8 Times American Housewife's Katie Otto Was All of Us

While her husband Greg comes downstairs for breakfast well-rested and ready to take on the day ("I feel great. A full nine hours! Who wants Kashi?"), Katie's already well into her day, packing lunches, signing permission slips, arranging pickups, and motivating her three kids — and her husband — to keep to their schedule. Oh, and she also handles her own life, with her laptop open on the counter as she checks emails next to a jar of grape jelly. Yeah, moms relate.

In between searching for quiet me time, moms do occasionally get the urge to bond with their kids, and Katie's no different. But when she sits next to her little one on the swings and Anna-Kat goes on and on about the habits of white-tailed deer, Katie just can't listen (because — can we admit this? — sometimes talking to small children is just plain boring). And when Katie goes upstairs for quality time with her teenage daughter, she's denied as Taylor scrolls through her phone and asks for privacy. Moms know this: you can't force an Instagram-worthy scene.

All moms have that instant when they realize they're becoming their own mother. Maybe it's when a phrase your mom used to say escapes your lips — like, "If you don't stop it, I will turn this car around!"

When Greg and Katie see Anna-Kat mimic their relationship, they have to reevaluate their interactions. Are they really that couple? Have they become their parents? It's a moment we all dread!

You're in sweats, you haven't brushed your hair, and suddenly you have to go to the school — again — to drop off a forgotten lunch. All you want to do is get in and out, but of course everyone stops you along the way. Katie is chased by the parking monitor for parking in the yellow zone, flagged by the school nurse for not having sent in her kids' vaccination dates, and stopped by PTA parents ("skinny mommies in tight white jeans, good for you") so they can take her picture for the school newsletter. Nightmare!

Forget all the greeting-card schmaltz about parenthood bringing true meaning to someone's life — sometimes you long for the prekid days. Katie gets full-on nostalgic for the time when she was a corporate titan, wearing high heels and flying business class with a gold card. Unfortunately for Katie, that moment comes while she's reading to Anna-Kat's elementary school class. But hey, we get it. Every mom had a life before kids, and it's OK to miss it.

After a rough day, Oliver not-so-wisely points out that since Katie doesn’t work she doesn’t really have it so bad. She doesn’t work?! If there’s one thing you should never say to a mom it’s that she doesn’t work or isn’t busy. After the day she’s had, it’s the last straw for Katie! As punishment, she pulls over to the side of the road and makes her kids pick up trash. Yup, we’ve been there. Chores for all!

Katie longs for a nap, time to read a book, any quiet moment she can get. But when shy Anna-Kat says she'll join a club only if Katie will volunteer at school, Katie has to spend her precious me time winning over the other moms — which is not exactly what she envisioned for her quiet time. Still, moms will do anything to help their kids fit in, so Katie dives in and volunteers . . . with hilarious results (hint: she pitches a Bollywood theme for the stuffy, uptight school's Spring Gala).

Kids think their parents have it together, but moms know the truth — we are all flying blind! Katie fully acknowledges that as she gets advice from friends about how to stop her daughters' rebellion. And when her son has an embarrassing experience in ballet class, Katie and Greg know just what to do . . . or not. Hey, we're all winging it! Which is why we cannot wait for American Housewife's second season — bring on more Real Katie moments!