Is your life balanced?

 

When you wake up in the morning what do you do? 

If you have a baby or little ones, I guess the better question is how much sleep did you and or your brood get last night. If you said less than 7, then you are definitely running on empty. Maybe you feel as if you need 4 cups of espresso and a red bull chaser. 

If you think about how much you do as a mom every single day, it boggles the mind. Maybe it’s better not to tally up the laundry list (no pun intended) of all the myriad tasks and hurdles you tackle each and every day. Let’s see, first there’s the baby to feed. Alright, then maybe feed another child, or walk around feeding one while pulling together a meal for yourself and the other hungry mouths in your house. 

Do you have to get ready for your work outside the home?  Now it’s time to get dressed and ready for the day. If there are diapers to change then, whoa, hold on a minute, you've got to deal with that, and washing hands and maybe some potty training. Oops, before you know it the baby is hungry again. Have your had your shower yet? 

Are your kids older?  Maybe they make their own breakfast and/or lunch or buy their lunch. Easy right? Sure, piece of cake. Did you pack up your homework?  Why aren't you wearing socks?  Please, for the love of.....COMB your hair. Are you seriously thinking of wearing THAT today?  Las Vegas showgirls wear more than that on stage, how 'bout you look for something that says, "I'm interested in learning today, Hmm?"

I get tired just contemplating this. 

Balance? 

Is it an illusion? 

A friend of mine, who has 4 children, one still breastfeeding says that she just takes one request at a time and has learned to triage, that means figure out who is in the most dire need. 

Another mom of 2 who has to catch a train to get to work everyday, says, unless there is fire or blood involved, she ignores a lot of what’s going on around her and deals with the everything in order of the urgency of the need, factoring in how much attention they have or haven’t been getting lately. Sometimes the child who is self-sufficient and easier, may feel left out, because another sibling who always seems to have a crisis comes first.

What about moms? 

When is it their turn? 

Do we even get a turn? 

This is what I know. You may be able to find balance for a day or 2 or even a week now and then, but our lives are shifting and our ability to find balance shifts too. When you find it, cherish it, recharge and enjoy, because, sorry, it's not going to last. 

 In the other moments, Put your Oxygen mask on first, then take a deep breath and get back to your wonderful, crazy, chaotic life.

Comments

[Roger Farnsworth]

Interesting observation, Barb. Folks talk a lot today about work/life balance. I think it's probably more appropriate to discuss work/life integration. The former implies compromise, the latter symbiosis.

In any case, I hope a few deep breaths clear your head this morning! :-)