"Life's a great balancing act" - Dr Seuss

As a mom, life is hectic, not sometimes, pretty much all the time. Today, I had a little reminder that sometimes it's important to stop and take a moment to step back and look at my life and everything that is going on, after I showed up an hour late for my son's hour long art class, a highlight of his week. Now, sitting here writing this post, I realize I have reached maximum capacity, and it's time to start recognizing my limits. After all, one can only wear so many hats!

I have written before about being heavily involved with the Parent Advisory Council at my daughter's school, as well as just recently beginning work with a Fashion Sales Rep, which took me to Edmonton in September, and has kept me busy working from home since. I haven't, however, listed off all the extracurricular activities my kids take part in almost each day of the week. Nor should I, because my life is not dissimilar to most parents I know; it seems there are never enough hours in the day.

The greatest test is being sure everything is balanced, and that as a parent, you take time for you, too. Recognizing you're overwhelmed is hard, and usually doesn't happen until after the fact. When it does, though, taking time for simple pleasures like a warm bath or a cup of coffee, or even going for a solo bike ride, are small things that cost little to no money. It's also very important for couples to take time away from being parents together. Setting aside the time and money for a night off with childcare can sometimes seem like more trouble than it's worth, but believe me, that time is worth more than you can ever imagine. Not only do you get to reconnect with your partner without having to keep one eye on your kids, but you appreciate the nice times you have with your children, making the arguments, misbehaviour and stress seem to fade away.

Being a parent is hard work, just ask any of your childless friends who listen as you list off all of your many daily and weekly tasks. They see the stress in our faces, and many of my friends marvel at how I find the energy to get up in the morning sometimes. It's all about balance, and after being reminded today that I was about to lose my balance, I'm off to rest, recoup, and enjoy a warm cup of coffee!

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains." Oh, Dr Seuss, such a wise man!

Quotation from Dr Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go"