5 tips to balance mom life
Motherhood is so amazing, but it is SO HARD at the same time. I have this constant internal battle of wanting to focus on my family and raising my babies, yet I also love my work and enjoy being out of the house. Social media sure doesn’t make it any easier to find alignment with what works best for our family. While scrolling, my brain goes back and forth between slowing down, making bread, adding in a new activity, homeschooling, school volunteering, etc. Are all those things good fits for me and our family? Nope…but they sure do sound appealing at the time…ya know?
Being postpartum, especially after a long break (7 years), I’m also left wondering, what does normal even look like for our family now? I constantly worry about how to be all the things for all the people without burning myself out in specific categories.
Don’t you want to spend all day at home with my sweet baby boy? The days go by so quickly and he’s already growing up so fast! Isn’t this why you took a more flexible job? Isn’t this what you dreamed of? How will you have time to clean if you don’t stay home?
But, don’t you want to get out of the house and talk to adults sometimes?Don’t you love your job? Don’t you want to feel like you’re financially supporting your family? You need to prioritize taking care of yourself and get to yoga more often.
I KNOW I am not the only one who experiences this constant battle in their mind! I reflect on it often, and as I move into my 7th month postpartum with my new baby boy, I have found a few consistent things that help me to find balance in this new season! Here are my top 5 and an example of how we make life more enjoyable and balanced in our family.
Find your village & Accept help - My family helps with the boys when we can’t manage it all or need a break, Matt & I share household tasks, I have a group that holds me accountable for my health, friends to unwind with and share common mom struggles/wins, and friends who I can ask for prayers at anytime.
Plan ahead - I use time blocking to plan out my days. I also try to prepare food ahead of time for those days that we have to be at practice or games at dinner time. Does every day work out exactly as planned, heck no. But, I feel much more accomplished on the days when I have a plan than the days that I don’t, even if everything didn't get done. I also make sure to fit in time for myself this way. If it doesn't get planned, it doesn't get done.
Get up earlier than kids - MOST days this isn’t happening in this season because the baby was up 3 times, someone peed the bed, and stuff happens. But, when I do this, I feel much more in control of my day. I can’t wait to get back into a routine during the school year!
Let the kids play independently or earn technology time - When I don’t get up earlier than them, I do try to take time while they are playing outside to focus on my self care and/or work!
Prayer, therapy, and lots of grace - pretty self explanatory!
You don’t have to choose family over self. You don’t have to choose work over family. You can’t be all the things for all the people at all times, but you can create space to be great at the few things that matter most in this season!
