Creating A Balanced Life: Kids & All
Creating a balanced life is important in keeping peace in the family. Balancing life can be difficult though. However, don’t give up. There are ways to get life in check so stress doesn’t overwhelm. Make schedules for the family. Spend quality time with your husband and kids. Most of all keep God first and set boundaries with work-life.
These can be daunting tasks. Maybe you’re lacking ideas of how to balance everything. That’s Ok. Family balancing takes time but can be done. As I’ve started new adventures such as writing and teaching my kids music lessons, I’ve had to learn to adjust. Being flexible helps keep my sanity and it can yours too.
Creating a Balanced Life
Family balancing can be a daunting task. Running kids to activities, teaching kids school or music lessons, finding time for your husband, or just plain sitting down for a quiet family time or a family game night seems impossible at times. That is why creating a balanced life is so very important.
The effects of not figuring out how to balance your life can be devastating for all involved. You want to be super mom, but if a healthy boundary isn’t set you won’t be super for anyone. A lack of family balancing creates stress for everyone.
There are different forms of stress. Long-term stress makes people physically ill and can cause anxiety and depression. Symptoms of stress are things such as feeling overwhelmed and irritable. Those things won’t foster the loving relationship so deeply desired.
Overcoming stress and busyness creates a healthy lifestyle and fosters an environment of love. To do this its a matter of keeping some good, clean fun in life and managing time wisely. This isn’t time management in the sense your boss wants a certain set of tasks done by five. But deciding what time every day you are going to be spending on you and your family.
Family Harmony
Everyone desires family harmony. A happy husband, kids, inner peace, who could ask for more? But family harmony or family balancing can be a tricky act. One that takes time, patience, and diligence, but is possible.
Family balancing and harmony are achieved by setting a schedule for kids, spending quality time with your kids, having a daily routine, and creating a work-life balance plan for yourself. Don’t let this seem overwhelming as it is possible.
The first, setting a schedule for kids, I’ll discuss in greater detail shortly. But it’s important kids know the expectations for each day. In our home, when we ask them spur of the moment to clean something up, chaos typically ensues. They had one set of ideas for that time while I had another. This doesn’t mean they never have to help even last minute, but giving them a choice and time frame helps immensely.
Spending quality time with your kids and husband is the next biggy. Quality time is about connection. Generally, sitting in front of the TV with eyes buried in a phone screen doesn’t count. Break out a board game, card game or movie. Go for a bike ride. What about a family night at the local arcade? Do something to interact and bond together.
Having a daily routine and creating a work-life balance plan is also vitally important. This will help you not overschedule yourself. It keeps you accountable for finding time to spend with the family as well as quiet time to unwind.
Finally, don’t be afraid to separate the kids or move to a different location if tension and stress enter the room. If it’s present during music lessons follow these tips. At other times just take a step back until the air clears and then try again.
Kids’ Busy Schedule
One thing many families these days can relate to is having multiple activities to run their kids to each week. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, six out of ten kids participate in one or more extra-curricular activities every week. Take that times two or more kids in the house and it makes for a busy day. Creating a schedule for kids should be a top priority, for their sanity and yours.
Preschool Kids’
Starting kids out early with a set daily routine will help them learn to manage their time and make them more successful. May sound odd for a 3-year-old I know. But it’s true. The schedule doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Keeping it simple will keep the peace between mother, father, and child allowing for greater family harmony.
To create a schedule for kids in preschool use pictures and words, it’s a great teaching tool. Start with the morning routine, showing them getting up, making their bed, getting dressed, having breakfast, and brushing their teeth. Then it’s off to class, whether you are homeschooling or have enrolled them in a preschool class elsewhere. The rest of the day could include lunchtime, playtime, toy clean up, naptime, dinner, dance class, and of course, the bedtime routine.
Customize the chart to what the child is involved in. Print it out and post it where your child can see it. After it’s posted, get some fun stickers and let them put one on each task they complete. Kids love seeing their progress. Celebrate their success with them when they complete everything on their chart.
Elementary Kids’
A schedule for kids in Elementary school will be similar to preschool. Start with the “getting ready” activities, move onto school, and then the after school activities followed by dinner and bedtime routine. The difference here is the kids will likely be involved in a few more things. So careful planning is key.
