Juggling all the daily demands of a career and family life are not for the weak nor the timid. Working to love my work, elating clients, polishing a sparkling home and "my people"- all satisfied requires discipline and organization.
Then there's a morning of a waking up to a sick child or the dog and appointments to said Doctor require immediate attention, or the plumber is running late for the backed up sink, causing the oh so well planned day into a tail-spin of utter chaos - boiling it all down to what truly matters.
Throw in the additional task of keeping the flame of a blog burning brightly with daily posts, tags, and creating inspiring and interesting things so readers will provide you with comments of love and applause. Need I mention the juggling of car-pools, to and from activities, grocery shopping, preparing healthy meals all while trying to locate the missing sock or doll's shoe the size of a dust-mite, it is a sure fire way to put me on the edge. I mean, don't people know that I have a business to run as well as my blog fans to provide a daily dose to!
How do you juggle, do you do it all, or have help? Have you patented some sort of contraption to juggle it all or c'mon, tell me your secret? I know that there are many books with the "I don't know how she does it"- sort of mantra. I want to keep it real, so share and give it up in your own words. Do you make time for yourself? Time to get your urban zen on with yoga, or make it to the gym for a power work-out, get a hair cut more than once every five years, take your own self to all the various places and then plan the next vacation along with your child's college and retirement. I think you get where I am headed. Leave a comment or your secret to juggling it all.
17 comments:
I have no secret and as you know I'm a terrible juggler. Something always falls. Usually laundry or housework. Shrug.
wow, my kindred spirit! i've been terribly remiss in blogging this week as it hit my list of 'things to neglect' (sadly this often includes shaving as well). no secret except laughter and a little wine. i realized when chloe was about a year old to attempt to 'give in gracefully', to notice the seemingly banal details and their sweetness. i could go on with the many lessons i've learned thus far...but i'm off to an eye doctor appt.
I don't know...I just try to give it my best and try not to be too hard on myself and everyone else, although I usually am. Many things don't happen (like the gym - always the first to go!) But I have found that having a schedule, meal planning, and trying to be more flexible is helful. Also, my husband is AMAZING at helping out, even after his long day at work - teamwork for sure is a big part at our house. Loved your juggler illustration!
I get up extra early and take the pup on a walk, sometimes even before the sun comes up to just spend some time with myself (and of course- dog attached to leash). Sometimes I just think about the day and how to organize it, or just think about how great it is to be up and healthy. As long as you try - that's all that really matters. My friends sometimes have to take the back seat, but if they are good friends, they understand.
Tend to be a work-a-holic. Since I run my own business. Don't mind working hard but am going to branch into something I love versus something I DON'T. Sometimes this company is consuming. Do something you love and it won't be work at all- Isn't that what they say?
Juggling indeed. I'm with Kwana; laundry and housework are the least important elements on my list, because they do not involve deadlines. Until, of course, the girls need to get dressed for school in the morning.
I've taken to posting a pretty week-by-week calendar on the fridge where I post all events for everyone and I mentally plan the week's meals on Sunday. That kind of organization helps me a great deal
Ladies & "Jugglers"
You all inspire me to keep it all going and whatever falls by the way, will either get picked up or not!
Just your comments make my day to live, love and laugh.
Patricia
I have the school calendar and the palm pilot but of course I forget to merge them so I double book sometimes. There is no easy way!!! I think being flexible and letting some chores fall through the waistside are always a good thing especially if it is to do somehting fun!!!
I have it pretty easy; everyone is on autopilot, and I have only part-time work. I admire jugglers.
I give props to all working mothers out there. I'm not one myself, but I have a sister who is a mother and doesn't work ( or get paid to work)...WHEW!
Just being married and us both being self-employed is hard enough right now. I really have to remember what the priorities in life are, which takes a lot of discipline.
PS, love the colors in this illustration Patricia:)
I cannot juggle. I feel as if every day I am just barely sneaking by. My house is never fully clean. I never feel as if I look put together and I rarely have a wondeful meal on the table by 6'oclock. For some reason I still find peace, maybe because I am happy and B seems pretty well-adjusted. I guess I am ok with happy-chaos.
I pretty much try to get done what has to be done only. And then if I have a free moment when I am not making myself busy on the computer I will do some of the stuff that would be nice to have done but isn't a necessity. All the rest gets done when I know someone is coming over.
And I don't even have a real paying job - that's just my SAHM to 5 kids version. I almost think it would be easier to have an office job because there wouldnt be so much time to be around the house messin' it up.
I could definetly do more to train my kids in helping. They are ages 3-12 and always willing to help (weird, I know) but I have to ask for it.
I admire all of you juggling mothers. I don't have kids and cannot even imagine how they would fit into an already packed schedule. I guess you find your priorities eventually sort themselves. We can't do it all!
As far as how to juggle my own responsibilities, I usually go for the "power monday" and knock out as much as I can early in the week. That pace slowly diminishes as the days tick by. By Friday, I can rest of my laurels for a few days of slacking.
I love your perfect illustration!
I was hoping my "click" would lead me to the answer. For me, the blogging is the thing I do for myself - so, yes, I guess I am doing that. But heavens, it's hard sometimes. My good friend keeps reminding me to be present and that is helping a bit. The thing I find I'm cutting out are the "shoulds" that really hold no appeal. Not laundry and the like, but parties and coffees and lunches with gobs of folks who are not close. Once you start saying no to that stuff it gets easier and easier.
Wow, lightbulb moment - saying NO!
I love that you fit in "me time"... I don't know about you... but me time lately is about NOW 9pm-11pm... time to catch up on blogs and feel like a person when everyone is tucked in and life is quiet and peaceful.
Sometimes I don't think I am doing anything all that well. I, too, am doing the juggling act with two daughters, husband, dog, design career, and a home in constant flux from remodeling. Thank goodness for Bill Pay. We just rehired a gardener, but still no house help. It is definitely causing a strain trying to keep up. We keep thinking I will quit my job and work from home until the kids are in college. The number one priority is family, and they need so much more then I ever would have thought in High School and Middle School.
So things get a little dusty. The decorating projects get left by the wayside. I am trying to concentrate on the most important things first. I figure the dust wil always be there tomorrow.
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