🌿 **Crunchy? Silky? Almond? Scrunchy?

Figuring Out My Mom Label… After a Month-Long Thanksgiving Break From Writing**

So… hi.

I know. It’s been a while.

Your girl took an unplanned Thanksgiving break — the kind where you blink and suddenly it's December, your fridge is 90% leftovers, and your Christmas shopping cart has 47 items “saved for later.”

Between holiday chaos, kid chaos, and life chaos… I did what every overwhelmed mom eventually does:

✨ I quietly disappeared into the abyss of survival mode. ✨

But I’m back.

And today I’m talking about something I’m comically late to…the crunchy/silky/almond/scrunchy mom trend.

A trend I ignored at first because I’m usually too busy wiping noses, sitting in parking lots scrolling on my phone during dance class, running to Awana on fumes, or trying not to cry in the Dunkin’ drive-thru.

But now?

After months of soccer, swimming, hip hop, tutoring, church nights, co-parenting handoffs, meal planning, and trying to get my life together at the gym?

Yeah. Suddenly the labels make sense.

And suddenly… they are HILARIOUS.

So today’s blog is me — late but fully present — finally deciding:

“Okay… let’s see what kind of mom I actually am.”

🥥 Crunchy Moms: The Herbal Queens

Crunchy moms are the “I have an essential oil for that” moms.

They compost.

They cloth diaper.

They pack organic snacks in bento boxes that look like charcuterie boards.

Meanwhile, I’m the mom who:

• Sends goldfish in a Ziploc that I ripped because I couldn’t find scissors

• Believes Tylenol + prayer is a medical strategy

• Has never composted a day in her life

• Will absolutely microwave leftovers

Crunchy girls? I admire them.

But I would last… maybe 4 minutes in that lifestyle.

The second Samuel gets a fever I’m sprinting to CVS like an Olympian.

The second Abigail says she wants a “fun snack,” I’m in Target buying the same snacks every other mom bought.

Crunchy?

No ma’am.

Not me.

🧴 Silky Moms: Providers of the Soft Life

Silky moms are the “DoorDash is self-care” moms.

They:

• Don’t pretend to enjoy cooking every night

• Love a good screen time moment

• Are loyal citizens of Target

• Have snack drawers that children marvel at

  
  

I have silky in me.

Strong silky tendencies.

My kids absolutely watch TV after school sometimes.

I have never once felt bad about giving them nuggets on a night we’re running late from dance.

And the way I love Amazon Prime?

It’s spiritual.

But full silky?

Not quite.

I still have a crunchy conscience that whispers,“Girl, give them a fruit or something.”

🌰 Almond Moms: The Diet Culture Delegates

Listen.

Let me just say respectfully…

I am not an almond mom.

Never have been, never will be.

Yes, I care about my health.

Yes, I’ve been working out at home for two years and just went back to the gym like a proud stallion returning to the pasture.

Yes, I want to feel strong and toned and like my Dominican hips are supported by actual muscles.

But I am NOT the “just eat a yogurt!” or “a handful of almonds is a meal” lady.

No, bebé.

I’m the girl saying:

“Eat your food. Life is hard. Get dessert.”

My workouts are for mental health, physical strength, and energy, not vibes from 1993 diet culture.

So almond?

Absolutely not.

🥨 Scrunchy Moms: The Middle Path Mothers

Scrunchy moms are the realistic ones.

They’ll buy organic strawberries — if they’re on sale.

They believe in natural remedies — and antibiotics.

They breastfeed — but also formula feed if needed.

They use screens — and also do reading time.

This is me.

This is my category.

But honestly?

Even “scrunchy” doesn’t fully capture the circus that is my life.

Let me explain.

🌸 Here’s What I Actually Am (The Rochelly Version)

After 7 years of motherhood, 4 years as a single mom, and more schedules than the MBTA, here’s my real label:

✨ I’m a mom who lives in her car.

Between:

• swimming Wednesdays

• dance Thursdays

• Awana Fridays

• soccer Saturdays (in the fall)

• tutoring days

• school drop-offs and pickups

  
  

…my car has basically become my third child.

There are snacks under every seat.There’s at least one lost hair tie in every cup holder.

Half of my life is narrated by the sound of Abigail saying,“Mami, you missed the turn,”while Samuel asks,“Are we going to pick up Abbie now?”for the 47th time.

✨ I’m a mom doing her best while doing so much.

I love my kids deeply —but the schedule?

LAWD.

Some days I feel like a supermom.

Some days I feel like a tired grandma.

Most days I feel like both.

✨ I’m a mom with faith AND therapy AND boundaries.

I volunteer at Awana every Friday, pray constantly, and lean on God heavily —but I also love slow mornings, alone time, and the freedom to say no.

✨ I’m a mom who wants health, not perfection.

Going back to the gym?

That’s for me — my sanity, my energy, my strength.

Not for aesthetics or pressure.

Not for almond-mom vibes.

Just for the version of me who feels powerful and present.

✨ I’m a joyful mess.

Meaning:

I love hard.

I try hard.

I fail hard.

I laugh hard.

I rely on grace heavily.

I do my best — even when I’m running on Dunkin’ and hope.

😂 Why This Trend Finally Made Sense to Me

I didn’t care about the labels before.

But NOW?

After:

• holiday chaos

• back-to-back kid activities

• co-parenting schedules that feel like NFL trades

• the emotional hangover of Thanksgiving

• getting back into the gym

• prepping for Christmas

• trying to stay warm in this freezing weather

• doing life as a Dominican-American mom in Massachusetts

…suddenly these labels feel like a fun little identity crisis I didn’t ask for but absolutely relate to.

And I figured,“If the internet wants to categorize me like I’m a snack in the Whole Foods aisle, I might as well play along.”

Plus, I needed something light and fun to ease myself back into writing after the holiday season.

💛 But Here’s the Real Truth Underneath It All…

These labels?

They’re cute.

They’re funny.

They’re relatable.

But they don’t define us.

At the end of the day, what matters is this:

✨ Your kids are loved.

✨ You show up.

✨ You’re doing your best.

✨ You give them laughter, safety, faith, memories, and warmth.

Nobody’s crunchy or silky or almond or scrunchy 100% of the time.

Most of us are:

• healthy-ish

• tired-ish

• organized-ish

• stable-ish

• patient-ish

• chaotic-ish

• thriving-ish

In other words?

We’re human.

We’re real.

We’re trying.

And we’re doing a damn good job.

🌿 My Final Label: The Joyful Mess Mom

Forget the labels.

I am:

🌸 Dominican-American mom

🌸 Single mom

🌸 Faith-filled

🌸 Funny, tired, grateful

🌸 Working, healing, hoping

🌸 Showing up even when I’m exhausted

🌸 Loving my kids through the mess

🌸 Living life one Dunkin’ iced coffee at a time

🌸 Doing motherhood with humor, heart, and honesty

I’m not crunchy.

I’m not silky.

I’m not almond.I’m not scrunchy.

I’m a Joyful Mess.And honestly? That’s my favorite category of all.