Comments on: My mom thinks I’m crazy for trying to do it all… http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/ Thoughts and commentary on the daily juggle betweek work and family Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:33:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Shannon http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-17043 Shannon Thu, 29 May 2008 18:12:57 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-17043 I dropped the career ball (for now; and yes, I do believe I'll be able to find work again when I want it) for the very reasons/stress you mention. I know myself and know that I could NEVER survive trying to juggle babies, house management, healthy cooking and food-shopping, cleaning, and demanding career at the same time. Never. The stress would kill me. So, when I had my first daughter, I left full-time work for part-time, then left part-time for occasional freelance writing and consulting. By dropping the "demanding career" ball, I have allowed myself to be able to keep the parenting, cooking, cleaning, and household management balls firmly in the air. Just what worked for me. (note: this was not easy financially, however.) I dropped the career ball (for now; and yes, I do believe I’ll be able to find work again when I want it) for the very reasons/stress you mention. I know myself and know that I could NEVER survive trying to juggle babies, house management, healthy cooking and food-shopping, cleaning, and demanding career at the same time. Never. The stress would kill me. So, when I had my first daughter, I left full-time work for part-time, then left part-time for occasional freelance writing and consulting. By dropping the “demanding career” ball, I have allowed myself to be able to keep the parenting, cooking, cleaning, and household management balls firmly in the air.

Just what worked for me. (note: this was not easy financially, however.)

]]> By: SoftwareMom http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16932 SoftwareMom Sun, 25 May 2008 10:14:08 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16932 I have scaled back the career -- left the management track and now work half-time as a contractor. As a result of working, part of the childcare (20 hr/wk) is done by a nanny. Outsourced the cleaning AND the laundry. My husband has taken over cooking the main dish (usually chicken or pork) for dinner. We eat at 8pm and don't have fruit or vegetables unless I jump in and make side dishes. As a result, my life is much less stressed than most of the bloggers here. I guess I place a higher value on enjoying these years than on reaching my potential professionally. I have scaled back the career — left the management track and now work half-time as a contractor.

As a result of working, part of the childcare (20 hr/wk) is done by a nanny.

Outsourced the cleaning AND the laundry.

My husband has taken over cooking the main dish (usually chicken or pork) for dinner. We eat at 8pm and don’t have fruit or vegetables unless I jump in and make side dishes.

As a result, my life is much less stressed than most of the bloggers here. I guess I place a higher value on enjoying these years than on reaching my potential professionally.

]]> By: Sharon http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16874 Sharon Fri, 23 May 2008 12:06:22 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16874 Some days I think you mom may be right. It feels a little like everything is half done. Sort of clean house, sort of accomplished what I wanted to at work, sort of spent time with my husband. I have let things go recently to do more with the kids. Ride bikes or watch a movie or just be together. Some days I think you mom may be right. It feels a little like everything is half done. Sort of clean house, sort of accomplished what I wanted to at work, sort of spent time with my husband. I have let things go recently to do more with the kids. Ride bikes or watch a movie or just be together.

]]> By: Jenni http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16863 Jenni Thu, 22 May 2008 21:20:22 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16863 Definitely housekeeping for me too. I also decided to no longer be on my Sunday School class's leadership team. Most of my class is made up of singles and I just don't have the time to devote to it that they want me to devote to it. I haven't gone to my Bible Study recently, but now that school is out and there is no longer that rush of everything that has to be done for Friday...maybe I will go again. Although next week I'm out of town on business and the following week my 2nd job starts up again and I have to work on the night that bible study is. So probably not. Definitely housekeeping for me too.

I also decided to no longer be on my Sunday School class’s leadership team. Most of my class is made up of singles and I just don’t have the time to devote to it that they want me to devote to it.

I haven’t gone to my Bible Study recently, but now that school is out and there is no longer that rush of everything that has to be done for Friday…maybe I will go again. Although next week I’m out of town on business and the following week my 2nd job starts up again and I have to work on the night that bible study is. So probably not.

]]> By: Lee http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16859 Lee Thu, 22 May 2008 20:05:11 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16859 ...we totally let the housecleaning go. At least, I do.My hubby's a bit of a neatnik and he gets a little freaked out but lately we just get to it less frequently. There are toys all over the living room floor (and pieces of toys are missing and I can't FIND them), and I haven't cleaned/vacuumed in forever. I've also been 'phoning in' dinners. Hotdogs, indeed, Nataly. And pizza and fish sticks and Applebees. Sigh. …we totally let the housecleaning go. At least, I do.My hubby’s a bit of a neatnik and he gets a little freaked out but lately we just get to it less frequently. There are toys all over the living room floor (and pieces of toys are missing and I can’t FIND them), and I haven’t cleaned/vacuumed in forever.

