Thanksgiving weekend: Amidst the beautiful chaos of throwing a birthday party for my two-year-old, and trying to spend some quality I-give-thanks-for-these-people time with my stepchildren and husband, I was trying to clear a backlog of home paperwork (mostly bills), tidy at least one bathroom and juggle a number of work-related duties, including putting out calls and e-mails for the work-life balance project you’re reading about now. (I know, the irony.)
Life for me, as for many of you, is an absolute crazy whirlwind of competing responsibilities, needs and schedules: a mad rush in the morning to get everyone out the door, a sprint home to whisk the kids from their childcare arrangement before overtime charges kick in, 10 p.m. stints in the kitchen making tomorrow’s lunches and dinner.
For the most part, we manage to keep it together. But when one thing goes wrong – someone gets sick, the car breaks down, there’s a crisis at work – everything collapses and we are left scrambling. Anything over and above simply getting by seems an unachievable fantasy. I can’t imagine how difficult things must be for single parents, or families dealing with serious medical issues or financial problems.
I’m exhausted, overwhelmed and wondering: Is this what life’s like for other working parents out there?
So, this is my plea. If you have found some way to make it all work, can you share?
I see other women out there looking calm, well-dressed, coiffed. At peace. Happy, even. What’s the secret? A cleaning lady? A slow cooker? Meds?
This is a sincere quest for advice, tips, anything you can offer. On behalf of all the stressed out working parents out there: Help!
Join the discussion now on our comments thread.