If you are giving your kids music lessons be sure to put those on the schedule. It’s an important and vital way of prioritizing that time rather than letting everything else get in the way.
Tweens and Up
As kids get older their interests change. They still need the structure of a schedule. Let them begin taking the responsibility of making their own schedule. If they come up with the ideas of how to lay it out, what to include, how to decorate it and get it printed they will be more likely to use it.
Balancing Work and Family
Creating a work-life balance plan is a gift for the whole family. Working maintains the family. It keeps a steady income so bills can be paid and groceries can be bought. But there is a point when work needs to be set aside so family bonding can happen.
Working outside the home generally creates an inherent boundary. This boundary is the workday hours. Most professions don’t require one to work outside the scheduled hours. When you get home, the job is done and it’s family time. Now, I realize some careers such as teachers, require work to be taken home. But most jobs end when the workday is over.
So, what happens when you take on volunteer work, a second job, a freelance job, or have to take work home at night? Then there is one job that is more rewarding than any other but never ends, being a parent. This is when the black and white becomes gray. Let’s muddle it up even more.
What about when mom teaches her kids? Now I’m not talking about the typical life lessons every day or things that happen naturally, although those are important. I’m referring to homeschool moms or those that choose to teach their kids music lessons. How is it possible to find a way of balancing work and family?
Making a plan is key. But creating a work-life balance plan doesn’t always happen easily, especially when you’re self-employed or chasing a dream.
The Great Pillow Disaster: Realizing the Importance of Creating a Work-Life Balance Plan
I’ve found that more times than I want to admit I take family time to sit at my computer chasing this dream of writing and building a business. Just the other day my youngest was devasted because his favorite pillow ripped in the washing machine. It was a large Batman body pillow. I told him I’d sew it up.
I worked outside the home the next day so I didn’t get an opportunity to fix it. He was understanding but disappointed. He asked before school the following day if I’d fix it. I reassured him I would since I’d be home and should have time.
The day came and went and I spent it behind my computer writing this post and beginning my journey in freelance writing. He asked after school if I had fixed his pillow. I said no and I would try and do it following dinner. Needless to say, it didn’t get done cause things happened. You know how that goes.
The next day I was home again and on the way to school he asked me in the kindest way, “Mommy, could you not be on your computer today so you can fix my pillow?” At that moment I knew I had to be intentional about the time I spent working on my dream so I could be mom first. I did. His pillow was fixed before he was home from school that day.
I shared this story because it’s easy to get caught up in our dreams and work. There is nothing wrong with this. Actually I’m all for chasing your dreams. But, if you want to have your dream and a healthy home and family, set a work time boundary and stick to it. Balancing work and family keeps priorities in place.
Time for God
Making time for God is the most important thing you can do in creating a balanced life. Teaching your kids to put Him first is one of the best things we can do as parents. It’s easy to get caught up in the day to day dealings in life and try to do everything on our own. God didn’t design us to be superwomen, He created us to need and lean on him. When we do, great things happen.
God tells us in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (NLT).” Striving to do, be a certain way, be the perfect mom, teach your kids, volunteer for everything, or compete with the neighbors isn’t what we are called for. When we step back and put God first, he will make sure we have what we need.
Here again, scheduling is key (notice a theme). Find a time that is just meant for you and God. Make it a part of your daily routine. There isn’t any right or wrong way to about it. Trying starting the day with ten minutes of reading the bible and praying about for your family, day, work, or concerns. If getting up early isn’t in the cards, take a break midday, do a family devotion at dinnertime, or read the bible just before bed.
If you create a schedule for kids be sure to include time for God for them as well. Teaching them to take that little bit of time out of their day to spend with God and give thanks for all they have as well as pray for the desires of their heart sets them up for future success.
Creating a Balanced Life So Things Will Fall Into Place
Nothing works perfectly the first time. If a set schedule doesn’t fit, change things up a bit. Always strive for that point when things in life remain balanced. As peace begins to become the norm in the family, balancing life gets much easier.
I encourage you to continue being a super mom but remember super mom status doesn’t mean you do all things. It means many things are done, dreams are sought after, and the family has peace and harmony. It is possible to be a “super” mom. You already are!
~Melissa
If you are interested in flute or piano lessons in the Grand Island, NE area feel free to contact us!