The Ever Elusive Work and Life Balance for Moms

As a work at home mom, it's difficult to tell where work stops and family life begins. Finding the balance is one of my biggest struggles. Do I work an extra hour or deep clean the bathroom? Play with the kids or finish a work project that needs my attention? Go to bed early with my husband or stay up late to meet an important deadline?

I struggle with compartmentalizing my responsibilities. Because I work and live in the same spot, it is difficult to separate things. When I'm working, I feel that I should be actively playing with the kids are tackling the mounting pile of laundry. When I'm playing with the kids or scrubbing the toilet, I think about the money I should be making by working.

At times, I feel that I'm spreading myself too thin. I'm doing a lot of things, but am I doing any of them well? Up to this point, I've just tried to survive. Making money is essential for me to stay home with the kids. Yet the point of me staying home was to be with the kids. If I'm constantly typing away on my computer, am I really giving them the experience they need? Would they be better off in daycare?

My conclusion is that we're all where we're supposed to be. I'm supposed to be home with my kids. My kids are supposed to be cared for by me, even if I can't give them as much attention as I'd like. I love seeing my kids all day. I would much rather have them in front of me to love and hug rather than stare at a picture on my desk, wishing I could hold them.

In talking with other moms, I've discovered that we all struggle with our decision. Moms who work outside the home wonder if they should stay home. Moms who work from home wonder if they should work outside the home. Moms who stay home feel guilty for not contributing to the financial earnings of the family. There will always be questions and doubts. We will always wonder how we can improve our lives and achieve a better balance. I'm convinced that there is no such thing as the magical balance of work, home, and life. There's only the best that each of us can do given our situations.