Real Solutions for Busy Moms
from HomeMadeSimple.com

Trying to Balance Work and Home Life-and Still Stay Sane

We asked working moms we admire to share some tips for things they do that make their lives run more smoothly. This is results-tested, from-the-trenches information, so do with it what working moms do best - share it!

And, in honor of Mother's Day, we're going to especially try to follow this first bit of advice:

Take care of yourself. . . Prioritize .
Put yourself first. Set aside "Patty time," or "Carol time," or "Linda time." Put your name in the blank and think of it in those terms. For example, work out first thing most days because if you don't do it then, you'll never get that "[your name here!] time" back in that day. Put "mommy alone time" on your list of things to do and make sure to be specific about what it is that you want to do for yourself. Be sure to limit it to one or at most two things, because you don't want to set yourself up for disappointment. If you're married, make sure your husband respects your need for time alone, whether it's for a walk, gardening, private time to read or to take a hot bath. You need your time to refuel; otherwise, it's an explosion waiting to happen.

Naps.
Weekends are a great time to get caught up on housework and time with family-and naps. Even if it's for 20 minutes, naps work wonders for the soul and sanity.

Succumb to PMS.
You can't make it go away. And, as a working mother, you can't sleep it off like you used to! So, first alert your husband at its onset (to be forewarned is to be forearmed). Eat the bad food. Sleep a little more when you can. Keep a low profile at the office on the really bad days.

Keep your sense of humor.
The next time you're about to blow a fuse, make a joke of it. Try the time-tested counting to ten if need be, but keep things in perspective and learn to laugh. You may be gritting your teeth, but your coworkers will respond better, and your family will too.

Network.
If nothing seems funny anymore, then maybe you need someone who understands. Start a dialogue with other working mothers. Pass along one of those motherhood emails and see what response you get. Stop by another mother's office door and see what conversation gets started. It's a great way to find someone who's experiencing the same things you are. It's also a great way to vent frustration and share some fun.

Take a break.
Lots of moms work through lunch in what they see as atonement for not being able to stay late; but going out to lunch, at least occasionally, or getting away from your desk for a short walk will recharge your energy and creativity.

Here are a few of the gems we found-a little gift:

Delegate to your support staff.
You're probably used to delegating at work, but it's effective at home too. No support staff at home? Never fear. Create your own by hiring a mommy's helper-a neighborhood child who may not be old enough to baby-sit on her own but is old enough to help out. The ideal candidate has younger siblings, but that's not a requirement. Look for one of the little girls who comes over to see your youngster. If you're not sure if she's old enough, ask her mother. For a small price, you'll gain precious time to do some chores or work out. You'll be there to supervise and she'll gain valuable experience and a little spending money.

Do laundry once a week.
Do it, fold it, and put it away all in the same session. If you do one load at a time it never ends. Doing it once lets you focus, get it done, and not think about it for another week. One mom calls this her "Friday night out." After the kids go to bed, she finds an old movie, invites her old friends Carey Grant or Judy Garland over, and sits next to her mountain of laundry (literally!) and folds, while being entertained and unwinding. It's therapy so that the rest of the weekend is free of that commitment. While hitting the local pub with friends might be more fun, this allows her to focus on her kids the rest of the weekend.

Take care of baby.
Incontinence bed pads from the drug store make excellent disposable diaper changing pads when you're out running around. This is great for when the changing area is disgusting or you have to improvise on the floor. This way you don't have to put the plastic reusable one back in your diaper bag and risk putting all those germs back in the diaper bag, on the baby's clothes, and so on.