Work/Home Balance for Mom

Today's post is actually a guest post from Summer Blackhurst.  It is that time of year again where we are looking for a new match with another au pair for the next year.  So far we've had two chinese au pairs and have had two years of overall very positive experiences.  I'll share more about this in a later post.

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Some days I am up until 1 a.m. tying up loose ends in the home and with my job. Often by the time I lay my head down to sleep, I am promptly visited with my baby’s first cry to be nursed or my toddler’s call for comforting

Finding the right work/home balance has brought me to the brink at times (and as much as a 36-hour day would be just the right fit - extending out the solar system to make this possible just isn’t in the cards). With all the demands on moms in the 21^st century, kids are getting caught in the middle of the madness. They don’t have to suffer though. With a little ingenuity moms can have kids, and if they choose to, pursue career dreams.

In these cases get creative and look for more flexibility at work, telecommuting or working less than 40 hours if possible.  Talk to your hubby about stepping it up as much as possible. Train him to give you a night off from the little ones whenever he sees that “crazed” look in your eyes.

What about childcare? Have you ever thought about bringing in an Au Pair for a little extra help at home? I know with live in childcare it’s scary trying the find the right fit for the family. Finding childcare that doesn’t break the bank is also nerve racking. Au Pair childcare might not fit your needs, but it might. The State department set up this program for “foreign nannies” to come here and receive an invaluable cultural experience. Their job will create opportunities back in their own country for them, and US families leverage the live-in help and culture exchange to restore stability at home. Au Pair care is real time - live in help. An Au Pair keeps the family from being tied down to specific day care schedules and is typically a lot more affordable than using a local nanny.

In the swaying winds of home and family culture, our children need a steady hand more than ever. The more time I spend as a working mom the more I’m convinced too much is on my plate, it isn’t possible to do it all without help. So while we can have it all, we don’t necessarily have to do it all! Finally, I’ve found no matter what I might be going through at the time, I’ve never regretted pushing my little peoples needs the front of the line.

Summer Blackhurst writes content for Go Au Pair. She is the mother of two beautiful boys under three-years-old. She’s been writing for more than 15 years and worked in the childcare field for 20 years.