Confessions of a Working Mother: How I’m Striving to Cultivate All Aspects of my Life!

Here are some of the lessons I’ve been learning in the last ten months:

1. No matter what I do, there will never be enough time in the day and week. And that’s ok. Life, and particularly motherhood, is not a race.

2. Although I believe we have a special relationship, Jane does just fine without me while I work. In fact, I think it’s good for her to be around other people. Her Nana and Auntie Hil love her so much and she lights up when she sees them. I am so thankful for the time and attention they give to her and they teach her things that I forget about or have less patience for.

In fact, here are some of the things Jane learned from her Auntie Hil:

How to stick out her tongue over and over

To dance to ALL different kinds of music

To say (in her own little language) “Are you a….Chowhound?!”

And from her Nana:

How to climb stairs up AND down

To not touch things that are off limits

To “Ride the Horsey”

To clap and flap her arms like a little bird-it’s super cute!

That Mommy always comes back and it’s ok to be away from her

…and so much more!

3. For the first time in my life, I see little value in making lists. I know. Gasp!

But here’s why: See #1. There will never be enough time and something will UNDOUBTEDLY get in the way of my control-freak plan, so rather than beating myself up for not accomplishing all the little things, I’m trying to keep the important things at the forefront of my mind and go with the flow. The little things will work out. Or they won’t. And that’s ok.

4. My time at home is PRECIOUS and I try to take full advantage of my time with Jane.

5. At the end of the day, I feel more satisfied with a messy house and a happy child, husband, and dog, than with a clean house and a child that hasn’t had a story read to her, a husband who hasn’t been kissed and smiled at, and a dog dying for a walk. It’s really easy for me to sacrifice those things for clean laundry and a scrubbed toilet and it just isn't worth it!

6. Also, husbands seem a lot more excited to help scrub toilets on a home-cooked-meal-fed tummy!

7. My attitude truly does determine the mood of our home. When I am peaceful and loving to my family and to myself, everyone seems calm and happy. It’s amazing how a short prayer and decision to change my perspective can restart my day.

These are not lessons I have learned; they are lessons I am learning and it can be really challenging to keep a positive attitude, especially when I’m tired from working the night before, but it is worth it. I am so incredibly thankful for my job and family and the amazing people with whom I get to spend my time, especially my sweet little girl!