Conscious Parenting & Empowered Kids

Desperately Seeking Balance

I used to think a day off was a day where I did nothing for anyone else but myself!  Maybe that’s why in my 20’s I took so very few days off.  Recently I’ve had the chance to really look at what it means to be a professional, a wife and a mother. One of our Presidential Election figures is being “hailed” as a woman who can have it all.  Honestly, I know I’ve been living “I can have it all” and while on some level I still believe that’s true, I’m not sure any of us can ever have it all…all at once.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening “off” preparing several dinner entrees for my family this week, assisting my 7 year old with her homework (a very important class show and tell project) as well as taking her to dance class, and returning to pick her up early because she asked if I’d watch the class.  At the end of the day one might say “how was that a day off?” I’m not sure “off” is the right word to begin with.  What I do know is that at the end of the day taking down my daughter’s hair and rubbing her back as she fell asleep I was peaceful and satisfied.  I felt renewed and refreshed.  I felt like I’d been fully present on this afternoon with my ever changing, growing up so fast right before my eyes daughter.  It was a newly defined day off as I strive for and claim more balance in my life. Perhaps that’s truly living a balanced life as I hurry off to another day where what happens at my jobs takes all of my attention for the next 12 hours…………hummmmm-still desperately seeking balance day by day.