SAY HELLO TO THE 21ST CENTURY WOMAN — Part 2: Finding Solutions
It is not easy being a mom; trying to juggle a full-time job with family life. The integration between both lifestyles can be tough and sometimes, it may even seem impossible with tight schedules, deadlines to meet and of course, your family to care for. The craziest thing is that you have to remain sane through all of these. We can all agree that remaining sane is the biggest challenge of it all. So here are some tips to deal with the struggles of being a working mom.
Generate a meal plan
Creating a meal plan takes stress off you. Create a meal plan and paste it where others can see it. You may have to cook some meals ahead and refrigerate until consumption time. Following a meal plan can sound boring but it really isn’t. Creating such a routine means from time to time, you have to include some twists and change the menu at regular intervals, maybe once or twice a month. The advantage of a meal plan is that you do not have to stress too much about meals especially after a long day at work or a tight schedule for the next day.
Plan bulk shopping
This should be basic knowledge and cannot be over-emphasized. Baby wipes, toilet soaps, extra toothbrushes, towels, writing materials, the list goes on. Heaven knows you may run out of supplies when you least expect so choose bulk shopping over impulse or emergency shopping. It saves you time and money.
Get backstage Support
Getting backstage support is not a crime! Honestly, some people think getting help makes you less of a woman but in reality, you are strong enough to see when you need help and ask for it. In most cases, people who criticize the most, do get support from family and friends but act like they do it all on their own when they see someone else getting a domestic staff. The truth is, getting support includes family and friends, nannies, housekeepers and also involves sharing parental roles with your partner. You can also invest in quality child care services for little ones and the choices for such decisions should be based on informed referrals and deep reflection on important details such as the ratio of care given to each child, quality of care, the attention given and so on.
Take advantage of office policies
Most organizations allow for casual and annual leaves; take advantage of them. Trust me, the organization will be fine in your absence, so take time off and indulge yourself. Some organizations also organize camping trips for children; take advantage of such events to keep the kids busy, happy and give you some alone time.
Make up for your absence
Instead of worrying about the number of hours you spend without them, focus on having fun with your family when you are with them. Put away the laptops and smartphones and, surely, emails can wait. Let your children snuggle with you in bed for a while during the weekends, have them around you in the kitchen. Paint together, get into their world and laugh together.
Most importantly, enjoy the choice you have made to be a working mum. While some mums at work wish they were home, some mums at home wish they were in a corporate environment. But, whatever you do, always remember, motherhood is a beautiful lifestyle.