Balancing Act: 5 tips for balancing babies and business!

I don't have plans, I have children.  This fact is magnified times a billion when I am working.  I am blessed to work from home, have flexible schedules and an amazing support system, but with 6 children it still takes a lot of juggling to get things done.  As a mompreneur there are a few tips that I have learned along the way that make it easier to be a mom while also being an artist and an aspiring mogul (lol).

1.  BE PREPARED
Proper preparation prevents poor performance should be the 5 P's of being a mompreneur.  Some moms may be like me and feel that they don't even have time to prepare but a little preparation is better than no preparation.  I have found that even if I do little things they can make a huge difference. For instance if I know that me and my youngest three (4, 2, and 6 months) have to leave the house I pick out clothes, pack the diaper bag and snack bags the night before.  Just that little bit of preparation saves me the headache of having to do it in the morning with three cranky kids!  When I am really motivated, or if I have to go out of town I will cook meals and freeze them so that my husband or my older three (14, 12, and 11 years old) can just thaw out a meal or toss it in the oven.

2.  Always have a plan B
Babysitters fall through, and it must be some universal law that babysitters will always cancel at the last minute, when you are late, and when you aren't able to bring the kids along.  It is best to have a daycare center that you trust that takes drop ins, or a relative that you can have on call as a back up when you know that you have an important meeting or event.

3.  Utilize technology
I work from home because I don't want to drag three kids out of the house everyday and sometimes I just want to wear pajamas all day.  But even working from home I have meetings, somehow meetings can not be avoided.  I try to set up conference calls, skype, emails and instant messages when at all possible.  More often than not teleconferencing can be just as effective as face to face meetings, just remember to keep your phone on mute or schedule during nap time!  Another way that I utilize technology is by setting alarms on my phone and Macbook as reminders for tasks I need to complete for the day as a way to help keep me focused.

4.  Schedule break time
Working from home, with children can be very challenging and it can be a bit overwhelming.  You can end up spending your day bouncing back and forth between sitting in front of the computer, chasing babies, and doing household duties, which can overload anyone.  I set specific work times for myself, a schedule that I ignore on most occasions, but what I don't ignore are my break times.  My breaks are 10-15 minute increments that I spend doing something that I enjoy.  I may do Yoga, read, meditate, pray, eat, or even google random stuff.  These breaks are important for my sanity and help me to stay fresh and focused.

5.  Accept help
Once upon a time I was super mom, now I am realistic mom.  I know that if I have a performance and I have to take my younger children there is a 50/50 chance that one of my little bundles of wonder will not just sit and chill out listening to poetry for 2-3 hours, heck most adults can't behave themselves for that long.  So when I am at a show and a sister friend offers to sit next to my two year old while I perform I graciously accept.

I know that I am not the first woman to do this and I surely won't be the last.  I chose this life, I could easily enroll my little ones in daycare and get a nine to five, but I want to live my life on my own terms.  I believe that the time that I get to send with my children and the bond that we are creating is priceless and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I hope these tips are helpful, feel free to comment with some of your own tips!  Thanks for reading!!!

7 ways to stay sane during your first 6 weeks with a new baby!!!

7 ways to stay sane during your first 6 weeks with a new baby!!!

Lately my blogs have been all about babies, why...because I just had a new baby of course.  During those first 6 weeks with a new baby your life literally revolves around your new little miracle, which can be demanding and a bit overwhelming.  Even though I am on baby number 6 I sometimes have to remind myself how I have made it through dealing with 6 newborns without going completely insane!  So here are some tips for new moms (reminders for us pros) on how to make it through those first weeks without completely losing it!

Eat-

With all of the hormonal and schedule changes that come along with having a new baby in the house sometimes you forget to eat.  You are so busy feeding, changing, and soothing your new little one that you either forget or are too exhausted to eat when you get the time.  But eating is very important during this time to keep your hormones balanced, keep blood sugar levels normal, and to battle possible post partum depression.  I keep an apple (to keep me regular) or something easy, like animal crackers near my bed so that even if I’m too tired to cook I can get some calories in my system.  Another good option is smoothies or yogurt if you don’t have much of an appetite.

Sleep-

It is so important to get proper rest after having a new baby.  For one your body is healing and you are also trying to compensate for the sleep you will lose at night due to your baby waking to eat and be changed.  Whenever you can you should sleep when your baby sleeps.  Even though this is not always possible, do it as much as you can.  Even if you can only get a 30-45 minute nap each time your baby sleeps it will help you to heal faster be better prepared to deal with the stresses of taking care of a newborn.

Shower-

Nothing will brighten your mood and make you feel like a new person better than a shower can.  Being tired and trying to work the responsibilities of a new baby into an already busy schedule can make it seem almost impossible to find time for a shower into your post partum life.  Even if you can only steal away 5 minutes of time, make sure you use it to get a good shower, your mind and your body will thank you! 

Get Fresh Air-

Taking care of a newborn can easily lead to a bad case of cabin fever, which can bring on or intensify post partum depression.  One thing that I found helps wonders is to get a little fresh air everyday.  It may only be a walk to the mailbox or one minute on the back porch enjoying the sunshine, a little bit of fresh air goes a long way.  The weather doesn’t have to be perfect either, one minute outdoors can refresh you and lift your spirits helping to shake off that cabin fever.

Drink Lots of Water-

I cannot stress enough how important it is to drink enough water after having a new baby.  Drinking water can help to keep away constipation, which will only add stress to your life in any situation, but especially when dealing with a new baby.  Drinking enough water can also help to flush any toxins out of your system and help you to get back near your pre pregnancy size.  Not to mention drinking lots of water can help to deal with post partum acne, which can be quite annoying!

Take your vitamins

It is just as important to take your vitamins post partum as it is during pregnancy.  You are losing blood and not getting adequate sleep so taking vitamins can help to keep your body healthy while you are recuperating from giving birth.  Just continue to take your prenatal vitamins as usual, if you are breastfeeding and would like to take a different vitamin be sure to consult with your doctor first.

Accept Help

Don’t be too proud to accept (or ask for) help when you bring your new baby home.  If someone offers to cook a meal, wash dishes, or take your older kids off your hands for a few hours by all means, let them help.  Trying to be super mom can lead you to being overworked and stressed out, something that isn’t good for you or your new little one.  You don’t have to let every one do everything for you but take this time to enjoy the kindness of others and get the rest that you need and deserve.