Hip Hip Hoo-Ray! I’ve made it a full year in the working force!
I have worked as a stay at home mom, and I have worked outside of the home. I will say that both jobs are equally just as difficult only now that I have a job I am not as good at being great at all the things I was prior to having a job.
Here are some examples. WARNING: The list could go on forever!
I am not as great as I was when I stayed at home at making sure I know all of Taytum’s homework assignments, when they are due, and what she needs help with.
I am not as great at getting all my kids life situated. I don’t always remember to text the babysitter when they are or aren’t coming. I forget to find rides for Taytum when I am working late. I forget about dental cleanings, or follow ups.
I am not as great at meal prepping, or cooking nutritious meals at dinner time. Those whole30 compliant meals or paleo dinners I used to make are long gone.
I am not as great at being dedicated to my sweat sesh’s at the gym. 2 hours per day is 2 hours that I no longer have.
I am not as great at deep cleaning my house, my dust free, spot free home is now lived in.
I feel like I am not as great with my own self care. My eating habits plumited, my workouts suffered, my family time was limited, my free time was nearly extincted.
YOU GET IT.WORKING MOM LIFE IS SO HARD. Escaping reality of momlife to go to worklife for 8 hours a day seems like a sweet deal until it takes you 2 hours to commute to and from that worklife, and then you gain ten pounds from lack of diet and exercise+sitting in a desk all day, and then add your at home responsibilities to that 6-9pm time frame that you’re left with….A year later your sobbing and ready to leave the country to re-evalue and recouperate.
OKAY, I’ll stop with the woe me now.
Maybe you’re a working mom who is struggling with some of the same things as I listed above. First of all. You are good enough, and you are doing enough. You are a great mom, struggling like 99% of other working moms with likely 99% of the same problems. We are in it together and I am reaching out to you to build community with you.
Here are my suggestions to you.
Communication is key when navigating through challenges. Talk to people, let them know where you struggle, and problem solve solutions for that. What communication system works best for you? Is it email, text messaging, a phone call, or face to face communication. Personally, in an effort to know what was going on in Tay’s world I had open communication with her teacher via email. She was extremely responsive and I was able to keep up and ask the questions that had, plus emails kept in the know about upcoming due dates for assignments.
Build a support system. Connect with people. It takes a village. I truly believe the most successful people do not do it all on their own. I have built relationships with people who I can call on for emergencies like forgetting kids at school, gym, or daycare. I have people who will help me out if I am stuck at work. These are people I built relationships with. You have to be willing to help out them in times of need as well. If you weren’t born with the support system around you, you can build it!
Loop back to communication, what works for you? I have a calendar at home hanging by the back door that shows upcoming appointments for the kids, and babysitter situations. I also have a day planner that lists work appointments and personal appointments. I do not do well with my phone calendars. I need to write things out so planners and wall calendars work well for me.
Meal preps are out, but HelloFresh is in! After struggling to get dinner on the table before 8pm every night, I decided to give HelloFresh a try and I have been hooked ever since. I get three meals a week delivered to my front door for the same price I would eat out for. The meals are fresh ingredients, meats and veggies, and the prep time is usually 10-15 minutes, with a 15-30 minute bake time. MOMS! THIS HAS BEEN A LIFE SAVER! I downloaded the HelloFresh app on my phone and when I want to skip a week I just hit skip. I can view upcoming meals for the month as well and plan accordingly. I’ve listed the link to HelloFresh and one other similiar food delivery service below!
https://www.hellofresh.com/tasty/
Now, moms. The struggle is real, and I give up sleep every time I want to go to the gym. If I am going to get a workout in I have to go around 6:45AM. I cut my workout’s to an hour to give me time to get ready for work but during the evenings I try to do an activity with the kids to incorporate some additional cardio. It’s summer so bike riding is my favorite, we also swim a lot. I can’t always manage an early morning gym sesh so I have listed below a HIIT workout that I’ve found on YouTube that I have done. Not to mention….KIDS LOVE TO COPY YOU, wear them out before bedtime! 😉
I am extremely picky about how clean my house is. I used to deep clean everything, every single day. It’s honestly not possible now but what is possible is to maintain a cleanly home by choosing one thing to deep clean per day. One day I focus on toilets and sinks. One day I focus on floors. One day I do all the laundry. Etc. I pick up the house daily to ensure that it looks presentable if someone surprises me with a visit, but I always try to deep clean one thing per day.
Self Care is HUGE mamas! If you can’t take care of your family if you can’t even take care of you. Everyone who knows me knows that when its bedtime. That is all me time. I have SO much patience and can play mama all night long….until I say bedtime. When bedtime hits I’ve called it quits for the day. I need the remainder of the evening to recoup. I watch Dateline (because that’s my thing) I eat treats that I don’t give the kids. I go out with girlfriends for wine night and dinner. I do things for me. I get my hair done, I get my lashes done. I know that isn’t for everyone but find what is for you and do it because you deserve it.
I don’t have all the answers, I am still navigating work life/ home life balance and ways to make working outside of the home more manageable. It’s something I struggle with regularly. I break down and I cry and I also tell people about it. I have friends show up and clean my kitchen while I am working late. I have parents who pick my children up for me, or come play with them when I can’t. I have been blessed with community and I am also here to build it with you.
Rolling with Lemons 