How do you balance your family and work?
It’s really hard being a mom trying to juggle a full-time job with family life. Foremost, I make my mornings easier, especially that I am currently on the evening shift. I avoid starting the day on exhaustion by getting organized the night before. Before I go to bed, I prepare my children‘s food for breakfast and their clothes or outfit in the morning.
This summer is less stressful for me because I don’t need to wake up too early for school as my eldest class starts at 7 a.m. My daughters usually wake up late in the morning, so more sleep for me. During school days, I have to run her bath and prepare her lunch for school. My husband arrives at 6:30 am and he’s the one sending my kids off to school. On the other hand, my toddler wakes up at around 10 in the morning and feeds her breakfast. Also, take a shower with me as her class starts at 12 noon at the same time, I have to leave early for work on a 12-noon shift.
However, stress-free days will soon be over because the new school year is fast approaching and I get a lot on my plate but I hope I can still manage to be on top of everything the most possible ways since I don’t have control over my work schedule.
Second, I communicate with my employer or TC when something is up, like when one of my children gets ill or in case of a family emergency. For me, communication is very important, and it is key to understanding.
Third, is limit distractions and time wasters, this is somewhat inevitable because I‘m sort of hooked up with social media where I connect with my friends, especially during my off but I think I have managed to limit socials on the internet because it is the major reason I don’t get my chores done. lol. So on weekends, since it’s, my husband‘s off, sometimes we watch Netflix together or we go somewhere with kids or just the two of us.
Fourth, I make certain to create enjoyable moments with my family like making artworks together or watching their favorite movies together. We also go to malls and look for some fun when we don’t have enough time for traveling. Many activities can be found in the mall-fun rides, artworks, painting, etc. But if we have enough time, we go to the swimming pool or go to the south for a dip in the sea while my children are enjoying playing in the sand, which they enjoy the most- the heat of the sun does not bother them, anyway.
Fifth, I spend time with my husband which has so many ways even small things not necessarily fancy all the time. And of course, we want to explore places together and experience all of them together.
Last but certainly not least, I make sure I have time for myself. As a working and hands-on mom, we must keep sane all the time. Yeah. So I throw away the guilt in my gut and indulge myself whatever I want, which is, of course, reasonable. Sometimes, I want to read books. When I have more “me-time,” I continue reading the book that I borrowed from a close friend. The name is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurie which is a Gothic novel, and which is by the way, overdue already. You can imagine how hectic my time is I wish I was 18 or 20 when I had all the time in this world. Kidding aside, I am happy that my kids came into my life. I felt a sense of purpose, and I know how it is to love genuinely. Anyway, I want to have a coffee and cake/dessert in a coffee/pastry shop by myself or getting my nails done or stress-eating or trying out foods that are in the trend on Instagram and Facebook. lol. Why not? It makes our taste buds explore more than what it has already tasted. haha. It also feels great experiencing different cafes. Also, I enjoy window shopping. It is such a womanly feeling haha. Most of all, ending my day off with a great massage is perfect! It keeps my sanity. haha.
Name at least 1 challenging part you encountered being a working mom?
For me, it’s always a non-easy task to be a parent much more when you are a working parent, like me. I worry when I am away from them and when I can‘t balance time, sometimes I feel guilty. There were times that I blame myself when my children get sick because I was not by their side to take care of them. Also, when I can‘t be in their school activities and can‘t witness their performance because I needed to sleep as I have to work at night. So sometimes, there are really heart-aching sacrifices.
There are also times that my patience is tested because as you know, kids can be clumsy and stubborn but thankfully, I can discipline myself for I want to ensure I impart them with good moral values.
What inspires you the most as a working parent?
What inspires me is the picture in my thought that my family is living genuinely happy and peacefully in our dream house and my children are growing up having a wonderful life that I am trying my best to turn into a reality day by day.
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