my son has just thrown up on the keyboard
By yoyomama administrator on April 13, 2009 | Filed Under biz tips, parenting
“Uugh, geez…. Sorry, I have to go… My son has just thrown up on my keyboard.”
“Oh! Oh no, I hope he’s okay! Right, I’ll speak to you soon.”
And thus ended my telephone conversation with a local mum who runs her own business from home while simultaneously looking after her son.
Through working in the mum and baby industry, I meet many fantastic mompreneurs who are under an incredible amount of stress as they try to juggle the demands of two full time jobs; being a parent and being a business owner.
Added to this stress is the sneaking suspicion that by trying to do everything, mums are falling short of hitting the mark with accomplishing anything to a high standard. This is an awful, sinking feeling. Every day the ‘to-do’ list becomes laughably longer, the laundry piles up, the children are decidedly grumpy, and an uninterrupted stretch of time to accomplish work is a far off dream.
And we, as mothers, love our guilt. We embrace it. We can never escape the feeling that somehow, we should be able to do it all. We forgo sleep, social activities, exercise and even time with our spouse – all in the name of our children and work.
Don’t let it be said that these juggling mums are whiners. The amazing products and services that these extremely intelligent and talented women have worked so hard to create – speak volumes for the countless wee hours spent honing their trade. When given the chance, these ladies are good at what they do.
We are all, in one shape or form, a work in progress. So here are some tips that I’ve picked up along the way and would like to pass along.
- Read The E-Myth, a great guide to helping you work smarter, not necessarily harder – as recommended by local business coach Sarah Dakin
- Sleep, perchance to dream: You may think that by robbing your slumber time you gain bonus time to work. And certainly, the odd late nighter can really help. But consistent sleep deprivation clouds your mind, drains your energy and frankly – makes you no use to anyone.
- Get out! You know the benefits of exercise – but why is a regular exercise routine the first thing get the chop when time gets tight? Get some fresh air and work up a sweat. Your body will love you for it! Have a little one? That is no excuse. Check out a Fit 4 Two class near you.
- Need a constant reminder to find balance? Keep an eye on Mama Renew, this blog offers great ideas, interviews, tips, resources and services for seeking balance.
- Ask for help. Know your strengths, and outsource the rest. It’s scary the useful things that you can find through resources like Craigslist.
What have you found that helps you make your life less yoyo-like? I’m always looking for tips and tricks – please share your comments below.
Pass this on to the mom who threw up! Castor oil packs RULE for stomach aches! But do not drink it!
http://www.drheathermanleynd.com/drheathersblog/tag/castoroil/
Heather
Sarah – you are singing my anthem! How good it feels to read my own thoughts and struggles with balancing a business and kids. And how wonderful it is to have a community of like minded women to draw from and support us with Fit4Two, Mama Renew and others. Have a great balanced, productive Mommy day (or one of the three
)
Thank-you Karen! You’re right,we are a part of such a great community of women – all in the same juggling boat.
I think the steps to striking the right balance are obvious enough to all of us – but actually doing what we need to do? Now there lies the challenge!