Can I be real with you?
I need to talk about balance.
I’m struggling with it.
One day I think I have it all together, that I’m worthy of that Super Mom title, only to find myself on my knees the next wondering where I’m going wrong.
My weeks are filled…. to the brim.
In fact, if you want to hang out with me, Monday is my only free day I can fit you in.
The other days we have preschool, MOPS, dance, gymnastics, VBS meetings, swim lessons.
How did my schedule get so compacted?
How did I get to the point where I can only pencil people in on Mondays, or Tuesday mornings, but only between 9-11am?
Then there’s the blog, the shop, the laundry and not to mention needing to put a healthy meal on the table.
Do you know any you can recommend to me by the way? Healthy meals I mean.
As I look towards May and begin to see our schedule beginning to free up and that makes me excited.
Then I read this post tonight and it reminded me of something that’s way more important than all these crazy activities.
And that’s my precious time with my little ones.
So how do you find balance?
How do you juggle your kids activities, your blog, shop, life and keep your sanity?
I need to choose what activities we really need to be doing, and which ones we do just because we can.
Does that make sense?
Because right now, I’ve got my focus in too many places.
P.S. Speaking of choices, does this top look better with my dark or white denim jeans?
I’m linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Momma Go Round
Jessica Barnard says
Oh boy, I don’t even have kids yet, and I already feel like I’m spread too thin, so I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Just remember that everything falls into the categories of good, better, and best, and that makes it easy to prioritize.
P.S. I personally prefer the white denim jeans with that top. 😉
Jennifer says
In the second and third picture I like the shirt with the dark denim better, but for some reason, in the fourth and fifth picture I like it better with the white. 🙂
Lindsay says
First – I like the white bottoms.. Second – I’ve been finding the most amazing healthy meals on skinnytaste.com and canyoustayfordinner.com (this one has some amazing looking desserts/treats!).. Third – I have no advice on finding balance, I’ve not yet found that either, but I do know that we try to only commit to activities that we LOVE. If Max gets bored, I don’t want to commit a day(or more) a week to that. If I start not liking a hobby/activity/etc.. It’s out the door. Time is too precious to waste it on things you don’t absolutely love. Hope that helps a bit, and when you find a way to balance life please let me know 😉
Linds
janene@EverydayEO says
White bottoms: ) I just wrote about this very thing and can recommend two books that helps keep things in perspective–the video is amazing: )
http://www.everydayeo.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-29-2012.html
http://www.everydayeo.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-2-2012.html
Heather McCurdy says
I love this post! Your pictures are wonderful! I wrote a similar post to this (before kids too hahahaha) called My Mail Pile is Giving Me the Finger. We just make it happen and find tricks that help us to work smarter, not harder. All my meal planning comes from Simple. lol … i buy the grocery list and just make the food. Plus it really comes down to why we do all this … mine was to avoid doing the laundry and being a boring housewife. You’ll find that balance again 🙂 btw … I LOVE can you stay for dinner, that is a very cool website!!!
Bethany says
Yes! I had the exact same feeling not too long ago. That my life is too “full”. That I’m giving 50% to everything and nothing is getting 100% of my attention! It’s so hard to be a mom! Don’t be so hard on yourself! This stage of life will be gone before we know it, and I’m afraid I’ll be bored. “Bored”. What a weird word that sound like right now! PS. Love the white jeans! You rock those!
Alesha says
I’m praying for seasons like that are so difficult to go through. I know how you feel even though no don’t have kids. I have to be careful now not to overcommits used and I know I’ll have to be extra careful then.
Oh…and I can’t decide which one i like either. =P
Alesha <3
linda (burlap+blue) says
Girl. How did you get inside my head? Your post speaks right to me (and many others, I imagine). Balance IS hard, but I found that what’s harder is being about to do NOTHING well b/c you are trying to do it all well. Uplifting thoughts being sent your way! xo
Cassie @ Live.Laugh.L0ve. says
I have definitely been there & I wrote this post on Embrace Your Life about it. 🙂 http://embraceyour-life.blogspot.com/2012/02/do-you-have-balance.html
erika says
hi lady.
you are enough.
you are a good mom.
you have a wonderful blog.
and you are doing fine– even when you’re overwhelmed and need to focus on your kids and feel like you’re slipping in other places– it’s OK.
sometimes i need to tell myself the same thing and I know so many of us feel that way.
Melissa says
I’ve got nothing. Except empathy. Yesterday I was so overwhelmed by 8am that I wanted to curl up in a ball in bed. Life is tough. Like with kids, a husband, a shop, a blog, and…my balance is just to take it day by day. Ha!
Heather says
omgosh, YES!
I have so been trying to find balance recently. And I don’t even HAVE kids. As I panic with my overly scheduled life, I often think about the mommies I know and wonder how on earth they do it. You truly are super women.
But, I totally get where you are coming from with the picking what you WANT to do and what you do just because… I think if you can narrow that down, you will find a better balance…
And my May is also looking much better than April, hooray for that.
PS – stopping by from the inspirational blog hop 🙂
Vanessa says
10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Take a look. She addresses exactly thi and tries to get us to be honest about WHY we’re doing all those things. I’m right there with you on the elusive hunt for balance.
Kassi @ Truly Lovely says
I don’t have kids yet… So I have zero advice or insight on that front… But I can say I think the blue denim looks more relaxed. The white looks more out and about.
Sandy a la Mode says
i love your look with the jeans!!
balance? that is a tough one!! it is hard taking care of a baby, family, working, blogging, and just relaxing.. but i just am on the move like every minute haha!! i guess that means there’s no time for relaxing, except when i go to bed, LOL!
Kristen says
I feel like I’m right there with ya. Even now, after midnight, I’m still doing blog stuff, cleaning, etc. because it’s my only time after the kids go down. Hang in there! Hopefully summertime will bring a break to your hectic life! 🙂
-Kristen
The Mrs. and The Momma
Natalia says
I like it both ways, but probably with the white better. And as far as balance, I think you are right there with every momma! In fact, I was just saying that this morning, how can I clean the house, kitchen, mop & sweep the floors and the very next day it looks like I haven’t done it in months!! I think everyday is a struggle and a challenge to find balance in our lives. And if someone says they have it all together, all the time, they’re lying. That’s all there is to it! I think you look beautiful! 🙂
Sherri S says
I like the white pants more; however, it looks ok with the jeans too.
Balance is hard. Life is tough. I have people ask me how I “do it all” (working full time outside the house, a ‘new’ 4 year old, 2 grown children, house, meal planning, cooking, blogging, etc). All I can say is sometimes it is smooth sailing, more often than that it is rough seas and tossing storms – I just hold on for dear life to get through it all. LOL
Janae says
Some days are definetley harder than others! All we can do is be the best moms we can be!! And accept help – I KNOW that’s a toughy, but it makes a world of difference! LOVE the jeans with the tank!
Kassie says
Gah. I think every mom struggles with balance sometimes. So hard.
I like the top with the white pants =)
Brittany @ Love Stitched says
Balance is such a hard thing to figure out! Just stay positive and keep your head up! we have ALL been there MORE than once 😉 cute shirt by the way! xoxo
Ania says
I love the outfit and it looks good with both choices, they give the top a different look, the jeans are more casual the white denim makes it more spring and a bit more dressy.
As for juggling, you will never win this battle, each moment you need to prioritize what is important to me right now. Sometimes life gets crazy busy, pack and full and other times it’s quiet, spontaneous. We try and keep things less scheduled because it’s important for the kids to have time to play. There is time for all the extras.