The Mommy Balancing Act: How Can I Get Everything Done?

Whether you're a stay at home mom, work from home with the kids, or work full time and are a mommy full time--your life is crazy! For me personally I work on a freelance basis from home and try to get work done while the baby is sleeping or playing peacefully (not sure if that's really the right word anymore!) next to me. I find that there are days when I just can't get it all done....really more like weeks of that! I know from my friends who are all in different situations, some with multiple kids and stay home, some working full time and trying to make it all work, and some running their own businesses with kids in tow--being a mommy is a lot of work! Those that think it's easy have no idea what goes into any given day, I've heard it over and over and it's so true--"Being a mommy is the toughest job you'll ever love"! It's got so many rewards but it can make for some real challenges too.

I'm a big list maker, I try to make a master "to do" list every Sunday night so that I'm on track for the week. If I don't do that, then the little things don't get done. I try to think of everything that I need to get or do on errands and condense them into trips that I can take on various days of the week. Some days it's hard enough to just get out of the house, much less run the necessary errands, but I try. I then cross off or add to the list on a daily basis--this not only gives me a sense of accomplishment but also helps me to stay on track and remember the incidentals. (like making mommy a haircut appointment)

I schedule "me time". This sounds so cliche, but if I don't do it then it won't happen. I think of how the week will go and schedule (in my mind) time to chat on the phone with friends, perhaps making the most of time in the car when the baby is calm and happy. I schedule lunches or playdates in a realistic manner--keeping in mind that 1-2 activities a week is more than enough. I even look at the monthly calendar and schedule time where I can have my husband help, and do the same for him. We try to look at the calendar and figure out what's coming up so that we both are able not only to get our stuff done (like the haircuts), but so we can work as a team to get a happy hour (or in his case, sporting event) scheduled with friends. This keeps us both sane and gives us a little time to ourselves to enjoy--communicating about it in advance is huge too and makes it seamless.

I figure out how to get work time in, and this one can be tricky at times. For those moms like myself that are still working in some capacity while they are home with the kids, this is a balancing act--but one that I wouldn't trade for the world. I love being home with my little girl, so if I have to figure out balance in my days and weeks then that's the tradeoff. I try to work around naptime, perhaps throw in a load of laundry and then get to working while I'm free of mommy duties for an hour or so. I work when my husband gets home after we've put her down to bed, but am careful not to let this get in the way of enjoying part of the evening with my husband. It's all about balance and for us, we like to take a walk every evening with the baby and the dog for our family time and a way for us to catch up on the day. That means I have to hustle to get dinner on the table, but it's so worth it for us to have chat time before I put in some hours of work.

No mommy has it easy, every situation has its' challenges but if you can learn how to balance it makes life much easier. I have a friend who even lists out her chores on a white board in her kitchen, this helps her to keep on track before too much time is lost. However you stay organized, just look at your child's little face and remember why you're doing it all.