Whether you go by mum, mummy, mother, or mamma we all have ONE thing in COMMON – we need a Tribe to raise a family and live in the twentieth century.
The unsung hero is the modern mum who is expected to work like they do not have children and mother like they do not work!!!
Times have changed, the pressures we all face as parents can be insurmountable and at times simply too much. I know first-hand trying to be superwoman, doing it all and having it all and learnt the hard way – IT COMES AS A COST.
I love the old cliché;
“Sometimes there is no damn time left in the day and unless I am supposed to get up in the early hours of the morning!”.
you just need to make time for yourself.
Then there is the guilt of not spending time with the kids, not getting in enough exercise in, pressure to cook a Martha Stewart meal every night, making sure the house looks like a display home, booking the kids into every activity under the sun, preparing a healthy cooked breakfast for everyone, packing interesting and exciting lunches every day, sticking to the perfect routine for baby, looking a million dollars every day and spending quality time with you partner!
EXHAUSTED…
Time is precious and we all need more time on our hands. The ways I have managed to find more time is by outsourcing where I can, asking for help and having realistic expectations of myself. But I do not have to tell you that. If you’re like most working parents, your life is most likely choreographed down to the minute. Let me assure you, that there are ways to take the fine art of doing more with less time to the next level. Here are my tips:
- Spend enough time sleeping. If you do nothing else, prioritize your sleep needs so you can thrive. You’ll drag all day and ultimately waste time if you’re under-rested. Schedule sleep like any other activity and go to bed at bedtime so you can function the next day. (And enforce your kids’ bedtimes too. It’s good for them and for you.)
- Establish sane work hours.Before you commit to taking a new role, validate alignment of expectations for your work hours with your potential employer. Life commitments and job projects will ebb and flow, so be sure to check in periodically to make sure that expectations have not changed. That way, if your boss typically calls or emails after hours, you can decide whether you’re available or not. Many working mothers reserve nights and weekends exclusively for family.
- Embrace the power of “No.”You don’t have to attend every P&C meeting, chaperone all field trips or take on additional work projects. Saying no can be tough, but it is a skill that frees up time you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Further, watching you enforce limits teaches your kids the value of setting boundaries.
- Set attainable daily goals.A to-do list is useless if it’s too ambitious. What’s the point of writing down unachievable tasks? We’re not superheroes and shouldn’t try to be. Make your daily goals realistic enough to complete. Remember, you can always do more if you have the time.
- Don’t even try to multitask.People perform better when they give focused attention to the task at hand. When you’re at work, stop worrying about dinner; when you’re helping your son with algebra don’t also be texting your husband a grocery list.
- Let go of perfection.It doesn’t exist, therefore you can’t achieve it. Instead of obsessively cleaning an already clean-enough house, or toiling toward intangible ideals (like being the “perfect” mom or having the “perfect” figure), figure out a more practical use for your time.
When you decide that you would like “Time Out” for whatever reason, please phone Cherished Cherubs on 0417 927 525 who will find you the perfect babysitter for your family’s needs.
