Working at Home and Mom-ing at Home: Finding the Balance

Written on April 17th, 2009 at 5:47 am by Marya

There is a current discussion at Twitter Moms about finding the balance between working at home and taking care of your family. This question has been one of my favorite things to ask on our Buzz-A-Mom projects. Successful work at home moms say pretty much the same thing. Find the “big rocks”, the important stuff and understand that you just can’t do everything.

The past nine weeks as a Moms Talk Network have really been a learning experience in more ways than one. In order to accommodate the ten hour a week commitment, other things had to slide. I kept up with homeschooling my kids, got some exercise and my power naps in (I do have my priorities!) I’ve also been sick three times and suffered through a five night bout of insomnia. My husband announced his plan to go solo with his business. I’ve been using the pressure cooker a lot for dinner. The house is a little messier than before. I haven’t watched LOST since the internship started and I don’t spend much time on Facebook.

Unfortunately my time with dh has slipped and so have my quiet times. These are big rocks and I do need to make time for them. How do you find the balance? I’d love for the other interns to comment!
photo credit: tibchris

5 Responses to “Working at Home and Mom-ing at Home: Finding the Balance”

Christie

1 year ago

Great post Marya! Getting the 10 hours a week in for the intern blog has definitely been a challenge for me some weeks, depending on how I was feeling, if our surrogate was having issues (like this week), or we were away.

I can’t even imagine homeschooling too! Or for that matter, having a baby, as ours is still a few weeks away.

To prepare, I have asked our housecleaner to come every week so I don’t have to deal with that crap. My hubby is also taking off 16 weeks of parental leave. Sp I am sure we can get through the first couple of weeks.

I think this internship has helped me learn how to get blogging done late at night and prepare a few day’s worth of posts at a time. When I start my own blog, I am always going to be a few days behind, in case I need to be!

Christies last blog post..Book Review – The Work at Home Success Bible

Cee Tindall

1 year ago

OH, great post, Marya! Yes, like Christie, I’m learning to value the quiet night when my family is sleeping in order to get my work done. Some days I just can’t get near the computer due to family – shall we say…. – hiccups. Yes, family hiccups!

The one lesson I’ve taken from the internship is to write while the iron is hot and schedule posts so that when I can’t get near the computer, my readers won’t miss me.

The biggest lesson I’ve had is “Life is what happens when we are living”.

You both have been such a blessing to get to know during this time. I look so forward to continuing relationships will all the interns of this class as the months and years pass.

Stephanie

1 year ago

Balance? What’s that? Like Cee I’ve mostly worked at night and I’ve let some things slide to work 10+ hours a week.

First to go a clean house – not that it was ever THAT clean with 3 kids running around! Next to go was sleep – well, to be honest I wasn’t getting much of that to begin with since I have a nursing infant. And last to go was writing on my own blog – not that I was terrible consistent writing there before.

I definitely don’t mean to sound like a Debbie Downer! You just have to figure out what your “big rocks” are and let everything else go. I’ve learned a LOT as Kelly’s intern that I will be applying to my own blogs in the coming weeks and months. This has been an experience I won’t forget! I also look forward to getting to know my fellow interns even better in the coming months.

AND leaving lots of comments for the new interns starting next month.

Alyssa

1 year ago

I had to giggle a bit because as a WAHM since January 2007 I totally let my house go ALL the time. It’s terrible, but I have learned my priorities and housework, just isn’t always at the top of my list. I do have some integral “routines” that keep things clean like “dishes” and “clothes” but other areas slack.

Great job to you interns I’ve enjoyed your posts.

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Working at Home and Mom-ing at Home: Finding the Balance : Moms … www.momstalknetwork.com - Twitoaster Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

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Christie

1 year ago

Great post Marya! Getting the 10 hours a week in for the intern blog has definitely been a challenge for me some weeks, depending on how I was feeling, if our surrogate was having issues (like this week), or we were away.

I can’t even imagine homeschooling too! Or for that matter, having a baby, as ours is still a few weeks away.

To prepare, I have asked our housecleaner to come every week so I don’t have to deal with that crap. My hubby is also taking off 16 weeks of parental leave. Sp I am sure we can get through the first couple of weeks.

I think this internship has helped me learn how to get blogging done late at night and prepare a few day’s worth of posts at a time. When I start my own blog, I am always going to be a few days behind, in case I need to be!

Christies last blog post..Book Review – The Work at Home Success Bible
Cee Tindall

1 year ago

OH, great post, Marya! Yes, like Christie, I’m learning to value the quiet night when my family is sleeping in order to get my work done. Some days I just can’t get near the computer due to family – shall we say…. – hiccups. Yes, family hiccups!

The one lesson I’ve taken from the internship is to write while the iron is hot and schedule posts so that when I can’t get near the computer, my readers won’t miss me.

The biggest lesson I’ve had is “Life is what happens when we are living”.

You both have been such a blessing to get to know during this time. I look so forward to continuing relationships will all the interns of this class as the months and years pass.
Stephanie

1 year ago

Balance? What’s that? Like Cee I’ve mostly worked at night and I’ve let some things slide to work 10+ hours a week.

First to go a clean house – not that it was ever THAT clean with 3 kids running around! Next to go was sleep – well, to be honest I wasn’t getting much of that to begin with since I have a nursing infant. And last to go was writing on my own blog – not that I was terrible consistent writing there before.

I definitely don’t mean to sound like a Debbie Downer! You just have to figure out what your “big rocks” are and let everything else go. I’ve learned a LOT as Kelly’s intern that I will be applying to my own blogs in the coming weeks and months. This has been an experience I won’t forget! I also look forward to getting to know my fellow interns even better in the coming months.

AND leaving lots of comments for the new interns starting next month.
Alyssa

1 year ago

I had to giggle a bit because as a WAHM since January 2007 I totally let my house go ALL the time. It’s terrible, but I have learned my priorities and housework, just isn’t always at the top of my list. I do have some integral “routines” that keep things clean like “dishes” and “clothes” but other areas slack.

Great job to you interns I’ve enjoyed your posts.

Working at Home and Mom-ing at Home: Finding the Balance : Moms … www.momstalknetwork.com - Twitoaster Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
[...] hours ago Working at Home and Mom-ing at Home: Finding the Balance : Moms … http://www.momstalknetwork.com/resources... [...]

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