I feel like I haven't had the chance to just sit + be still in what feels like forever. Sure, that is probably an obvious statement coming from someone with a family of six. Particularly since I have four children, one who is constantly going to or from somewhere + three who are, well, two. I expect to be busy.
But...I need that me time, that stillness to be able to collect my thoughts + move forward with my days. And I haven't had that for well over two months. The few quiet moments I have had to myself have been so filled with exhaustion that I haven't been able to do anything other than rest my body + my mind by sitting on the couch, watching television. And that makes me feel lazy.
Don't get me wrong, we have had such an amazing first half of summer, filled with lots of togetherness + family. Giving us all a chance to reconnect + enjoy each other in a way that the busy-ness of the school year just doesn't allow. And I have thoroughly enjoyed all that this summer has gifted us with so far...in addition to the experiences I have posted about already, we managed to find time to take a trip to South Bend to visit Gram + Grandpa Lou for the 4th of July, celebrate The Peaches' birthday + have a party, squeeze in a 2 year check-up, spend time with some friends, take many trips to the park + do lots of swimming in our backyard. {details + images which will be featured in several upcoming posts}.
But...all of our adventures have left me precious little time to work on anything else + so my house, my work, my blog, my photography...my self, really, are all suffering.
Keeping balance in life is such a delicate task, because if you let the scales tip, even just a tad, in one direction or the other, you find yourself off track completely. And back at square one.
That is where I am at right now...
I am still trying to find a schedule that will work for me, one that allows me enough time to express my creativity + focus on my work, while allowing me time to also take care of my family + my house. I am getting there, slowly. Very slowly. But I am getting there. I have recently discovered that if I pick just one thing each day to do from each category of what I hope to accomplish, I have much greater success overall throughout the week. However, if I let one day go it can turn the entire week into a disaster.
There are days I feel so alone in this struggle, but I cannot imagine that is so...if you are willing to share them, I would love to hear your thoughts on balance. Do you find it difficult, as I do, or are you able to maintain balance? I want to know...what works for you?
This is totally unrelated to the post, I included it, really, just because...a snapshot from yesterday of some afternoon summer fun.
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16 comments:
hang in there....i feel the same way at times and i really think tackling one project a day is the way to go....time just flies by so quickly....i just try not to give up and remind myself that tomorrow is a new day :)
good luck!!
i feel the same way. i use the summer to recharge my batteries, but this summer it has ot happened much! don't get me wrong, spending time as a family recharges them, but it is a differet charge...that quiet alone time is so needed as well! i can tell you one thing i started to give me the alone time...started taking a kickboxing class. it might not be the quietest most alone activity, but it is me time and makes me feel good!
hang in there! i feel ya!
I can only imagine how difficult it is to find balance in such a busy (but fun!) life ... hang in there! I'm sure that everything you're doing is appreciated.
On another note, love the photo - look at that soggy little diaper bottom! :)
I feel the same way! What a great expression post! I love the photo too! :)
I struggle too with balance and get overwhelmed when I can't get to everything that needs done. I'm actually doing a bible study with 3 older women and we've been writing down what we do with our days and then evaluating them. I'm working on breaking down all my responsibilities and writing them down...then assigning them to days so it may be a few things a day instead of freaking out when the house is filthy! The key is to schedule family time, alone time, husband time into your schedule and DON'T compromise it. It's needed to keep a healthy balance...so we need to keep those priorities that will allow us to be good wives and moms. :) wow that was long. Hope maybe that gives you some good ideas. :)
The one thing that keeps me from going and being crazy is not cleaning my house. My husband ALWAYS does it! Love him!
I can imagine! Our days are busy too, but I have one less kiddo to contend with and my 3 go where I want them to go...not necessarily where they want/need to be chauffered to.
I think your idea of tackling 1 thing a day/category is a good idea. I try to do that, too - and realize if I miss something one day...I'm less motivated to do the other things on subsequent days b/c I'm already behind.
Today is one of those days...its the Twins' day at school today - usually my day to accomplish lots, but I had an eye appt this AM that took forever, then had to run some errands..now its almost time to pick them up and I haven't touched my homework for this week that I hoped to get started on. That's what late nights are for, right? haha...and the viscous cycle starts again, right?
Hang in there!!
It's summer time - you are suspose to be busy, in a good way! But know exactly what you mean. Hoping you can get some you time in the upcoming days and weeks!
Ditto. One day I'll manage to get laundry caught up but my kitchen island counter will look like 3 months worth of stuff has been dumped there. The next day I'll get that taken care of and I'll want to catchup on the blog or something else that's not entirely helpful to the running of our home and then something else will fall apart. My bedroom at times looks like it hasn't been tidied in, umm, well...longer than I'd care to say. And we are NEAT people! I know a lot of moms/families feel this way, but being a mom to a large family I think it gets piled on a whole lot quicker. That's often times why I am blogging at 10:30 at night. We don't get enough sleep, but that's when I get to feel like I CAN sit down!! Hang in there, do your best, whatever that might be on any given day, and know we are right there with you!
I know what you are going through. I usually always decide that sleep and time with the girls are most important and other things can wait. I learned to let go.
Can't wait to see the swimming pictures!
Oh Rachael, you aren't alone. Anyone that says they don't struggle to balance is lying.
It's a struggle every single day in my house for me to find time for myself...which is why i tend to fill myself with caffeine and stay up way later than i should. (not a good habit, but what works for my sanity right now. UGH)
Moving isn't helping either, but trust me, we all find a way to make a balance and you will too.
There will come a point where you have to not let certain things bother you, where you prioritize, and where you finally come to terms with the fact that if mama isn't happy, noone will end up happy.
Be sure to take care of you too. Don't forget your worth. (easier said than done)You just need to figure out what makes you happiest and then make sure you give yourself the time for it.
In the meantime, set realistic goals for yourself and know that you aren't alone. Ever.
You know Rachael - that is off course the biggest challenge of my life. Every once in a while I have to stand back and re-assess the situation.
One thing I can tell you, being a mom, naturally our kids' part of the scale will always be full, it is finding the time and space to do something for yourself that's the difficult part.
I am SO with you. It is a delicate balance when you're a parent. It's hard sometimes to put your dreams and aspirations aside to focus on family. It's hard (for awhile when the kids are little) to tuck those dreams in a drawer and only peek at them on occassion. But, it gets better. They won't be little forever. I liken it to planting little seeds. Plant now so you can harvest the crop when the kids are older.
Oh Rachael, I'm afraid I have absolutely no advice. Balance seems to come by looking at months, not days, for me. Come September, when both boys will be in some type of school, creative time will be back.
I'm trying desperately to remember that right now :-), and appreciate every second, today.
But some days it's complete frustration.
You know, typical.
You would think that after almost 6 months of not working that I'd have this somewhat figured out, but my house is still a complete disaster and I'm still a lazy butt so I can't really help. Good luck!!
The picture is adorable!
I agree, super hard to keep the balance and super easy to get sidetracked.
I'm getting over a rediculous summer head cold, and of course now the kids have it, so we're totally off track right now. My house is a bit, my garden needs attention, and of course I have some very unhappy babies to tend to. UGH!
But I know that eventually I WILL get caught up, and I will have time to breathe again (but it may be a while before I can breathe through my nose).
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