Mom Struggles – Life Balance

Nobody is perfect – something I must remind myself every day. Every mom struggles with something and no mom can do everything. Something starts to slip when you focus on something else. There is absolutely no way to do everything.

If you are into astrology, you’ll know that a Virgo is a perfectionist. I fit that description to a tee. I innately want to project absolute perfection all the time. It is something that I’ve been working on because I know not everything can be perfect. I get so many comments about how do you do it all? Well, to be frank, I don’t.

Only 24 Hours in a Day

There are only 24 hours in a day, and I thought, for the longest time, I could do everything in those 24 hours. I can play with my kids, spend time with my husband, work a demanding full-time job, do some freelance work, keep the house in order, workout and sleep. Well no. Let’s do the math:

  • 15 minutes to get ready for the gym
  • 5 minutes to the gym
  • 2 hours working out – yes competing requires about this much a day
  • 5 minutes back home from the gym
  • 1 hour to get ready for work, which includes eating breakfast
  • 15 minutes to work – I am lucky to live very close to work so my commute in Atlanta traffic is minimal
  • 9 hours minimum at work (with 1 hour for lunch)
  • 30 minutes to pick up kids after work
  • 1 hour to cook dinner 
  • 30 minutes to eat dinner
  • 1 hour to play with the kids and an additional hour for putting their stuff in order and cleaning
  • 1 hour to do freelance work
  • 1 hour spending time with husband
  • 35 minutes to get ready for bed
  • 8 hours sleep – what is recommended by doctors

Grand Total – 27.25 Hours.

Well, that is impossible. It doesn’t even include “Mommy Time” which is much needed in my stressful life. So, what should I give up in my life right now? Can’t give up time at work. Working out is a no go since I compete. And I try not to decrease the amount of time I spend with my family because my kids are little for a short amount of time. Spending time with my hubby is important for our marriage.

So, what are my mom struggles?

Well, it is sleep and a clean house.

mom struggles - cleaningMy house used to be immaculate. Not a dust speck or a piece of hair on the floor – even with a black lab in the house. Everything had its place too. Now, if you go through my house, you’d ask, what pig lives here? I stuff toys into cabinets with no sort of order…if I can. Sometimes, the toys just stay on the floor until the next day when the kids play with it. Dust? Yep, everywhere.

mom strugglesSleep? Oh, what I would give for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I think mom’s everywhere can commiserate with this one. I don’t remember a day where I got 8 hours of sleep since Aiden was born. But, with working out in the morning, my sleep has been cut even more. I’m lucky if I can get 5 and half hours.

To all my mom’s out there wondering how any mom can do it all. She is not. There is no way. Something is giving in her life. What are your mom struggles?