I’ll admit it. Before diapers and baby talk, I was one of those women who envied those other women who “got to stay home and take care of the kids”. Visions of leisurely mornings, slipper-covered feet lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee and the remote in-hand, I too wanted to stay home and take care of the kids.

Now, I am the woman who takes care of the kid and works a full time job. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change it for anything, but my past naivety makes me giggle. The truth is, taking care of children is a full time job, and when you add a career into the mix, let’s face it, exhaustion is the only way to describe the situation.

Of course, I couldn’t possibly cover every scenario, but here are the two challenges I commonly face, and some personal solutions that work for me at the present time. (As you know, it may change tomorrow as my son Max likes to keep me on my toes.)

Stay Organized to Stay Ahead
My intent isn’t to insult anyone with such an elementary suggestion, but when I get stressed, I forget to step back and get organized. Then as you know, the stress keeps piling on, and a complete tear-streaming episode happens in the middle of the kitchen floor with dinner bubbling over and Max shifting through the trash can for his next treasure. For example:

To make mornings easier, I get Max’s clothes, diaper bag and lunch ready for preschool the night before. No matter how tired I am, this is a promise that I keep to avoid pressure in the morning.

I cook dinner the night before. I enjoy cooking, so not only is this a way to stay organized and ahead of the game, it is a relaxing task after Max goes to bed.

Accept that Things May Not Go As Planned
I still have a hard time with this one especially being that Max is 15 months-old. His mood changes in a second. So, I keep in mind:

Max is a little human being that has feelings just like me, and worse for him, he can’t communicate as well. He gets frustrated just as I do, and a time out for the both of us is beneficial.

I am a single mom, who is working full time by choice, but I have to ask for help sometimes.

Interaction with Max, reading a book, playing or tickling is the best stress-relief and reminds me that he is truly the reason why I work so hard.

So what do you think? What are some challenges you deal with as a working mom? I look forward to your comments!