“Not now, Honey. Mommy’s busy working” and “Please give me a minute! I’m cleaning right now” are not how I want my daughter to remember me. Work pays the bills. The house needs to be cleaned. Supper needs to be cooked. Those are all things that need to be done. However, time spent with my 3 year old is what is most important to me right now. So what if my house looks a little “lived in”? As much as I long for a home that looks like it is straight out of an IKEA catalogue, I realize that perhaps that will not happen until Little One moves out and goes to university. I do envy some friends who seem to have it all together. Young children and a house that looks out of Home and Garden? Truly impressive. I strive to do the best by my child. Home cooked, homemade meals pretty much 95% of the time. Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes all this June Cleaver wannabe business gets me exhausted, worn out, and stressed to the max. On the odd occasion, I admit that I cave in and do “breakfast for supper” or cheese and crackers with raw veggies if I’m totally at my wits end. No, I don’t have the foresight to plan my meals ahead all the time. Sometimes I just don’t feel like sticking to a weekly menu. The Mommy stuff, cooking, cleaning, child rearing, community involvement, board meetings, and work really, really tire me out. Then there’s this precious little being wanting my undivided attention at the end of a busy day. As much as I feel like I’m being pulled in a zillion and one directions, at the end of the day, it comes down to what is really important to me. Yesterday, my three year old cupped my face in her tiny hands, kissed me on the cheek and said, “Mommy, you’re my best friend.” It absolutely melted my heart. My daughter has taught me that:
- Time spent with her in her formative years is too important to miss out on
- Children really do grow up far too quickly
- Pick and choose battles (as cheesy as it sounds, “don’t sweat the small stuff”)
- It’s okay to not be Super Mom all the time – No one is perfect (not even Mom!)
I still struggle from the stress of trying to have things “together” all the time. I want my work to be done perfectly. I want my house immaculate. I want my daughter to have the best life I can possibly offer her. All she really wants is time with Mom. I have a question for all you busy moms (and dads!) out there! How do you manage a busy schedule, work, family…and not go bonkers trying to do it all?
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