Maria Tanner built her career in digital marketing, managing websites, email campaigns, marketing technology partnerships, and cross-functional projects for universities and large organizations. She’s fluent in corporate jargon and the fine art of translating “can you jazz it up?” into something that resembles a plan.

Her story, though, started long before conference rooms and Zoom calls. The daughter of Ukrainian refugees who came to America for a better life, Maria grew up with a front-row seat to grit, resilience, and the belief that you figure it out as you go. That lesson comes in handy daily now, as she navigates life as the mom of twin toddler girls who think bedtime is optional and chaos is a family value.

At home, Maria is outnumbered by her husband, their twins, and two rescue dogs — all of whom are convinced she works for them. This is her first book, written in the tiny scraps of time parents know too well: during “nap negotiations,” while reheating her tea for the third time, or during the rare moments of peace after daycare drop off with the Notes app open.

She never set out to be an author, but the material kept showing up—usually sticky, usually loud. So she did what any overworked professional would do: she put it in writing. Consider this her formal complaint, submitted per her last nerve.