I’ve also been ‘phoning in’ dinners. Hotdogs, indeed, Nataly. And pizza and fish sticks and Applebees. Sigh.

]]> By: Jan http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16857 Jan Thu, 22 May 2008 18:18:19 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16857 Housekeeping (though I've never been great with that, so I don't know that I dropped that ball so much as never really having picked it up). I'm not recommending this, but staying fit has fallen by the wayside in a big way. I rarely socialize outside of work unless I can include my kids in it. I have recently started one night a week where I stay at work through dinnertime, then go straight to a weekly evening activity. My husband feeds the kids dinner and puts them to bed. One night a week of that I OK with me, and it gives me some nice catch-up time in the office at a time when there aren't many people around to distract me. Housekeeping (though I’ve never been great with that, so I don’t know that I dropped that ball so much as never really having picked it up).

I’m not recommending this, but staying fit has fallen by the wayside in a big way.

I rarely socialize outside of work unless I can include my kids in it.

I have recently started one night a week where I stay at work through dinnertime, then go straight to a weekly evening activity. My husband feeds the kids dinner and puts them to bed. One night a week of that I OK with me, and it gives me some nice catch-up time in the office at a time when there aren’t many people around to distract me.

]]> By: Kate http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16856 Kate Thu, 22 May 2008 17:52:52 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16856 i think i may be on the verge of giving up SOMETHING (anything?) in favor of a weekly cleaning person. the mess is driving me insane and leading to many empty threats about weekend cleaning frenzies that rarely ever materialize. i also like your idea for lawn service, i keep hoping a neighborhood kid will come around and offer to cut the grass for like $10 a week :) i think i may be on the verge of giving up SOMETHING (anything?) in favor of a weekly cleaning person. the mess is driving me insane and leading to many empty threats about weekend cleaning frenzies that rarely ever materialize.
i also like your idea for lawn service, i keep hoping a neighborhood kid will come around and offer to cut the grass for like $10 a week :)

]]> By: Robyn http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16852 Robyn Thu, 22 May 2008 16:56:28 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16852 The best decision I ever made was to outsource the housecleaning. If I could afford I daily housekeeper to totally manage the house, I would. But for now the weekly housecleaning is enough to keep me sane. We are landscaping the front and back yards this summer, so a gardener will be added to the list. Although this doesnt save me any time - I think my spouse will appreciate never having to mow the lawn again. I've tried using meal services, but found that cooking actually relaxes me so I keep that on my priority list. Although, I have only made it to the gym three times in the last year - so clearly I need to work on that one. The best decision I ever made was to outsource the housecleaning. If I could afford I daily housekeeper to totally manage the house, I would. But for now the weekly housecleaning is enough to keep me sane.

We are landscaping the front and back yards this summer, so a gardener will be added to the list. Although this doesnt save me any time - I think my spouse will appreciate never having to mow the lawn again.

I’ve tried using meal services, but found that cooking actually relaxes me so I keep that on my priority list.

Although, I have only made it to the gym three times in the last year - so clearly I need to work on that one.

]]> By: Lylah http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16846 Lylah Thu, 22 May 2008 14:49:49 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16846 Housecleaning, definitely. I know I should outsource it, but I'm in that classic rock-and-a-hard-place position of feeling like I don't have the money to pay a housecleaner right now. Housecleaning, definitely. I know I should outsource it, but I’m in that classic rock-and-a-hard-place position of feeling like I don’t have the money to pay a housecleaner right now.

]]> By: Kate http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16842 Kate Thu, 22 May 2008 13:36:13 +0000 http://www.workitmom.com/blog/2008/05/21/my-mom-thinks-im-crazy-for-trying-to-do-it-all/#comment-16842 yeah, messy house is probably the big winner here too! that and sporatic healthy meals - mostly healthy 'snack foods' like hummus and crackers that my snackloving family is fine with for 'dinner' (as long as there is maybe some popcorn later on) - hey it's better than fast food! of course this also means sporatic family dinner time. mostly it's my commute/career that doenst often let me get home 7ish most nights and it's just not fair to make a toddler wait that long for dinner! however, we DO usually sit down and they have an after dinner snack while i have my dinner and we all chat about our days. All in the compromise... yeah, messy house is probably the big winner here too! that and sporatic healthy meals - mostly healthy ’snack foods’ like hummus and crackers that my snackloving family is fine with for ‘dinner’ (as long as there is maybe some popcorn later on) - hey it’s better than fast food! of course this also means sporatic family dinner time. mostly it’s my commute/career that doenst often let me get home 7ish most nights and it’s just not fair to make a toddler wait that long for dinner!
however, we DO usually sit down and they have an after dinner snack while i have my dinner and we all chat about our days. All in the compromise…

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