"I hired a Batman for my son's birthday party and invited his whole class. He wanted a bat mobile too, just like in the movies. I actually thought about renting a black Porsche and a professional actor. Then, I remembered that he's five and a cake coupled with Batman party favors would be just fine." Julie
Marketing executive and mother of two: When I was a kid, I couldn't bear the thought of finishing in second place. I believed that I could do anything and never wanted to settle for anything less than the very best. This is probably why my career evolved into outside sales, competition feels comfortable to me.
The desire to be "number one" always motivated me to work hard at school and put forward my best at work, but it took me a long time to learn how to distinguish between being the best and doing my best.
My pursuit of perfection stretched far and wide. And it has gotten the better of me many times. I've stayed up too late on a school night making cookies from scratch for a bake sale. I've made handmade Christmas cards when I really did not have the time, the energy, or the skill. I even tried to sew a Halloween costume without ever having sewn more than a button! Why did I do these things? I was trying to be perfect.
Today, there is so much outside pressure to be a "perfect" mother in our society that it's almost impossible to avoid falling into the trap. We hold ourselves up to an ideal of homemade dinners, hand-sewn Halloween costumes, and over-booked family schedules.
This chapter is about letting go of your need for perfection in both the personal and professional areas of your life. By learning to be satisfied with store-bought costumes or limited commitments, you will have more time to spend with your family--and that's what really matters.
Contribute in your own way: I would love to be able to say that I attended every class trip, volunteered for all monthly events at my children's school, and raised money for several worthwhile causes--all while holding a full-time job. But the unfortunate reality is that I simply can't do everything. And truth be told, I don't really want to.
I enjoy working. I don't work because I have to; I work because I want to. And I understand that I'm very lucky to be able to say this, as many moms can't. So it makes sense, then, that if given the choice of working or visiting the local zoo with 30 nine-year-olds, I would choose work nearly every time. Do I love doing things like that with my family? Absolutely! Do I want to burn through my limited number of vacation days just because I see other mothers contributing this way? No.
A useful trick is to find tasks that utilize your talents and skills, but don't take a lot of time. Need someone to tally up something in a spreadsheet? Sure, in a flash. Have a school newsletter to be designed? I'm happy to put my desktop publishing skills to work! Want someone to raise some cash for a worthwhile cause? You are looking at the best girl for the job.
The advantages are two-fold when you choose tasks that utilize your skills: you can complete these volunteer jobs easily by playing to your strengths, and you'll still feel good about your contribution.
As working mothers we have so much to offer but so little time. Don't fall into the guilt traps of trying to do everything that some of your stay-at-home counterparts are more easily able to accomplish. Contribute in a way that works for you.
Stop over-scheduling: Something happened to me earlier this year when I looked at my daughter, Megan, who is in eighth grade. She excels in school, participates in many extra-curricular activities, and seems to have a very full social life. I am very proud of her. But one night, while I was helping her plan her weekly activities and finish homework, I noticed that she looked tired. In fact, she looked utterly exhausted. Seeing her in that moment made me realize we needed to cut back.
As my kids grow, we're constantly offered opportunities to do all types of activities. Swimming, cheerleading, karate, dance, volleyball--if we attempted to do all of them, I would constantly be in the car, writing checks, and in a terrible mood.
A lot of working parents feel the urge to "hyper-parent," to schedule healthy and educational activities for their children every minute of every day. I, too, have been guilty of this. But, through my own efforts of "progress, not perfection," I've taken strong actions to stop.
So, when it comes to choosing activities for your children to pursue, keep these general principles in mind to prevent a chaotic schedule:
Common Symptoms For People With Urinary Tract Infections
Let's face it - we want our kids to be pampered all the time. Now you can do exactly that by making spa beauty products at home. The great thing about all-natural spa products is that they're safe for the skin because you won't be adding synthetic preservatives to your homemade spa products.
What Are The Top Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections
Having UTI can mean a few days off from work and being in constant pain because of the inflammation that commonly arises from this type of bacterial infection. If you have had enough of UTI-related pain, you've come to the right place.
Immediate Relief for UTI
Are you suffering from a urinary tract infection and just couldn't stand the pain associated with it? If you answered yes to our question, then you've come to the right place because today, we are discussing the best ways to cope with the common symptoms of this type of infection. We will also be sharing with you some fast facts regarding this condition, so you become aware of how it comes about in the first place.
