Moms running their own businesses are scheduling ninjas. We’re basically trying to fit two lives into one day. Let me know if you can relate:
Typical start of the day
In the morning, while everyone is getting fed and ready for school, I’m busy checking and replying to emails. Then, we’re all hustling out the door so everyone can get to where they need to be. After that I’m coming back home in time for meetings.
Mid-day power hours
I can’t forget that coffee isn’t actually a meal and I need to feed myself at some point. And since I’m making my breakfast … er, brunch really… I should probably also just take a few and clean the dishes and kitchen. But, I HAVE to make sure I use my mid-day power hours to get through most of what I need to do. “Don’t get distracted,” I have to remind myself.
Afterschool gauntlet
Then, wait, what??? How is that possible? It’s time to head out the door and grab kids already?!? Okay, first child – got them! Now, off to child #2… and away we all zip to afterschool activities. When we get home life shifts to homework, prepping for tomorrow, dinner, showers… the list goes on.
Bedtime and beyond
Finally, everyone is in bed and I can get to the rest of the work I needed to do during the offline hours. Oh, and answering some more emails.
Tap dancing on the double-edged sword of flexibility
Do I love that I (usually) manage to fit everything in and be there with my kids to share in so much of their days… ABSOLUTELY. Does it wear me down when I have to pack it all in without deep focus time available on the regular… ABSOLUTELY. As moms running businesses, I feel like the things we sacrifice the most are our own boundaries. Or, really, that what used to be solid boundaries are now very fuzzy with a lot of splashing back and force. Work. Play. Work and play. Play and work. Bedtime.
Blocking out the weekends
My biggest challenge as a mom running businesses is reminding myself to REALLY block out my weekends. It’s too easy to cram work in that I’d wanted to get to during the week into the two days my partner is home. But then, I’m sacrificing our weekend family time together with ALL of us. Our kids’ childhoods are going by fast and I know that THESE are the “good ol’ days.”
Maybe you can relate?