What I’ve Learned After 5 Years As A Working Mom

This is going to be my sixth Mother’s Day. My son was just 4 weeks old my first Mother’s Day. I remember that day so vividly. We got dressed up, and I was so excited for bottomless mimosas. We packed so many bottles and our little guy literally slept in the carseat the entire brunch. For our family photos that day, we just plopped the carseat on the table. You know what they say about waking a sleeping baby. We didn’t dare disturb him.

I’ve been a mom for five years and have been a solopreneur for 9 years. I am so grateful for the flexibility and freedom that entrepreneur life affords, but it is HARD! As a mom and entrepreneur, no two days are the same. It definitely keeps me on my toes and I’ve learned a lot along the way. Here are six of them:

There’s No Such Thing As Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is a myth you guys. It sounds good, makes for good clickbait, but true balance just isn’t realistic. There needs to be some sort of give and take, but trying to balance everything 50/50 creates too much pressure.

Some days I have big projects or deadline and work requires a lot of of me. Some days my son is sick or has to get stitches in his forehead (yep, that happened last summer) and needs more of my time.

The goal is always to have things balance out overall. I make an effort to wake up early to work so I can spend some time with my son in the morning and can end the day at a normal time to have dinner as a family.

Prioritize WHAT’S IMPORTANT

To-do lists are a wonderful thing. Especially with mom brain, you’ve got to write things down before you forget. But there is just no way to do everything on your list.

Each day, write down the top three things you want to accomplish at work. Focus on those top priorities first. The to-do list is always growing and can be overwhelming if you let it. By prioritizing the tasks that really matter, you can still leave your day feeling productive even when you still have countless things on your list.

Be Present

When you are in work mode, be all in on your work. When you are parenting or playing teacher, be fully present in that. It will leave you feeling more calm and you will actually be more productive.

Ask For Help

You know the saying “it takes a village”. And it is so true. Wherever you can find help, ask for it! From your spouse, your family, your friends. And if someone offers to help, for the love of god, take it!

At work, think about what you can take off of your plate to give you more time to focus on the tasks that only you can do—both at home and work. Are there any tasks you can outsource?

It doesn’t matter if you can do it or if you think you’ll do it better. Just be grateful for the help and graciously say yes. If you are too proud to accept help, people will stop offering.

There’s No Place For Judgement

You do you, girl. That is my motto when it comes to other moms. We all have things we said we would never do when we have kids that go out the window when the reality of parenthood hits. Until you are in it, never say never. I am typing this blog post while my son is in his room watching the iPad. This from the parents who avoided all screens for over 18 months. If another parent makes different choices than us, that is totally fine. They aren’t my kids and they aren’t my son’s parent. We are all doing the best we can.

Find Something Just For You

The word self-care is so overused and while I don’t think you need bubble baths or face masks or spa days, I do think it is so important to have something that’s just for you. Whether it’s a hobby, a sport, bookclub, etc. it is good for everyone in the family to have something just for them. For me that is spinning. I teach spinning and it is a physical, creative and social outlet for me.

Before I became a mom endurance sports was a big part of my life. Running, cycling, etc. After becoming a mom it took me awhile to get into my groove. Between juggling work and family and constantly changing schedules, I just couldn’t prioritize that part of my life, but I needed to. I wrote a little more about that experience here.

Happy Mother’s Day

Wishing all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day. Whether you are a stay-at-home-mom, working mom, or something in between, this is so hard. What have you learned along the way? I know I have so much more to learn, so give it to me! Cheers to you!