Things I wish I knew sooner about being a working mom!
There are so many things that surprised me about being a working mom. There were also many things that could have made my life easier if I would've known about them. Here is a list of things I wish I knew sooner and I hope it helps even one working mom out there.
You will never be "caught-up" and you will have to find a way to deal with that.
Saying "no" will allow you to commit more fully to your "yes."
Kids crave routines. The more predictable their life is, the less they fight you on the normal daily activities.
Quality time is better than quantity. The quality time I get with my kids in the 3 hours between pickup and bed time is more than what I got with them when I stayed home with them all day. I'm more intentional and I fully give them my attention.
A fulfilling career makes me a better mom. “A happy mother is a good mother, and if work makes you hum, your whole family sings along.” – Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober
Meals don't have to be complicated to be delicious or nutritious. For someone who loves cooking, this one can be tough. I like to cook big meals but its not always realistic during the week.
I need a workout more than I need an extra 30 minutes of sleep. I started working out regularly in the mornings 3 weeks ago and it's been so good for me. I have really bad sleep problems so I used to make excuses for sleeping in a little longer. However, the workout is far better for my energy than the little bit of extra sleep.
Getting up before your kids is a game changer. Getting even a few minutes of time to yourself in the morning is blissful. Plus, sometimes I would get annoyed when I would still be in bed and the kids came to wake me. I don't want to start my days off like that.
Half your problems would be solved if you went to bed sooner. Sleep is important. You are important. Prioritize sleep.
I can't do it all. I can't be everything for everyone. Ask for help before you get bunt out or in a mental health crisis.
You will often think "I don't know how I can keep going" and then you do. The chaos of rushing to drop kids off at multiple schools, then rushing to work, then rushing to run an errand at lunch time, then rushing to pick the kids up from an activity, then rushing home to make supper and then repeating that each day can be difficult on anyone's mental health. That's why It's so important to take time for yourself. Take paid time off days - never let them expire. Schedule a weekend away once in a while. Take a few hours on the weekends to pamper yourself. You HAVE to do these things to maintain your sanity.
As difficult as many things about being a working mother are, I love my job and I love the life/future I am helping create for my kids. I like showing them they can also do hard things. I like showing my daughter that she can do anything she wants when she grows up. There are plenty of hard things about being a working mom but there are so many great things too! Keep going mama, you are stronger than you think!
Be a badass mom AND a badass career woman. <3
