Someone else will get a turn: It's great to know that Scott and the grandparents can attend stuff, too. It helps take some pressure off of me, and it provides a chance for others to step in, be more present, and develop their own bond with my children.
Your child will learn to be independent: Sometimes I find that when I'm in the room, my children act a bit differently. Parker gets a bit clingy, and Emily tends to keep checking in with me to be sure I approve of whatever she's doing. As crazy as this may sound, sometimes when we are absent, our kids can have better experiences! Through this independence, my children learn to form their own opinions and impressions.
You'll make other moms, and their kids, feel better: I have a number of working mom friends. One of these is the mother of Parker's friend, Cade. Spending time with Cade has shown Parker that other mommies sometimes can't make every event either. As a working mom, it's easy to slip into thinking that you're the only one with obligations that conflict with school events. But people with different family structures and career choices struggle, too. Sometimes missing an event can actually make other mothers (working and stay-at-home) feel better about their own absences.
It's okay if you get it wrong: Several years ago while on maternity leave with Emily and while trying to keep a somewhat regular schedule, I made a mistake. I was sleep deprived, overworked, and running too fast, and I left Megan at daycare way past the 6 p.m. pickup time. I felt horrible.
As odd as it may seem, I know many working mothers (and fathers) who, on occasion, have forgotten to pick a child up. No doubt it feels terrible to everyone, but unless this is an ongoing problem for you, you need to cut yourself some slack and stop worrying about long-term emotional damage.
Sometimes, even though we are superheroes by day and night, we make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up about it. Let it go.
Simplify mealtime: During my maternity leaves, I fell into the habit of overextending myself and making everyone's favorite dinners every night. Cooking individual meals for each family member was my way of showing my love. In reality, I was just unnecessarily complicating my daily schedule while trying to be a "perfect" mother and wife.
Time for a reality check: we aren't perfect. No one is. Exhausting yourself trying to achieve an impossible level of perfection is no way to live or keep your family happy. Here are some ideas that can help you avoid traps like the one I found myself in:
Do not make different meals for different family members: Instead of making three different dinners, make one and expect everyone to accept and enjoy what is provided. If your kids don't like the evening's dinner choice, they can always have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I grew up with one dinner choice, and I turned out just fine.
Invest in a slow cooker: Crockpots are great for serving up wholesome meals with little effort. Toss in a few ingredients, turn it on, and leave it until dinner! The best part (other than having a warm meal practically make itself) is that your house will smell amazing! There are a lot of great one-pot or slow-cooker cookbooks available at the market, and buying one is a worthwhile investment for quick, easy, and delicious recipes.
Have breakfast for dinner:My kids love this because they feel like we're breaking all the house rules. But in fact, I'm saving myself a ton of time! Eggs, pancakes, sausage--it tastes good at any time of day and it's quick and easy. Dinner doesn't have to be "dinner food." If it's healthy and the family is together, then that's all that matters.
There is always takeout: When all goes wrong, or everyone is just too tired, don't feel a moment of guilt about ordering a take-out meal everyone likes. You can even make it fun and have a picnic on the carpet. We do this all the time, and a bonus is that the kids think we are super cool.
Samantha Knowles is the author of Working Mom Reviews. To know more about Pure Reiki Healing Master, What are you waiting for? Pure Reiki Healing Master Review Rapid Content Wizard Review - What you need to know, check out Rapid Content Wizard Review
