At the same time that we enjoy the benefits of flexibility, Designing Moms face many challenges. When your office is at home, it can be difficult to draw a line between work and household chores. Sometimes kids resent our work and compare us unfavorably to Moms who don’t juggle careers. Sometimes, we can’t stop judging ourselves. Sometimes, when we finally do sit down to work, it is hard to turn off the voice in our heads reciting a list of all the things we need to remember: “Pick Tali up at 4:00, Drop Lyra at dance class at 4:30, figure out what to make for dinner, Remind Tom to ask about the insurance, thank my Mom for watching the kids on Saturday……………….”
I would love to hear your tips for balancing family and work. All the little tricks that help you stay organized and buy you time at the design table. Here are two of my tips: 1. Don’t feel guilty saying no. I try to get into the classroom a few times a year but I don’t try to keep up with Mom’s who don’t work. I am grateful for their contribution and clear about my limitations. 2. Laundry isn’t rocket science, my kids do their own wash. Well.,OK, my six year old only folds hers but she is on a fast track to laundry independence. Anyone else?
Tali Helps QC Beads in 2003
Baby Lyra Models 1995
Balance is tricky. Here is something that came to my mind when reading your blog and thinking of creative energy and a balance with the other callings of life:
1. When you are inspired, do your best to go for it. I am not a mother but I balance a variety of other very important things in my life as well and sometimes “put-off” creative inspiration to finish another goal I have set for myself and find that I regret setting aside my creative energy. Some things CAN wait and creative inspiration is to be lived in the moment!
2. This is a big one. Some people struggle with pulling themselves away from their TV sets (which I don’t have) and others can’t seem to leave their e-mail in-box alone for more than 12 hours. I suggest going straight to the design table for a set amount of time and then you can check your e-mails after. Those e-mails are not going anywhere and if someone REALLY wanted to reach you, they will call if it is urgent. Sometimes one e-mail can lead to a variety of web searching and then before you know it, 2-3 hours of your precious life and creative energy is gone, forever.
NEVER WASTE CREATIVE ENERGY!
Comment by Carly — September 22, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
I’m in the life is changing fast category…when I started beading, I was home schooling two children and worked as a the RN in charge nights and weekends in a rural hospital with a busy E.R. The beading fit in the cracks and corners,but, I was beading a nice ’special occasion client list –weddings, graduations and the like– then I had a stroke secondary to a brain tumor and spent 90 plus days trying to recover from that….
i have slowly started beading again as my ability to color match and work with color has returned. Some things are hard and some impossible, but I keep working on it, eventually more of it will come back
Comment by Pat — September 24, 2009 @ 11:33 am
The best thing I have learned to do is to always have a travel box of my beading work ready to go with me. I was amazed at how much “dead” time you have as a mother, almost every day – waiting for your kids at lessons, standing around sports practice and games, waiting in doctor offices, hair appointments, etc. I always bring a batch of work with me, some that doesn’t take too much concentration or require me to have all of my materials at hand. I use my design time wisely in my studio, but then set the partially finished pieces in my travel box to finish when I have the time in other venues. I always have my tools and a work tray, and am constantly amazed at how much jewelry gets finished in this way. Also, I have had many curious mothers come over to see what I was doing, and over the years I have sold quite a bit of jewelry this way!
Comment by Susan Schaps — September 25, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
It sounds like you have traveled a very difficult road. I am glad to hear that you can make jewelry again. Hang in there! Best Wishes for a speedy recovery.
Comment by nina — September 29, 2009 @ 2:17 pm