I really struggle with this.
I find myself lost in work during the school year, finding cool things for my students to experience, following up with parents, going to trainings and meetings, and the almighty paperwork. I wouldn't call myself a perfectionist, but I do strive to do good work. I hate to think that I have not held up my end of the job or that I have let someone down.
Now my own kids are not neglected. Ron has been at his job for twenty years and can get time off fairly easily, if needed. When I am unable to be home at night, he is. The few times we need back-up we can count on either set of grandparents, luckily they are all local as well. And I am involved. I go to games and practices. I attend cub scout meetings and activities. I volunteer as a Sunday school teacher.
But sometimes I do feel like the balance is tipping out of control.
I started my Summer Bucket List so that I did not let this summer get away from us. It forces me to plan activities with my kids that will become the moments they remember as adults. Now I must realize that the end of summer is looming nearer each day. A month from tomorrow I go back to work full time.
And the start of the school year is one of the busiest times.
We do home visits with our families prior to the start of school and this involves working many evenings in order to meet the needs of the families. Not to mention all the preparation of the classroom and beginning the paperwork. I will begin the year with a new assistant since my regular assistant is student teaching this fall. So I will be training her (or him) as well.
<sigh> I do love my job. I need my job--my husband is not embarrassed to admit that I make more money than he does. And I love my family. I will miss spending the days trying to check off the silly things on our bucket list and trying to figure out how we will entertain ourselves.
The world is all about balance. I am trying to stay upright.
Thank goodness I have lots of helpers to support me.
How do you find the balance?
I can very much relate to this post. I have a hard time finding balance and I am a SAHM. As a mom of many who are all involved in stuff I often find it overwhelming. I am a homebody and after awhile I get tired of going to all the stuff and would just like to stay home. I am trying to learn to say no to things I don't really want to do. I am also trying to remember that just because I am a SAHM does not mean that I have to attend every meeting, party, activity, playdate etc..
ReplyDeletegreat post! love your honesty! maybe take one weekend/day each month during the school year to dedicate to family activies to help you feel balanced during the schoolyear?
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