What the Heck is “Scrunchy?” (And Why I’m Not Trying to Be Perfect)

If you spend enough time on the internet, you start learning that moms apparently have categories now. There are those who live in the woods, make their own herbal tinctures and hand-spin wool from the barn alpaca — the crunchy moms. Then there are those who buy fruit snacks at Costco and consider it a win if they remember picture day — silky moms.

And then, there are people like me.

The scrunchy moms. The peanut butter to their organic jelly. The somewhere-in-the-middle, “I make homemade bread but also swing through the Taco Bell drive-thru” crew.

Scrunchy means doing what you can, where you can, without turning it into an all-or-nothing lifestyle contract. I compost scraps in the backyard, but if it’s Thanksgiving and I know I’ll be up to my elbows in dishes? Yep. I will absolutely buy disposable pans and sleep just fine at night.

For me, scrunchy looks like:

• Homemade laundry detergent (because it’s cheaper)

• Cloth napkins (they just feel nicer)

• Secondhand shopping when possible (thrill of the hunt!)

• Homemade sourdough bread (therapeutic and delicious)

• Accepting that convenience foods are not the enemy, guilt is

Going scrunchy isn’t about perfect — it’s about finding joy and agency in the choices you do care about, not shame about the ones you don’t.

If you’re reading this hoping for a guru? Wrong address.

But if you want someone to try things with you and be honest when they flop? Welcome to The Scrunchy Life. I saved you a seat.

PS: If you’re starting your own journey, I put together a list of my favorite beginner-friendly tools here.