It's a pretty well
known fact: Moms are pulled in many directions and their to-do list
almost never gets completely crossed off. There's the kids, the husband,
the house, the chores, the errands, the laundry, the meals, the
appointments, the kid's activities, the birthday parties and on and on.
It's an intensive job that requires some great time management and
organization to ensure that everything gets done (or almost everything),
and there's still enough time to spend relaxing and enjoying your
family.
Here are some tips to you find some balance:
* Use a calendar to stay organized. Keep track of home, school and work
activities and appointments on your calendar. It may work best to use a
desk calendar that you can take with you as well as set calendar
reminders in a program such as Outlook to remind you of certain
repeating activities, practices, birthdays, bills to pay, etc.
* Be a team. Ask for help when needed and offer help where needed.
Perhaps one week you can be in charge of homework or baths and the next
week your spouse can. Come up with mutually beneficial plans to help
your family function and have lots of time for family fun!
* Let go of guilt and know that you cannot possibly do everything.
Whether you need to hire a housekeeper, order take out or say no to a
volunteer request, know that you are doing what's best for you and your
family but not overextending yourself and putting unnecessary burdens
and expectations on yourself.
* Schedule a weekly date with your spouse as well as individual time
with your kids. Also make time for yourself. Do not let one area of your
life dominate the rest.
* Use your evening time wisely. Instead of plopping down in front of the
TV, go on a long walk with your spouse and/or your kids. Have a picnic
dinner in the backyard. Play a game or do something that enables you to
really connect with your family.
* Be a smart shopper and meal planner. Buy cookbooks with quick, healthy
meals or meals that you can double and freeze for another night. No need
to do it all every night.
* Know that you can always adjust and change your options. If the
choices that were right for you last year are not as good this year,
reconsider and re-evaluate all of your options. Talk it over with your
spouse and close friends. Then decide what is best for you and your
family today. Take life by the horns!
* Stay flexible. Just as your children grow and your marriage matures,
your individual, career, family and marriage needs will also grow,
change and develop. Stay open to changes and realize that growing with
each of these areas will be fresh, exciting, challenging and probably at
times, frustrating and tiring.
* If you work, remember in the end it is not going to matter how much
you dazzled your clients or employer with long hours if you miss out on
treasured moments with your children and your spouse. Remind yourself to
check in occasionally on where you are spending your time and where you
are not.
* Do what's best for you and your family. Don't allow others to dictate
what the best option is for you and your family.
With these tips and your own tried-and-true ones, you will find that
being a balanced mom is not fiction. It truly can be fact. It just takes
planning, delegating, flexibility, a positive attitude and some great
organization. As a mom, I can proudly say and I'm sure you would agree:
There's no better or more rewarding job in the world!
Copyright HBWM.com, Inc. 2006
Lesley Spencer is the founder and president of the national association
of Home-Based Working Moms (http://www.HBWM.com),
the HBWM.com, Inc. Network of Websites and author of the Work-at-Home
Workbook. She has a Master's Degree in Public Relations and has been
featured in numerous media outlets including CBS News, Forbes, Business
Week, Parents, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. She has been working
from home for over 11 years and has two children whom she absolutely
adores!
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