Volume 1 Issue 7
April 4, 2022
"Raising Kids is a Walk in the Park.........JURASSIC PARK."
Lenny Lemons
There is always so much to do! Whether you work from home or at a 9 to 5, maybe you are a stay at home parent, you're busy. As a parent, you practically must be available 24/7 for your kids. As you and I know, anything and I mean anything can happen. I recall one day while working as a teacher, receiving a phone call from my little one's school. I needed to leave asap to take her to be seen by a doctor. Why was I rushing from my job? Apparently, the classroom pet turtle had lost its mind and bit my daughter fully on her lips. Now I had to worry because apparently turtles carry salmonella.
As parents, we never know what will happen next. This makes parenting an ongoing adventure. However this adventure can be daunting. At times, the balancing act of parenting and being you is lost. We are so busy just doing, that we are not living. Finding balance has been a focus of mine as a full-time teacher and parent. Over the years, I've learned how to better manage both worlds. Here are some of the ways, I achieved balance in my life.
Make a Schedule
My first suggestion is to make a schedule. When making a schedule, you have to see the whole picture. What exactly are you doing from morning to night, 7 days a week. Then you have to think what are the priorities. Schedule your chores and activities during times that are most optimal for productivity. There are many great videos on YouTube for scheduling to increase productivity. You are probably thinking that there will never be enough time for everything. This is why it is important to know what is most important and what can wait. The secret to having more time is preparation.
Examples of prepping:
⭐️ Prepping meals for the week. ⭐️ Sorting clothes by darks and lights as you put them into hampers.⭐️ Laying out the clothes the night before for work
& school.
As my mom would say, 'procrastination is the thief of time.' Therefore your aim is not to procrastinate but to prepare. For more in depth tips of creating a personalized schedule, I would advice you to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. With a good schedule, you can now bring more order to the chaos of parenting.
Choose a healthy lifestyle
The saying 'your health is your wealth' is the truth. You cannot do much in poor health. How can you attend to your family when you can barely attend to yourself due to health issues? The only real solution is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Find which exercise routine works for you. Which do you favor: jogging, yoga, boxing, weight lifting, swimming, biking, dancing, aerobics & etc? For most of these, all you need is space in your apartment and YouTube on your TV / laptop. How often would you need to exercise? It is recommended that adults in engage in 30mins of cardiovascular exercise for at least 3 times a week. Regular exercise increases endorphins which energizes you and improves your mood with feel good hormones. The more energy you have, the more you can get done as a parent. Now you'll even be able to keep up with your kids, for once!
Here are ways to sneak in your cardio while including your kids:
⭐️Run alongside as they ride their bikes or join them with your own bike. ⭐️Roller skate as a family. ⭐️ Play basketball or soccer together as a family. ⭐️Take a family stroll 'go for a walk' around the neighborhood.
A healthy lifestyle includes your diet. Making better food choices will not only benefit you as a parent but will positively impact your children. Increase your fruits and vegetables. Stay hydrated. Drink 6 to 8 cups daily of distilled, spring or alkaline water. Eat responsibly. Do not eat in response to stress with your favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream or a bag of Ranch Doritos chips. Watch your portions. Best yet, go for the organic or locally grown foods. Our body is a machine that needs the right fuel to keep us going. As we all know, 'we are what we eat.' If we eat junk and processed foods, we cannot expect our body to be functionally healthy.
As you change your diet, you might notice:
⭐️You're thinking clearer. ⭐️You have more energy. ⭐️Certain health ailments might go away. ⭐️Your skin might be clearing up. ⭐️You might even lose those stubborn 5 lbs you've been trying to lose for years.
As you can see, a healthy diet is a 'win win' for all. Make it a family experience to engage in clean eating. As your health improves, so will your ability to positively engage with your child.
Meditate
Let's be real, life is stressful for everyone. When I speak of meditating, I mean being in the moment. Focusing in on one thing. Clearing the mental clutter from your mind.
Meditating can mean listening to your favorite music that soothes you. Taking a long bath with or without candles and scented bath oils /soaps. It means curling up with a good book. Try to carve out at least an half hour to indulge in the pleasure of just being you. Make time for you in your schedule.
Ask for help
Don't try to be that super parent. Use your support system when needed.
Use services like: Amazon groceries; a drop off and pick up service for laundry; hire a babysitter; or a home cleaning service. If you got it like that, then hire a cook or a live-in nanny. Ask the grandparents for help and support. Create a parent coop with other trusted adults for childcare emergencies or a mom & dad date night. Asking for help or hiring help is a sign of being practical and realistic.
As I stated in the beginning 'there is always so much to do' but we now also know that 'there are so many ways we can handle the responsibilities of parenting and working.' We can find balance. However it requires the discipline to make needed changes. When starting something new, it will most likely be challenging but keep the commitment and see it through. Hopefully my tips, tricks and advise will help you find the balance you need in your busy life.
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Kids make life the best kind of busy!😊
Renee D
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