By Cheryl Bac
E-mail Cheryl Bac
About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons incl...
(More)About this blog: I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, home cook, marathon runner, and PhD. I recently moved to the Silicon Valley after completing my PhD in Social Psychology and becoming a mother one month apart. Before that, I ran seven marathons including Chicago and Boston. Exercise is an integral part of my life. I hope to one day go back to long distance running and tackle the New York City Marathon. Right now I run after my one year old son. Although I am a stay-at-home mom, we are rarely "at home." My mom also stayed at home with my brother and me. She warned me that, although rewarding, it can be isolating. So, with her help, I learned the importance of getting out into the community and meeting other mothers. On the rare occasion when I am at home and have a hand or two free, I squeeze in time to scrapbook. As a new mom, many challenges are thrown my way. I hope my opinions, triumphs, and struggles help experienced parents reminisce, new parents cope, and parents-to-be get an honest glimpse of what the first years of motherhood can entail.
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Last week I read an article titled “
Just do the dishes. Please. The kids will be fine.” It talked about everyone finding their own balance. It reminded me just how much my parenting has changed over the last 7 years. And how I’m at a point where I can put a bit more balance back into my life.
When our kids were babies, I wasn’t thinking about balance. Some days just finding time to cook and eat a meal was challenging. Keeping up with the mountain of dishes just wasn’t going to happen.
Now that our kids are older, I have more time to find balance again. For me, right now, finding balance is not about a clean kitchen. Right now finding balance is more about appreciating my ability to finally sit down and eat most of my meals while they are still warm. I’m able to use two hands to cut steak. I’m able to chat with others at the table. I’m able to actually relax and enjoy the meal, something that, before kids, I took for granted.
This new stage of parenting reminds me of the first few weeks after returning from summer camp. I loved going away to camp for the summer, but I was always so happy to return to the comforts of home afterwards. Taking a long hot shower. Eating my favorite meals. Playing cards with my family. And just relaxing in an air conditioned room.
Now that our kids are older, as the article talked about, I’m finding my own balance. Finding balance is different for everyone. And it is different at each parenting stage. For me, right now, it is enjoying the little things in life that I used to take for granted.
How do you find your own balance?
