I work from home, and I work a lot. I also have a 5 year old and a 1 year old that are home with me. I am a WAHM. A work at home Mom. From the minute we get up until the minute we go to sleep, we are busy little bees around here. It all starts around 7:30 when Chloe wakes up and “sneaks” the iPad off of my nightstand and wakes me up. We start breakfast time and I pick up the house a little from the night before, have some hot green tea or coffee and empty the dishwasher. Evie is usually up by this time and I make her breakfast, feed her, do the dishes.
Next we play a little and then it’s off to the office to get some work done. The baby gate goes up and Evie is confined to only 2 rooms to destroy while I answer emails ๐ I usually throw a load of laundry in the washer around this time and forget about it for a day or so and then have to re-wash it to get rid of the “stayed in the washer too long because you have ADD mildew” smell.
Next Evie goes down for a nap and Chloe and I do some sort of learning activity that will soon turn into homeschool time as we approach the school year. Then lunch, dishes, and pick up Evie’s mess from email time.
More work then Evie is up from her nap and ready for her lunch time. Cleanup, dishes.
Time to get dinner ready. Cook, cleanup. Husband comes home, we eat, do dishes and a little more work.
There are numerous times throughout the day where we just stop what we’re all doing and go play or have a dance party to break up the monotony of a regular work day. After all we work and school from home so we can do whatever we want right? Gotta keep it fun!
My point in all of this is… I am always disappointed in myself at the end of the day for not meeting the insane expectations I have set for myself. I am the meanest, most micro-managing boss of myself ever. The day I came to this realization, I tweeted.
Hey, Self! Guess what you can't do? Freaking everything. So stop trying.
— Lindsey Riel (@lindseyriel) July 10, 2013
That pretty much says it all. You cannot do everything, so either lower your crazy expectations or get some help. I went with the latter because the former might require some counseling, and who has time for that?
Counseling does sound glorious though, so relaxing ๐ I’ve been in the past and just loved every minute of being able to chat with someone about life and have them ask the right questions that really make you think, dig deep and improve upon yourself.
In closing I would like to say this.. Dear Lindsey, Be nice to yourself! You work really hard, and have an amazing life. Relax, enjoy it, remember to pray often and ask for help when you need it.
This goes for all of you hard working people who don’t give yourself enough credit! I am yelling at you right now ๐ Stop it! Be nice to yourself! Pray often and ask for help when you need it.
๐
Great post Lindsey! Can I just say I completely relate to having to wash the same load of laundry TWICE! Thank you God, I’m not the only one who does that. I can even beat myself up for doing that!
I think there’s more pressure for us mom’s to try to do it all especially when we’re working from home with little ones around.
It’s good to take those play breaks and mini dance parties with your girls- sounds like you’re doing it right Lindsey! I think the sign of a great mom is when she can let go of the to-do list and just spend time with her kiddos. Thanks for this post- I needed that reminder too about not trying to do everything.
Thank you, Liz! I think the key is to realize a standard “balance” doesn’t exist, we are all going to have our own limits and that’s totally ok ๐ Also, your blog is super cute!
Getting help is good ๐
Those support ticket e-mails don’t have to be answered immediately! If you let them go a few hours, your clients are going to be fine, and you’ll find that someone is there to answer them for you later in the day ๐
If e-mails are coming in to your other e-mail address and they belong in support, just forward them on. That way, you can focus on the important e-mails, like the custom work. But, once again, set limits on yourself. Nobody can do everything, and if they say they can, they are being less than truthful.
Lindsey,
You are doing the right thing. The highest calling – Wife and Mother. I think most of us do the re-wash thing, more often than we would like to admit and thank you for letting us all know, it is ok, and thanks for reminding us not to be so hard on ourselves.
You are so right. It is good to enjoy the life we have. It all goes by in a flash.
Right on time! I had a little chuckle about the laundry! I swore I was the only person who did that! I had to do one round three times because I kept forgetting about it. …Hey Ebony…relax, it will be ok? ๐
Ebony
Haha, yes! Relax….and add some borax to your mildewed clothes lol!
This post really hit the nail, Lindsay. For that reason, I’ve just send you a shout out email asking for HELP!
Hi. This is one of the few blogs that I actually read and love! I follow several, but rarely take time to read. As I’m also so busy. I stay home and don’t have a job at home exc ลkkc ept typical household stuff. I can’t imagine also having to work at home on the computer. I can’t even think straight to call the doctor, ect. I’m awfully hard on myself as well. I have a break down about once a month when I can’t take the dust and dirty bathrooms. Then my mom or husband usually see I’m to the breaking point and keep kids. I used to have a hired cleaning lady for 7 months after my one year old was born, but just found I would rather buy older daughter Matilda Jane clothes. Ha. And just deal with the dirt. Keep thinking, maybe I can be the stay at home mom I thought I was going to be when they are both in kindergarten. Right! Ha thanks for the post. It is wonderful to know I’m not alone!
Thank you so much, Nickole! Just being at home is enough to keep everyone busy! When you’re home, there’s opportunity for messes to be made and dishes to be dirtied ๐ I just decided to cut back on the clothes and hire a cleaning lady lol I can’t keep up ๐ I’m sure you are doing a fantastic job!
Do you have instagram?
I do, username is lindseyriel ๐
Oh my goodness! I love this post!! I’m so glad I’m not the only one that forgets about the laundry. Your day sounds just like mine too ๐
Just now reading this, as I am also a Work From Home Mommy (and keeping up with the internet gets pushed to the bottom of priorities). I with there was a LIKE button, your day sounds similar to many of mine. Seems like I either get all the work done and feel bad I didn’t get to spend enough time with the babies or I have a fun day with the babies and get no work or housework done! Oh well, at least it’s never boring. ๐
Just remember, you have one of the hardest most important jobs on earth…and I’m sure you’re doing a better job than you give yourself credit for.
Yay!! I am not the only laundry re washer!!! I always beat my self up for things I didn’t finish… but at the end of the day all that matters is that I have a happy husband and a happy lil boy that loves his momma regardless of what she didn’t do that day.
Relax !