As a mom and business owner, I am constantly struggling with the tug-of-war between my family and work. I’m not talking about setting my priorities, because without question, my husband and children come first above everything else. I’m talking about the day-to-day stuff.
The “I could send this email really quick while Parker eats his breakfast” stuff. The “I should really put Mia in her crib rather than hold her a little longer while she sleeps so I can go record that song” stuff. Because there’s always stuff to be done, but never enough hours in the day.
It’s a catch 22 situation, really. When I ignore the stuff in favor of being fully present for my kids, it continues to nag me in the back of my mind. But when I attend to the stuff, I feel guilty for splitting my attention.
This struggle came up in conversation with a fellow mom and business owner, Jocelyn, just recently. She’s given me advice on numerous topics, from natural childbirth to preschool music classes to work-life balance. So it came as no surprise that she had wisdom to share on this particular subject. One sentence in particular has stuck with me ever since.
“You are exactly where you need to be, in this moment.”
Those 11 words have completely changed my mindset, both at home and at work. When I am with my children and begin to feel the stuff tugging at my brain, I repeat that sentence to myself and enjoy my time with them. The same thing is true when I’m teaching a class, facilitating a music therapy session, or having dedicated office hours.
I’m learning to be fully present in both settings, and while I wish I could say it’s been super easy, I’ll tell you that it’s a work in progress. I’ll never figure out once-and-for-all how to do this motherhood thing, or how to most effectively run a business, because both are constantly changing and evolving. But being in the right frame of mind, and having permission to live in the moment, makes it a whole lot easier.