In all honesty, “working mother” is in the wrong order. It should read as “A mother who also works”, because the mother aspect is first and foremost the most important role I will play in life, besides a follower of Christ and a daughter of the King.
More honesty. It’s hard - the balance, or the lack of. It’s hard to know when to quit, when you work in your home and you never really leave it. It’s hard to know when you should put the work aside, and just “be” with your child. It’s hard to answer emails, change diapers, post on social media for a client, make dinner, create art, do laundry, do charity work, try to brainstorm and actually have creative thinking, garden, discipline, date my husband, sing in the church choir, design a logo, clean the house, put a smile on my face, read the Word.
Perhaps the hardest of all, though, is the perceptions of other’s. It’s hard to say “no” to friends and family when they ask to do something, because do I actually ‘work’ if I’m always at home in their eyes? Pretty soon my entire week is filled if I’m not careful, and then where is the time for work, let alone the household chores? And where is the balance in that, when my heart also yearns for company in motherhood, and my daughter loves the attentions of others. So I set certain days that I must say no. Mondays are a must when it comes to setting up my work week. Besides Mondays, I try to only work during nap time, and nap time is forever changing. Evenings are for my family. Lunch is for being outside.
So, what keeps me working despite this imbalance? My love for what I do. My love for community, small business, watching dreams spring into action, having a front-row seat to a career taking off. Will I forever be able to continue both roles? Only God knows. For now, I rest in the joy of both roles, and pray He will direct my path.
XOXO,
Tami
