Hey guys! I wanted to give a long overdue Motherhood Work-Life Balance Update for this summer 2024! You in for a raw and real ramble of thoughts? YES!
In the spirit of 'anything but AI posting" - this is a barely-edited, no looking back, journaling my thoughts style post. Ranting allowed and topic jumping approved. You in? Let's go..
End of the School Year Vibes
Here in LA, the school year is winding down and the sun is starting to stick around during the day. Sunshine, sparkles, garden hose mist and green grass rainbows kind of days. Mornings? Still pretty gray, thank you June Gloom, but we're getting there.
I have pulled out my fave seasonal slides and quickly dabbed some bottom-of-my-bathroom-drawer red nail polish on my toes. Swimsuits from last season are on the top of my closest shelf, and sunscreen on my bathroom counter. Bring on the season. Yes, smoothies have also made it back into my daily routine. All the smoothie inspo you need: my smoothie book! Or hop over here: smoothie recipes on the blog.
....Current vibes: backyard giant bubble, golden hour moments over here. Wanna join in, try this..
Summer Photo Challenge: Take a photo of someone looking through a giant bubble!!! It's so fun and the coolest shots come out..
But what about the work side of my Work-Life Balance?
Well, I have been hard at work finalizing a new project that has been in the works for a *long time* now. Trying desperately to get it into LAUNCH phase. I never expected that my parenting work/life balance would be so challenging to get back on track with the work part. But here we are. I'm finally accepting the slow as molasses pace of things.
SAHM Pride vs. Working Mom Awesomeness
SAHM or working mama? Do we really need to split moms into groups? Nah. But the challenges for both sides do differ.
In true work-life balance fashion, I have juggled both identities these past four years and see benefits and challenges of both paths. But the destination is the same... Just wanting the best for ourselves and our kiddos.
Work Life Cravings
When it comes to my self-identity, I definitely crave getting back to my work life. I want to get back to the 'daily grind' of my creative work, because my brain craves it and I feel more in my own skin putting out work and collab-ing with creators and brands and just creating something that inspires and resources others. And as always, spreading the plant-forward life message whenever I can, because that is what I have grown such expertise in these past fifteen years, as an author, blogger, speaker and recipe developer.
SAHM Bliss
BUT, I will also say that SAHM life has perks. It's been so nice to say yes to playdates with other moms and kiddos - with a flexible schedule. And I get to say YES to lazy afternoons in our backyard, beach days, random toddler lunches and ice cream trips and afterschool pool time or playground-ing and just being within arms reach when she's not in school. Easier pickup and dropoff schedules with dad and less stress when your spouse has a long work trip.
Chatting work-life balance, I see the benefits of both SAHM life and working mode life, and no matter what style of parenting you have chosen or find yourself in -- I support you and applaud you! This stuff is hard! We share our end goal. Happy, healthy parents - and in turn healthy, happy kiddos....
OH MY GAWD I LOVE THIS HUMAN....
Big Picture View on My SAHM Life vs Working Mom Moments...
Work-life balance real talk: I wouldn't trade any second I have had with my daughter. After-school tantrums and all.. But the price is that my career has taken a huge backseat and I'm struggling to get it back on track.
Will I ever regain the success I once had in my career? Have I already hit my peak as a worker? Is it all downhill from here? The industry has changed so much! How can I reinvent myself? Who is supporting me now? Who is listening? Who cares? Will I find success if I take a creative pivot in my work? How do I work my way back up to feeling like my career actually matters to the world again? Small businesses are challenging. Do I get a 9-5 job and ditch my identity as a creative entrepreneur? (Nah)
And then when I look at moms who still hold their power careers while parenting, I feel envious. Like I missed the boat on succeeding in balancing work/life and juggling it all. Am I less than? And why do I keep ruminating in my head about these questions? Shouldn't I be past second-guessing my choices and intuition? The struggle is so real. Even if that phrase has been overused beyond belief.
Bottom line: work-life balance when parenting is incredibly complex and multi-faceted, just like the detail work on Taylor Swift's opening Eras tour costume.
But moms (and dads) I GOT YOU! Here it is. The parenting secret you have all been waiting for. The work-life balance solution. It's not proven, but it is 100% guaranteed, says my scientific study of one....
The absolute key: getting out of your own head!!!!!
Seriously, moms. Do it.
But how?
