Somehow all mum’s learn it. We have to. Whether it’s juggling the appointments on the calendar so that all our little darlings end up in the right place at the right time; juggling the housework, the homework and the husband; or juggling a screaming baby in one arm whilst holding the phone in the other and putting shoes on a toddler with that magical third hand all us mums have. Mums are well skilled jugglers of their worlds. I’m sure you agree.
When considering what to write about in this article, it struck me that January can be quite a tough month to juggle for parents. Christmas has come and gone, the decorations are down and the festivities have passed. It’s back to school, back to work and back to reality. A reality of dark mornings, short days, cold, wet and windy weather and more often than not, empty bank accounts.
It’s agreed that January is the least looked-forward-to month of the year, SAD is at it’s peak and for most, life so often seems arduous. I can identify, can you? I know when I feel like this I’m not functioning at my best as ‘mum’ and when ‘mum’s’ not on top form, juggling become tough and balls get dropped, even by the best. That’s why this January I’ve committed myself to reconsider the ways I juggle life and look forward with eager anticipation and positivity. I shall divide and conquer from the outset, (she hopes!).
I’ve been considering a couple of common situations I juggle in my day to day life and I’ve taken a moment to think about ways I can juggle them well in the light of January. Obviously my plan is that I shall be victorious, calm and collected as I move into February!
Picture this…
Situation 1 – we’re up late, breakfast is on-the-go (again) and the day is crammed full; school drop off, baby music group, swimming lessons, coffee with the mum-in-law, school pick up and a play date, the other half is working late and lastly I’ve got a committee meeting to attend in the evening. It’s cold and wet outside, my toddler doesn’t want to wear his coat and the thoughts run through my mind, how on earth am I going to get to the end of the day without yelling at the kids or needing to lie down in a dark room to recover from toing and froing of the day?
My juggling well recipe for ‘crazy busy days (where burn out or world war 3 could quite easily ensue)’ in January….cancel the coffee, cancel the play date, maybe even skip the music group, swimming lesson and committee meeting. Instead, I’m going to light the fire, sit on the sofa and snuggle up with the little ones. A duvet day once in a while is a healthy retreat, a welcome moment of stillness which invites peace in the chaos. Of no worth will you or I be to those around us if we consistently run ourselves ragged with ‘stuff’ in our calendars. Taking the pressure off ourselves to meet everyone else’s expectations will bring freedom which in turn will enable us to juggle the demanding nature of family life well without disaster.
Situation 2 – the month of birthdays, the car needing its annual servicing and the kids termly activities bill. The bank account looks bleak and I’m just not sure how we’re going to pay for it all. Every limb is crossed in the hope that the car doesn’t have any major issue brewing under the bonnet and I really don’t want to say ‘no’ to the kids and see their faces disappointed. The pressure of finance seems like a heavy weight on my shoulders. Oh and just one other thing, I should also probably start thinking about how we’re going to pay the final instalment on our summer holiday.
Financial pressure has a way of niggling at our very core, making us feel weak and wobbly. Thoughts of ‘will it really be ok?’ running through our minds in the middle of the night. My homemade remedy that I’ll be using in January is…get exercising self control, stick to the budget and don’t over spend. Make a homemade gift and look at Pinterest for inspiration! It’s the thought that counts and you and I have an opportunity for the life lessons of kindness and giving to be so tangibly shared together with our children. I read a proverb recently that said ‘it’s better to have soup with someone you love than steak with someone you hate! I’m a firm believer in taking a moment to consider and realign my perspective, so maybe, just maybe, less really is more.
So, I challenge you master mummy jugglers to join me, change your outlook, give yourself a break, make some memories with the kids and enjoy January 2016.
