BalANCe

LIFE: The Great Balancing Act

I'm taking a break from the format I've been blogging lately - a bunch of pictures and comments to talk about something that's been on my mind lately. BALANCE.

For me, the hardest thing is balancing everything...from being a wife, a mother, a homemaker or domestic goddess, a friend, church member, hobby enthusiast, etc, etc, etc. Whenever I get excited about a new project or a new hobby, I neglect other areas. Then I feel guilty that I haven't kept the house clean enough or wondering if I should be spending more time with my kids. My poor husband doesn't know what he's going to come home to day to day. He could come home to dinner and a clean, orderly house OR a wife who hasn't thought about dinner, kids watching tv and a wife who's deep in research or production of a new project OR even an unmotivated wife who's feeling a bit bummed because she hasn't been doing any projects lately for one reason or another.

How do you balance everything? Of course it's important to have hobbies and projects (I couldn't bare it if not), but it seems like you just can't do it all. (Duh, right?) And of course I want to spend time playing with my kids and mothering them, but all the time? Am I being selfish by saying that?

How much time do you spend actually playing with your kids everyday? How much time should they spend watching tv? How much time playing independently?

In the end, it's all about priorities. I probably try to do way too much (Chris tells me this all the time) and I worry too much, say things like, balancing everything. ;)

UPDATE: So far, today has been a great day. A lot of this is probably due to the fact that Chris and I tackled some of the cleaning & organizing projects that we've been putting off so I feel refreshed. Today, I'm focusing on keeping the tv watching to the minimum and working on Ava potty-training. She's smart and knows how to do it...just didn't want to. I finally had an epiphany last night and decided to use tv as a reward for going in the potty. Why didn't I think of that before? Now, the tv isn't on unless she's earned it. Today, I've played store/McDonald's (with Ava's new cash register and McDonalds food), and helped my girls play dress-up and ballet (even turning on the classical music). I'm also working on choosing some soup recipes to make big batches of to freeze in smaller portions in the freezer. (I'd like to get into make-ahead meals - if I have time ;) Also today (and the past several days), I'm researching digital SLRs and accessories and photography skills. I also haven't showered, eaten lunch, or changed out of my pjs. What a day. ;)

UPDATED UPDATE: snuggled with Ava and watched some of Sleeping Beauty, made bread (in bread maker) and homemade broccoli cheddar soup, and played with friends outside. Tonight: I'm going to put my feet up and read or watch a movie.