Who helps you do that? SMFs...
...this is the best-kept secret to work-life balance IMO. Stop analyzing. Start living and connecting and trying to see the funny side of everything! Let's dive into this..
SMF'S (Supportive Mom Friends!)
Like air, water, chocolate, spandex, hoodies, slides, coffee and a DisneyPlus subscription, something every mom needs is an SMF.
Smf = supportive mom friend! Plural, friends, is even better. But really, you only need ONE!
Read my post: ODE TO THE SMF for the full vibes.
Support Systems
It takes a village is so true. And what type of support you have as a mom can define your journey. To be honest, I have felt a bit like an outsider, here in LA, choosing to not hire a nanny. But that's just kinda who I am, lol.... Really bad at outsourcing - HA! - and also really wanting to be hands-on as much as I can with my only child who I seriously waited so long to have.
Some days on my work-life balance journey, I love my decision to DIY this parenting with my husband as my only option for childcare -- and a handful of random neighborhood babysitters... And other days I am envious of the working moms who have a nanny. SO ENVIOUS. To just be able to sit at a desk among adults and chat about things other than parenting, ahhhhh. Well, I try to do that with my work, but look at me now, talking about mom life on my blog. Oh my!
Every Family is Unique
I think the most important thing that I have realized while observing how other families take on parenting, is to truly realize that there is no one right way of doing things and we are all on the same team. And to cherish those mom friends who get that and support you no matter what your daily grind looks like.
Supportive mom friends have 100% gotten me through these first four years of mom life! I would be a mushy puddle of leftover, melted Annie's gummies, left in a hot car, if I didn't have those mom friends both online and in person. I am a hot mess some days and feel like I have it all figured out on other days. Parenting is a constant roller coaster.. Mostly fun and sometimes scary, always twirling you around through the atmosphere!
And finding people who help you thrive in both those phases (hot mess and superstar mama) is key.
And even more key: finding people who can roll their eyes with you at the absurdity of parenting in 2024 - make you laugh, maybe share some funny parenting reels, Taylor Swift nonsense, pop culture randomness and memes and just get through the day feeling like, "Yeah this is hard, but I'm laughing my way through the hard stuff, because it's way better than taking myself seriously and crying!"
...Whoa, sorry, that was my "moms supporting moms" rant. Where did that come from? No clue. But this is a no-edit, no looking back, journaling my thoughts post, so here we are.
Work-Life Balance Goes Seasonal: Summer Goals
Alright, this summer is going to be a spontaneous one, guys. I want to be lazy and fun with my adorable soon-to-be four year-old. My mom life comes first this summer! Give me all the melted popsicles, splash pads, giant bubble wands, pickleball, sandy toes and chlorine-scented hair vibes. My god, this age is SO CUTE. But I also have BIG WORK GOALS to tackle. I want both worlds this summer.
Creator Kathy Project
CAN I DO IT???? Both worlds, this summer? We will see... If you made it THIS FAR and want some BTS action on my work life journey, check out my *secret* Instagram account: @CreatorKathy that I just started. It has two followers as of posting this. I seriously like having no one watching what I'm sharing. It's so freeing! But that being said, HHL blog insiders, welcome! It's super secret and I only want true, positive, supportive fans following it. So YOU are that for reading this rambling post.
What I'm up to on that account now: I am about to film some really cool stuff and I am giving daily updates on my progress. Lots of BTS clips. One foot in front of the other. Messy hair, daily stories updates vibes.
About the Project
It's not too public yet, but some insider info: this project is geared towards anyone looking to improve their plant-forward journey or even transition to a fully vegan lifestyle. All shades of green are welcome! If you are on my email list or following my on IG, you will be the first to hear about any updates on that.
Happy Summer to You
So that's it. I hope you enjoyed this chat about work-life balance and all things personal t me. I am sending you so many warm, sunny, summer vibes hugs! I hope you can get away at least once and take a break from your norm. Please give yourself a big hug for me, you are part of this community of readers and for that, I am so grateful and feel so full of pride.
If you do one thing this summer in honor of our virtual friendship, let it be this: Blend up the best smoothie bowl ever, add a handful of fresh fruit and granola on top, and sit in the sunshine and eat it. Maybe play your fave summer vibes song. I'll be belting out the Cruel Summer bridge on repeat. how about you?
xoxox, K
