With three small kids, a husband with a
demanding job, running three blogs and my own design business,
to say that life is busy around here is an understatement. Recently, several people
have asked me, "How do you do it all?" which just makes me want to
laugh.
Haven't we women figured out by now that NO ONE does it all?
Some of us work full time, some of us stay home with our kids. Some
of us travel for work or have husbands who travel, leaving us alone
with the kids. Some of us volunteer at school or in the community and
really do look like we have it all together and some of us don't. We
all have to take care of our kids, our homes, our families and
ourselves. And we all have 24 hours in a day.
Everyone makes compromises. If you are choosing to do something
(working, blogging) then you are choosing not to do something else
(laundry, sleeping). My friend who works full time in a very
high-profile job has a full-time nanny and a cleaning lady – and she
proudly states that without their help, she'd be a mess! Another friend
home schools her FIVE kids – and she confesses her only time to herself
is reading a single chapter in a book before falling into bed at night.
Another friend works part-time from home while her kids run around, but
confesses that her house is an absolute disaster during the week.
Personally, I may have started working, but I've stopped doing lots
of other things. My house is nowhere near as neat as it used to be, I'm
rarely finding time to exercise or have time to myself and my family has been eating more take
out than I care to admit. Yet I constantly deal with guilt about not
"doing more."
We have a very unhealthy habit of comparing ourselves to each other.
We need to remember that NO ONE "does it all” and no one's life is
perfect.
We should never feel in adequate or inferior because of
something we don't do or don't have.
Life is just too short.
About Melissa
It is so true. I have been feeling so overwhelmed lately during the week because on the weekend I’m planning in my head everything I’ll do this week but only about 1/4 ever gets done. It’s very frustrating
Amen, lady. I am considering doing a blog post with pictures of my weed infested garden, dead potted plants, and piles of laundry…well….everywhere.
Very well said! I often have the mom guilt of not getting everything done, but have come to terms with that.
I am so glad that you said this. No man is an island…women who claim that they do it all are lying or take lots of anti-anxiety medication. Its hard to be a wife, mother, employee/business owner! I too have help! Otherwise my house would be dirty, the toilets never scrubbed and my personal time would be zero. Bravo! Thanks for keeping it REAL.
Such an important reminder! We have to just be proud of what we can accomplish and let go of the guilt. Easier said than done, yes, but totally necessary because you are right…Life is too short!
Ha! you’re right! I get the same question when ppl hear about me, my 3 kids, my full-time job… and my answer is: I don’t do it all. I have a ft nanny and a mother’s helper 3x a week; and I’m strongly considering hiring back the cleaning lady!
So, so true. *letting out a deep sigh* Too often I beat myself up for not being able to do it all. Forgetting, all too often, that no one else does it all either. Thanks for the reminder.