In a world where balance seems impossible to find, balance for moms has become some version of embracing chaos and making calm wherever you can. As a working mom of three, with a husband who also has a demanding job, this notion has always been a source of frustration for me, as with many of my mama friends and colleagues. I’ve listened to the podcasts, asked the seasoned moms, followed the influencers, watched Working Moms on Netflix and I’m learning that in my world, and I hope in many others, the pendulum swings from being one kind of mom to another in a mere hour. Guess what, we got to learn to swing with it like Miley Cyrus on that infamous wrecking ball, and we’ve got to learn to love it.
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The pendulum, for me, is one that swings from Pinterest mom to Hot Mess Mom, Business Owner Boss Mom to Never Leave My House Mom, Take Pictures of Everything Mom to Live In The Moment Mom, and so much more in between. Thanks to the aforementioned podcasts, influencers, and the like, I’ve learned to “name what matters,” from Kendra Adachi of The Lazy Genius, who, if you haven’t already, is a must follow. I’m constantly asking myself, what matters to me? What doesn’t? I do care that my kids aren’t disheveled, but they also don’t have to be magazine cover kids! I do care that they have birthday parties and memories that make them happy, but I don’t care if it’s the party of the century, therefore saving myself some mental energy and giving myself the grace for things that aren’t perfect. I love my job, how much of their “stuff” am I willing to miss in the name of my business, and what are the really important things that they will be sad if I miss? There is chaos, SO MUCH CHAOS. But without it, wouldn’t I be bored? The chaos absolutely becomes too much, and when that happens, it’s so important to speak up and ask for help. If you don’t have a village that you can rely on for this, stay tuned, that’s next on my radar because we all need a village and if you don’t have one, I’m determined to help you build one that can become your lifeline.
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All of this said balance isn’t really a real thing that any of us can define for anyone else. For us mamas, it’s managed chaos where chaos needs to be managed. It’s so exhausting and so fulfilling, so draining yet so bucket filling. I live for the weekends when we can slow down and enjoy our little piece of Matthews, but weekends don’t also come without mass chaos, a messy house, double the dirty clothes, and plenty of whining, it’s just easier to embrace without the added pressures of the week, work, sports, and other activities. You’re doing great mama, bearing the weight of so much, whether your home all day with your kids or managing a work/life version of motherhood, you’re children had a warm place to lay their head down, something to fill their belly {even if it’s frozen pizza for the third night in a row, it’s honestly heaven for them}, and somebody who loves them. So cheers, pour yourself a glass of whatever you need, put up your feet and ride that wrecking ball, looking as fly as Miley while doing quadruple the work for one-hundredth of the salary.
About Hannah Mulvihill
Hannah is a Charlotte native since 1989 and is a full-time, working mom, raising three children in Matthews with her husband Dave. She is one of two owners of Perfect Balance Training Center, a gymnastics facility here in the Charlotte area. An avid sports fan, Hannah is well-versed on all things related to her hometown here and a dedicated Panthers and Hornets fan. She spends her free time traveling with her husband or hanging with family and friends! You can follow her balanced chaos here!
