Finding Balance
June 11th, 2010 | 
Author: By Beth, Contributor, Funky Mama Bird
It’s 3pm, the teething baby is wrapped around my leg, simultaneously bouncing up and down and licking my knee. A cat is trying to get into my lap while the other one hurls on the floor behind me. Before I can turn around, a chat box opens on my computer and an irritated editor pops up wondering where that piece on faucet repair is.
Life as a WAHM is complete chaos and I completely love it.
A typical day starts with supervising breakfast while I do research at the kitchen table. This translates to typing with one hand, while the other hand blocks food that is about to be thrown on the floor. I have made an art form of watching my computer screen while simultaneously watching my son out of the corner of my eye. He waits until he doesn’t think I’m looking to try to pitch a piece of waffle and like a hockey goalie, I block and return.
I do two things at once pretty much all day. I’m composing a marketing email in my head while I push cars on the rug making beeping sounds. I make a game of vacuuming the house; first I chase Gunne Bear with the vacuum, then he chases me. Then we both go chase the cats so they don’t feel left out.
The only breaks I get are when I rock my son before nap and bedtime. When my husband says to me, “What would you like to do tonight?” like he does every night after dinner, I can only stare at him in exhaustion. Somehow, I hear him and yet it’s like Mr. Potato Head came to life and started making sounds; something doesn’t add up.
The thing is, I chose this life and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I think that every Mom, every family finds their own balance. Whether Dad stays home and Mom works, both parents work out of the home or at the home, every family does what they have to, to make it work for them.
I often feel like the Speed Racer theme song plays in the background as I race through my day, but I honestly don’t think I could be any happier. At the end of the day, my son is cared for and happy, my home is clean and I’ve satisfied my editors enough that I can feel the satisfaction of a job well done. At the end of the day, going to bed at night I feel so lucky to have achieved this kind of balance for myself. I lead a charmed life; I make it that way and I know it.
Related Posts via Categories
- Super Bowl XLVI – Game Changers
- Is Mom Going Back To School? 5 Strategies to Help Organize!
- A Surprise is Coming Your Way in the Mail… But it’s a New Tax Form
Posted in 
Tags: 
I can totally empathize with the Speed Racer analogy. I work full time outside of the home right now and I feel like I’m running 100 mph during the week. I chuckled about your husband looking like Mr. Potato Head – how can we be expected to have energy to be social in the evenings? LOL. Thanks for sharing.
I know. My husband comes home after the baby is in bed, and assumes that I want to party. Only if “party” is synonymous with “have-some-wine-and-go-to-sleep”!
I was a WAHM for almost 3 years. I found it both extremely stressful and very satisfying. I loved that I could be home with my daughter, but it was very difficult to find 30 hours a week to focus on work. I will be forever grateful to my former employer for allowing me that opportunity. The experience has given me even more respect for WAHM’s. It is a tough job to do and do well!
It is tough to do. I think it’s actually given me more respect for all working moms and SAHMs. No job is easy!
I used to think that I would make a pitch to work at home so I could be there with my child. And now I think working at home still sounds good, cause of the wearing sweats all day thing, but I’d probably have to ship her to her grandmothers anyway, because I would not get anything done with her there. Naps? Don’t last long enough. And when she’s awake, she demands constant attention. I don’t know how you WAHM’s do it. I applaud your dedication and focus.