days behind on laundry

Glass balls might be:

• Your health

• Your relationship with your child

• Your emotional well-being

• Your core values and mental health

When life gets heavy, your goal isn’t to keep all the balls in the air — it’s to recognize which ones can safely drop for now.

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💛 How This Helps You as a Parent

Many parents (especially moms) try to do it all — but that pressure leads to burnout and disconnection. When you learn to sort your “balls,” you can make peace with the imperfection of daily life.

Here’s how this mindset helps:

1. Less Guilt: You stop feeling bad about letting go of things that don’t matter as much.

2. More Presence: You focus your limited energy on what matters most — connection, not perfection.

3. Better Boundaries: You start saying “no” to extras that drain you and “yes” to rest and joy.

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🧠 How to Tell Which Balls Are Rubber or Glass (for You)

This will look different for every family. Try journaling or reflecting on these questions:

• What areas of my life feel fragile right now?

• What areas could bounce back easily if I stepped away for a while?

• Which things truly impact my family’s emotional health?

A quick tip:

If it involves connection or safety, it’s probably glass.

If it involves perfection or appearance, it’s probably rubber.

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🌿 Learning to Let Go

Sometimes, dropping a rubber ball is actually a sign of growth. It means you’re learning to prioritize peace over pressure.

So the next time the house is messy or dinner isn’t perfect — remind yourself:

“This one’s rubber. It’ll bounce back.”

And when you notice your child’s eyes light up because you stopped to play or listen — that’s your reminder that you’re holding the glass ball that matters most.

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🎙️ Listen to the Full Episode

Want to dive deeper into this topic?

Listen to “The Rubber and Glass Balls of Parenthood” on The Ashley Show!

In this episode, I share how to identify your own glass and rubber balls, plus practical ways to protect your emotional energy without the guilt.

🎧 [Listen on Apple Podcasts]

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