How do you have balance in your life with work, kids, spouse etc?

Jennifer - posted on 12/17/2009

With my kids young it was sooo hard! I went to college full time, worked full time, and had to find time with my kids and husband in between. Now, however, I have a fairly balanced time, but I have to DO it.

Angelique - posted on 12/17/2009

Personally I dont think you can. Every day as it comes, with new challenges, mistakes, fights, love etc. As long as you can go to bed and know the day was productive, well thats all that metters. If i give more attention today to my work, I will give a double dose to my boys tomorrow, and not enought time for the huby, well I will make time to spend extra time with him after the boys are asleep.

I have twins and its not always easy as I have 48 students as well, including two horses and a husband. But you balance it out in the sence of giving time for the one today and the other tomorrow.

We are only human even tho men tend to think we have super powers, well we not and we dont. Just live every day as it comes, and remember tommorow is a new day.

Kimberly - posted on 12/17/2009

I've been a single Mom for quite a few years and i'm still working on that one! I always try to schedule something special to do with each kid, like listening to my 9yr old read to me or taking Tae Kwon Do with my 15 yr old. But, the 2 most important things are that they know that work is very important and that mom has to have "me" time. If you don't take time for yourself once in a while, you get burnt out quickly! And I totally agree about laughing a lot! We do a LOT of that here.

Melissa - posted on 12/17/2009

I like that idea of kissing passionately and often.

Anna - posted on 09/07/2009

I agree with prioritising - that is the key

1. Write down everything that you do

2. Work out which ones are critical and which ones you can afford to stop doing or start doing less often (ironing, cleaning...)

3. Work out if you can be more efficient on any tasks

4. Help your friends out and ask them to help you

5. Do the things that are important to you FIRST.



These questions might help too:

"If you had 1 hour less a day what would you stop doing"

"If you had 1 hour more a day what would you do with it"



Stop doing the things you gave as answers to the first question

Start doing the things you gave as answers to the second question.



Good luck!

Joan - posted on 09/02/2009

You don't - something always goes. However, you need to be sure that it is not always the same thing that goes all the time. Therefore, accept that you can't; make the most of each day and if the ironing does not het done today, relax, so long as you have clothes for tomorrow, does it matter? I think kids help you to focus on key priorities of relationships as opposed to perfect houses; time with family as opposed to cleaning cupboards. When kids are older and need you less you can always catch up on housework then. Keep the communication lines open - regardless! Tell your kids and hubby that you love them! Never neglect to spend some time praying. Time invested in prayer reaps benefits daily. Enjoy!

Terrie - posted on 09/02/2009

Always make time for you and asking for help is not a bad thing! Prayer would be my first thing as the Lord will guide you!

Kayla - posted on 09/01/2009

My husband works 2 jobs Mon-Wed, 1 job on Thursday,Friday & Sunday (Mornings) So I work Thursday & Friday nights and Saturday mornings. So I have my son all week while daddy is working, and I spend time with the hubby in between jobs and after work on Saturdays & Sundays.. My alone time is naptime.

Anita - posted on 09/01/2009

Our daughter is in daycare while both of us work. After work we take turns going to the gym that's near us (we're both trying to lose weight) and then the rest of the night Mon. through Friday is for catching up and spending time together. During the weekends we do our chores and then go out and enjoy ourselves.

When I need time for myself to read, I just let my DH know and I go into the bedroom and read.

Maybe it's because we only have one child it's easier.

Date nights are a rarity unless my ILs are visiting. But once they are living closer to us it will be more of a weekly thing.

Anne - posted on 09/01/2009

It's hard! I do everyday. I try to remember I'm at work to take care of my little one and hubby. When I'm home I try to spend as much time as possible with my daughter and hubby. I try to do chores, etc. after she's gone to bed.

Lynlee - posted on 09/01/2009

Hi Kay,

Hmmmm...let me see, it helps if you have a very supportive husband and inlaws, that you have a great relationship with especially communication. I'm fortunate to have all that and the rest just pretty much fits into place, if your a structured person with reasonable time keeping and being organized helps alot. I'm also studying as well so, you have to have the right supports put in place first, before any of this can happen.

Kate - posted on 08/31/2009

How does one GET 'me" time? Myu husband and I are basically single parents - one of us always has the kid - we can't even manage 'us" time. I haven't had me time since Adrian was born (and since I work on average 60+ hours a week, really really really miss it (going nuts). We really don't want to do the day care thing (and with the economy the way it is, can't afford it anyway). My parents had promised to take Adrian on every other weekend... but somehow that became inconveneint - they now only take him during the day (when we're both working) on Monday... and my husband picks him up before I get home. Kinda funny in a frustrating way - I read through these posts and so many of you want quality time with your child - I want personal time with no one and can't seem to make it work. I take Adrian to work with me 3 days a week. (Mom and dad have him Monday, and my husbnad works a flex schedule and has him Wed) Any thoughts? (I'm a solo veterinarian and the last several times I tried to squeeze in a little personal time to read a book, go to starbucks or stop at the bookstore, an emergency walked in the door...)

Lizbeth - posted on 08/30/2009

I have a two year old daughter, I work full time as an MA at an OB GYN office and I go to school part-time in the evenings. I keep balance by remebering dispite all thats goin on i'm till a mom, on the wekends and days i have off from everything else I spend quality time with my daughter and take her on playdates when possible. I also have a very helpful Mom that steps in when she can. I try and orginize my time to do eveything I need to do in an orderly fashion so that things don't get to crazy. Even though the terrible two's does make that hard at times!

Teresia - posted on 08/30/2009

I agree that everyone's idea of balance is different. I work a full time job, sell lia sophia, and have another part-time job, Irish Dance along with running a household with 4 kids and my husband. I think it's important that we incorporate help and support from the family as well as make time for each one when we are home. I make sure when I'm home (in between loads of wash, etc) I have time to read a book, color, braid hair etc. Never boring that's for sure!

Maria - posted on 08/29/2009

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Women are great multi-taskers, but in order to balance our hectic schedules ( I work full time, go to school online, run a household that includes daughters, husband and Mom), we need to classify tasks in the matter of urgency and importance, so it varies from day to day. One big priority is to dedicate some ME time in order to re-energize and feel good about ourselves.

Helen - posted on 08/27/2009

i am a teacher so work 5 days a week and bring home about an hours worth of work each day. I have to do all house hold chores as my husband works 7 days a week. our little boy is 14 months so at the moment when he has a nap i run around madly and get all the housework done but i still find myself up until 11pm just to get my school work done. I also make sure that in each holiday my family has him for a whole day so that i can spring clean and do all of the jobs that i have not had time for during the term. that way i can spend more quality time with him. I also make sure the kitchen cupboards and freezer is full to bursting at the end of each holiday so that i dont have to spend my weekends shopping

Diana - posted on 08/27/2009

I am a single mother and have 3 kids ages 18,9 and 7. I work 3 full days a week. When I am home I have a set time schedule for myself. When they are in school and work, I do all my housework/shopping so that I have all afternoon just for my sons.

Melissa - posted on 08/27/2009

I agree there is no single answer and the balance does not ever look the same. Definitely pray, also share the load by communicating how others and support the household and have a day when you are not on call for everyone depending upon age of children. I currently go dancing one night a week and my family knows not to count on me for anything because that is my night.

Mary - posted on 08/26/2009

Wow! Not a single answer yet...but my reply to your question is prayer, sleep and a calendar. :0) I try to allocate time for ME, daily. Huge! Laugh, A TON! Kiss your husband passionately, often. :0)