What does it mean to have it all? - Real Mum story on MoM

8 Comments

There are many celebrities, tv personalities, bloggers, writers and home making commentators out in the public sphere that often tout new and interesting ways to “make life easy” and allow you to multitask.

But do they ever really tell you what it actually takes to fit everything in for the average, everyday person that does not have assistants, nannies or housekeepers?

Let’s face it, we have the media telling us we are not pretty enough, thin enough, young enough, we aren’t good enough if we aren’t throwing Pinterist styles kid’s birthday parties, we need to succeed in all things and look flawless while doing it.

This is not a criticism of the women that want to be successful and look good, I am one of them. This is, however, a frank account of what it takes in the real world without nannies, assistants, agents and managers to be successful at home, at work and in your health.

Let me preface this blog entry by saying, I am not an expert (in anything), I do not think there is a one size fits all approach to anything and especially not something as essential as planning your life but I do firmly believe in taking stock of your responsibilities in order to prioritise your time accordingly and hold yourself accountable.

This blissful long weekend just passed, I listed my priorities as follows:

a) being a mum;
b) working full time;
c) studying at uni;
d) writing; and
e) running a household…………..

A recipe for chaos right? Add to that, I have embarked on a lifestyle change to improve my health and fitness.

Honestly, and I know it is boring, but I have a schedule and this allows me to ensure I am fitting everything in. My day starts at 4:50am and finishes in the territory of midnight to 1am. Yes, this is ridiculous. Yes, I am very tired. But this is what it takes for me to “do it all.”

“Do it all” to me means; being the best Mum I can be but also striving for the best at work. My chosen career (law) requires lengthy days and long haul hours but in order to still manage this workload whilst being a present and good Mum, I leave work earlier than I would if I weren’t a Mum (6pm-ish) in order to race home for the dinner, bath and bedtime routine because singing lullabies is something my little one is now accustomed.

The cost of having this glorious time with my daughter is that, once she is peacefully slumbering with the contented knowledge that she is the centre of my universe, I spend some time with her Daddy while wolfing down dinner and if we are lucky, watching a little television while I fold washing or catch up on emails. After that, I am logging onto my laptop to do some more work/study/writing.

When I finally get to bed after showering and preparing for the next day, it is often well past 11pm and I then set my alarm for the next day to do it all again.

I know I cannot always operate to this extreme, it is unsustainable given that I am existing on around 5 hours sleep a day (if I’m lucky) but this is what it takes to get all of the above priorities into my day.

I am not Gwyneth, I don’t have an at home gym with my own personal instructor, I don’t have nannies or babysitters, I don’t have an agent or personal assistant. I just have 24 hours in a day and a partner to help me get through the daily tasks to continue getting through the grind.

Posted by mom184101, 5th May 2016

8 Comments

- - damish70 said
  - 19 May 2016
    4:12 pm
I don’t even bother reading about celebrities “perfect” lives anymore as they’re far from perfect

- - mom93821 said
  - 18 May 2016
    10:32 am
It means different things to different people. I have a hectic schedule and life and love it! There is never a chance of getting bored!

- - mom81879 said
  - 11 May 2016
    6:33 pm
Yes, I always read stories about how easily the celebs get everything done in a day. They neglect to tell you about all the hired hands they have to help out. It’s definitely a never ending struggle to do it all

- - rachelvk said
  - 10 May 2016
    8:49 pm
I can certainly relate. We live in a constant state of chaos, but as long as there is love and laughter in our household everything else will fall into place.

- - BellaB said
  - 07 May 2016
    4:44 pm
Part of it is deciding what you won’t do, or will do to “good enough” rather than perfection.

- - mum4107 said
  - 07 May 2016
    6:14 am
Wow, you are so busy. But you sound happy. Good for you.
Me, I’m just trying to survive

- - mom90758 said
  - 06 May 2016
    11:34 am
You have indeed a very busy schedule. I can imagine it’s not easy, but it’s fantastic that your doing your best in all these areas of life. I’m sure that calmer times will arrive your way!

- - mom176887 said
  - 06 May 2016
    7:06 am
Wow. What a schedule! As you say not sustainable for the long term for most people who need much more sleep! But a glimpse into ‘real life’ if you want to fulfill all your ambitions in parallel rather than take things a bit slower and doing them in sequence spread through life.