The Mother Juggle

Do You Balance or Juggle?

You’re always hearing and reading about having a good balance in motherhood.  Balancing parenting with me-time.  Or work time with housework.  But I never quite feel in balance.  Trying to balance homeschooling, working from home, special needs parenting, me-time, and my relationship seems like an impossibility.  For a true “balance,” those aspects of my life would have to carry equal weight – equal importance.  And they don’t.  Not at all.  They shift and switch and change importance every day.  Sometimes by the minute.  When one thing takes importance, another falls behind.  Like the quickly moving balls of a master juggler.

Mastering the Juggle

This juggling act is exhausting, right?  Sometimes one of those balls takes importance, hovers awhile, while I catch a breath.  I almost feel like I’m in control.  And then I see another ball about to drop and swiftly move to catch it and toss it to the top.

I’ve thought about letting some of the balls just drop.  Bounce away… making the rest easier to handle.  Often that’s the “HOMESCHOOLING” ball.  I have a hectic day week; the kids resist school-time; the toddler keeps distracting the oldest; the math curriculum I spent $300 on isn’t working; and I just want to watch that ball bounce away.

Seeing the Entire Act

Then I realize ALL of the balls are not only important, but essential in my little big, beautiful juggling act.

Without one, the entire act is altered.  It’s not as effective.  It’s not as rewarding.  It’s not as spectacular.  And when one ball gets frustrating/boring/tiring, I can toss another up a little higher and catch a breath.  I keep my focus on the whole act – this crazy, awesome circus, and know that every ball is worth it in the end.

How Other Homeschooling Moms Juggle

Make sure to visit the other iHomeschool Network moms to learn how they’re juggling, too.  From juggling homeschooling with toddlers to working outside the home to housework, they’ve got it all covered.  And it’s a beautiful circus overall!

 

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