The Balancing Act

Remember those memes that went around Facebook? The what I think I do, what my neighbors think I do, what I really do memes? Well, this is my blog version of what I really do.

Life as a work-from-home mom is an awkward balance that often finds me falling on my face. It’s like a set of scales, but instead of two pans to keep level, there are six. The tiniest addition to any category can send the whole contraption upside down.

I come from a line of folks who tend to have heart attacks and die at very young ages. To that end, my health is one of my priority areas. Unfortunately, for the last year and a half I’ve been plagued by injuries that have assassinated my running life. But a couple weeks ago I found a miracle in the form of a shot to the knee. CURE! Now I’m out walking the dogs each morning for a very brisk three to four miles. There goes an hour, but I’ve contributed to my health, and I listen to audiobooks while I walk, so I figure I’ve been entertained at the same time.

Last Friday, I was out in the fields, cruising my way back to my twenties (Hahaha), when my writing accountability partner called. It was a little early for our planned talk, so I hadn’t really messed up by not being home. We started our weekly tally of what we’d done and what we would commit to for the next week, when I came around a corner and saw a pony, not where she belonged. That’s how I found myself walking up my property, a pony in a headlock, while I tried to manage a discussion on the next week’s writing goals. This is a pretty good visual of how I balance the areas of my life.

I dream of a well-decorated living room, clean bathrooms, and clear kitchen counters. I live with blank walls, a paint job that’s half done, cluttered counter tops, and the consolation that at least there’s toilet paper in the bathrooms.

Each day I start with dreams of large word counts, brilliant blog posts, and a strong social media presence. Sometimes I get the word count in, but more often than not, my goals were too high for my brain to accomplish. And those brilliant blog post…haven’t happened yet. Don’t get me started on my love/hate relationship with social media.

The truth is, I can’t do it all. My family is my top priority, and that means I will drop whatever I’m doing for them. My house will never look like the pictures in  magazines, and…that’s okay. There will be days when I exceed my word count goals and days when I fall horribly short. I will eat chocolate when I know I shouldn’t, and I can’t deny a growing coffee addiction. I will take time to pray when all is well, but sometimes try to fix problems on my own until I’ve made such a mess I’m forced to remember God is more capable than I am.

So, here’s to real life, and mercy, and humility, and growth. Here’s to the days that go well beyond our expectation, and those that crash and burn. And here’s to learning to live at peace with where we are, who we are, and what God can make of us.

Have a blessed day!