Michelle’s Challenge
She has four children ages 7-13, her husband’s salary was cut by 50% and she’s working full time”….can anyone relate? Any tips on how you help make it easier?
You know, it’s been a long time since I’ve HAD to be on a “schedule” (outside of feeding our cats and changing their boxes). Our kids are grown, my husband’s healthy and works and while I did take care of the yard, house, cooking, and laundry, there were very few things I had to do by a deadline. And like childbirth, I had forgotten how “painful/hard” it was raising kids or working full-time, (or both at the same time) while doing the housework, cleaning, etc., much less having any time to yourself.
Well, that’s all changed and suddenly I “remember”!—See Exhibit A…
My piles of clothes and shoes from photo shoot and piles of paperwork I need to file…it adds up so quickly!
I love working on our new website but since I was not competent on the computer before we started this, I’ve also been trying to learn (and I’m VERY slow) how Facebook, twitter and a new mail website works. I swear, I JUST learned how copy and paste works and I’m still trying to perfect that! And because suddenly I’m spending eight or more hours doing something else, I’ve remembered how hard it is! I’ve got a messy house and piles!
Leslie’s Challenge
She is solely supporting 6 and has started a new self-employed job…..anyone doing that? (Leaving a job and becoming self-employed? How’s it working?)
And then there’s the fact that my husband is part of this site (technical side and marketing),and now we sometime suddenly have some challenges in separating business from personal discussions. And I’m getting the occasional thought of “well, am I the only one who knows how to clean the toilet?” (He would if I just asked, but since he’s working the “paying” job, I still feel it’s my responsibility-but he would!) And then I went back and read some of the comments entered in the fashion make-over contest and it made me think, we’re always going through different phases in our lives and it always helps when you share, because someone else might have a suggestion that could really help you with the different challenges you might be going through.
Jewell’s Challenge
She has a friend raising three daughters, she’s the family breadwinner, she went through a job loss (but is working again) and she’s a teacher so you know how hard she’s working with probably not a “huge” salary…..who’s gone through a job loss, or works as a teacher? What are some of the challenges you’re facing?
In addition, there are women looking for jobs, raising children by themselves, taking care of sick children, or finding themselves back at home, divorced, feeling depressed or dealing with weight gain (and everyday someone’s dealing with how to feed the children, how to pay the rent or dealing with a death)……We’d love to hear from you and how you cope with what life has thrown your way. Perhaps you can find some new ideas for yourself and/or help someone else out and make life a little easier.
Single mom of an 18 year old about to graduate ($$$$). Recovering from over two years of cancer crap (lack of $$$$). Running two businesses…a rapidly growing green housecleaning business (www.MaidItCO.com) and holistic nutritional counselor (everyone else making the $$$$). All this while trying to establish something of a relationship with someone special. Some days I roll with the punches, other days I’m a deer caught in the headlights.
How I handle all this is I do what I can. Read that again. I do what I CAN. I try not to over-committ, but it’s hard not to with such a full plate. My VERY FIRST priority is myself! I learned this through cancer…that nobody will take care of me like I need to be cared for. I have to do this myself. That means saying “no”, not doing ANYTHING out of guilt or supposed obligation. I do what I want, when I want to do it most of the time. I have learned that sometimes being “responsible” means not doing what others deem responsible. I don’t always pay the bills on time. I follow my heart…it has yet to steer me wrong.
Sometimes I go to bed at 8 on a Friday night. Sometimes I eat popcorn for dinner, but I drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits and veggies (which really DOES help in stress management!), I walk a lot, listen to music, meditate and talk to God, and let everyone do their own thing. Yes, people piss me off sometimes, but if I look at it closely, it’s really something in myself that I don’t like…therefore pisses me off.
I have turned in my Wonder Woman belt and Invisible Jet for a much more relaxed life. Today is all we have and I prefer not to race through it like a mad woman anymore…did that for 45 years and all it got me was cancer. Not a good return on my time and effort!
You really made some great points! Saying no and turning in your Wonder Woman belt….know EXACTLY what you mean. Thanks for some great tips on how you deal with stress and the importance of taking care of ourselves….I’m sorry about the cancer but it sounds like you’re doing well? I think someone is going to read your story and be helped in some way….really appreciate you taking the time to share! Thank you.