On The Work/Life Balance

I was recently asked to participate in a  'Motivated Mommy' thing at work. Isn’t that just the cutest little lable? Motivated Mommy. It's jus' cute!
I was asked for a picture of what makes me ‘tick’ outside of work and how I try to find balance between it all: work, life, hobbies.
Ahahahahahahahaha!
Balance? BALANCE???????
The last time I felt balanced I was six and walked across the balance beam at gymnastics without falling off.
But life? Modern life in America for a young, even motivated, mommy? You feel like a woozed up mummy back from the dead running off of caffeine and five hour energy drinks running here, running there, until it’s nine o’clock and the kids are finally in their beds (although probably not quiet, that’s not till around 9:45PM) and you fall exhausted on the couch. Pretty soon your mouth is wide open and the spittle of drool coming out the side of it wakes you up, and good thing too because there are lunches to be made, dinner to be cleaned up, and coffee to prepare for the morning when we get to start this, ALL. OVER. AGAIN.
Balance?
Not so much. I'm happy with functioning.
One thing I will say is that I have laid my pride down, I have realized I am not super woman or Martha Stewart or hell, I’m not even my own mother. I cannot do it all on my own.
And if there is any semblance of balance in my life, it is because I ask for help on a regular basis. This was hard at first, especially letting go of the reigns and letting someone else clean my house- but, that only lasted for about two seconds until I came home and the house was all sparkly. Yeah, I got over that real quick.

I don’t hesitate to ask any grandma or grandpa (does not have to be related; heck, I don’t even have to know them so long as they look trustworthy) to watch my children so I can go out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night and forgot about all my worries and cares of the week. It's amazing what a little beer and good music will do.

Mostly though the only reason this life of mine works is that I do it with a man who is an amazing partner in this crazy life of ours. He works like an animal and operates on a regular basis on very little sleep so he can do things like take and pick up Ethan from school. Every week we sit down with our little iphones and go over the schedule for the week: who’s picking up who when, what appointments and errands we have going on, what overtime he's working, who’s going to water the plants. I hate to brag but Joey is not the stereotypical man dipicted in every sitcom on TV.
I never feel like he’s “helping” me with the house and boys-He takes it on as much as his duties as mine, being the female. In fact, he’s better at so much of it than I am, including getting the boys to bed without WWIII happening, cooking meat (I hate cooking meat), and staying up on the laundry. If there is any one indicator as to why this life of mine functions, it’s him. A supportive, motivated, hardworking and devoted hubby and dad. He’s the bomb.
Vacations are also an absolute must. Sometimes even one day off is enough motivation to push through until you get it. It’s a silly little carrot, but it’s there anyway, calling for you: “Com’on! You can get here! Just think, sleeping in and endless coffee till 11:30am!!”
It’s small, but completely motivating.
But really, the reason I do all that I do is because I want to. I like to stay busy, even if it means passing out on my couch every night, waking up to my own drool.
It’s a crazy, exhausting, wonderful life. I wouldn’t call it balanced-I’d call it functioning and IF we've had our naps and are well fed, it can even cross over into...hold your breath...yes, fun.