Photo by Chelsey Heidorn from our Family photo shoot.
Every day that I have been a mother, I have been a stay at home working mother. (SAHWM)
What I would call a mother who is sincerely trying to balance it all, who desperately wishes she had more hours in the day, more organization, more patience, and more coffee. I have had a range of titles, trying to figure out what works best with my family. From a graphic designer, accessory shop owner, blogger, and now creative business consultant, every week of motherhood has been a fight to balance the two worlds for fear one may squash the other. A work hard at night so that I don’t miss to much of their sweet little lives during the day mentality.
“Normal Day, let me be aware
of the treasure you are.
Let me learn from you, love you,
bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest
of some rare and perfect tomorrow.”
-M.J. Iron
This is a quote I stumbled on through my friend Elisse on instagram and I wrote it up to keep by my bed. When I feel the anxiety of not being able to keep up, I go back to this. Really, the only important thing to me in this life is trying my best at being a woman of God, a devoted wife, and a loving mother. In that order too. The rest will not matter when I meet my Maker. I can only take each day as it comes, and do my best at all that has been placed in my life. That is the only “balance” I seek.
So when the balance doesn’t seem to exist and we order take out for the second time that week and anxiously await for Gabe to walk through the door, I cling to those priorities and let the rest fall where it may. Chances are, if my task list is crossed off, my house is a mess. If my house is spick and span, I probably have an overflowing inbox. And that is okay. As long as I have gotten plenty of kisses from Max, time to hear about Gabriel’s latest leggo masterpiece, time to dance with Veronica to the record player, and time to just be with Gabe uninterrupted. Normal every day struggles, let me learn from you! Let me not pass you by!
When the day comes that we have conquered the student loans and I can be a full time stay at home mother, I will throw a large party hearty! Until then, I am thankful I have the opportunity to do work that I truly love and am passionate about while I raise my children.
Just some thoughts I wanted to share with you because behind all the polish posts, there is just a normal gal trying to make it work the best she can. Behind the jet setting and glittering opportunities, there is a SAHWM typing against the clock watching netflix in hopes of both meeting a blog post deadline and getting up early enough to help her son get ready for school.
x, Anna
