It’s spring break everybody! Beaches, drinks with tiny umbrellas, sunshine, trashy mags….the works!
Hardly 🙂
They say motherhood changes you. I believe this to be true. Physical, mental, and lifestyle changes abound. And though we may look to our pasts with longing (and that’s ok…..the above scenario sounds alright!)….we embrace the changes, we get up early, we take on this new season of life with gusto and love. As I’ve said before, I’m nothing if not adaptable.
All that said, motherhood changed me more than I could have ever envisioned. Since becoming a mom, I’ve started my own business, built a new home, volunteered as the auction decorating chair for my son’s preschool last year, and am one of the room moms for his class this year. I recently signed on to be our neighborhood block captain….because apparently I can’t help myself 😉
All of us parents; full time work, part time work, stay at home, entrepenuer…..each scenario brings its own set of challenges. So, based on my current experience, I’ll speak to my own challenges as an entrepenuer/stay at home mom crossover.
The time. Where do we find the time? I want to be the best at all the things. I own an interior decorating business. I have two beautiful-and energetic-little boys. I am a room mom. A block captain. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. It is easy to feel stretched thin when you want to give so much to so many things. We’re on spring break this week, and boy….there is a tough week stretching out here. I decided to do a whole30 starting today as well….so I can’t even turn to my evening mom juice for solace 🙂
It’s 2pm on spring break, day 1. My day started at 6am, which is pretty typical. Our 4.5 year old loves that early morning life. So far, I have fed two children two meals, and nursed a baby twice. I have fed myself (yea me!). I have done two loads of laundry, folded another two, emptied the dishwasher, and filled it right back up. I have taken my children on a walk and played at the park. I’ve cleaned my kitchen, ordered gifts for the Easter baskets on amazon, and found 2 hours during nap time and a riveting showing of Trolls for the older one to get some client work done. I’ve played the LadyBug Game twice, and a rousing rendition of Paw Patrol live.
I feel accomplished. And tired. Maybe that’s the perfect balance.
After dinner and the kids go to bed, I’ll be back at my laptop and design boards again. Working into the night, because I love my job so much. (Not to worry, my husband owns his own business as well, so we’ll be dueling laptops-it’s quality time…I swear). I’ll finally give in to the fact that it’s getting to be too late, and head upstairs to try and read a few pages of my book. Reading brings me joy and relaxes me…..so I really try to find the time if I can. I always go to bed too late…I’m working on it.
Add in date nights, Bar Method classes, time with friends, once a month book club…..my head is spinning!
And this is parenthood these days. We want it all, we do it all, and we take it in stride. There is nothing in that day that I want to give up. I adore my children (even on those tough days!), I adore my husband, my work, my home, my friends. Are there more hours in the day? Is there a secret someone can let me in on?
This season of life….this busy, bustling, tiring season of life….it won’t last forever. It’ll be gone in a blink. The kids will grow, become more independent. We will get that time back, maybe sleep in, maybe go on a weekend getaway as a couple. But knowing it is just a blink, I’m going to embrace it. Embrace the crazy, the tired, the go go go of life. After all….there’s coffee. There’s always coffee.