“Finding balance” is quite the catchphrase isn’t it? It sounds so lovely, as though one might just come across balance somewhere, and instantly become serene and peaceful.
Let me just tell you – serene is the exact OPPOSITE of what I feel right now. I absolutely feel like I’m drowning, and I’m not sure what to do about it.
Take yesterday, for example. I woke up late, rushed to get ready and get the kids to the sitters. Once they were in the sitter’s house, I had to go back outside to pick up the trail of shoes, socks and gloves that we somehow lost in the four steps between the car and the door. I got to work late, had a few minutes to check my email, and then started a marathon meeting at 9:00, from which I had to leave early, so I could make it to my 12:00 graduate class. The bright spot of the day is that the professor didn’t puke on me, which he nearly did the week before, so at least I had that going for me. My class ran 15 minutes over, so I had to grab pretzels, M&Ms, and Diet Coke out of the vending machine and call it lunch, and book it across campus to my 1:30 meeting. That meeting lasted right up until my 3:00 meeting, from which I also had to leave early to make it to my 4:00 class. When I finally arrived home at 7:00, I felt exhausted and absolutely spent.
When I finally fell into bed at 10:00, I couldn’t even stay awake for The Office. And that, people, is not a good sign.
So right now, finding balance seems completely impossible to me. I have a full-time job, a part-time blog, two kids and I’m taking six hours of graduate study. Oh, and I also have a husband. And a house. And food that needs cooked picked up.
I just feel like I’m not doing a good job at any of those things. I’m definitely not being a good friend – I’ve bowed out of more book club meetings and American Idol viewing parties than I care to think about. Andy and I haven’t had a night out in ages. And exercising? Yeah, not so much. (Sorry Shannan and Marcy – I am a sucky running buddy).
I know I’m not alone here, but surely some of you have tips on how to make it all work. How to find balance. Or at least how to keep all the balls in the air. So help me, please!
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This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by BOCA. Check out BOCA’s balanced living site to see how you can eat better to live better.
