Confession: I will read any article or book that talks about finding work life balance.
Needless to say, it’s not my life right now.
As a working parent, the idea of balance seems more like juggling to me. The pins (or torches, depending on the day) that are in the air require my attention and they get it—whether it’s my son’s football practice,
or booking a flight to meet a client,
or figuring out dinner.
I try to keep shuffling each pin, doing what is necessary for it to go back up into the air for a little while, so I can focus on the next pin. Sometimes I have only a few pins to keep up in the air. Most of the time, I have many.
The funny thing about all this juggling is that I secretly kind of like it. I like being able to give energy to completely different things every day. It makes this hectic life more interesting and, frankly, I’ve become pretty skilled at it. I think most parents are.
While I may complain about how challenging things are right now (ask my husband) and long for more ‘me time’ or ‘balance’, I know deep down that someday I’ll have that again. And when that day comes, my kids will be older and they won’t need me as much. They won’t need me to hold their hand as we walk,
or comfort them when they fall down,
or read to them,
or tuck them in at night.
So, for now, throw me another pin and watch me juggle.
