The past few years I found myself floundering at times as I tried to balance being a mother, a wife, a business owner, a Board member for two organizations, a blogger on three blogs, a graduate student, as well as being a sister, friend, volunteer, etc etc. There were a few times I dropped the ball but oftentimes I stretched myself so incredibly thin in order to accomodate everyone but myself.
Today I came across this quote from award-winning actress (and mother, producer, celebrity spokesperson) Jennifer Garner on Elizabeth Street, a blog for stylish moms:
Her words really resonated with me. Too often mothers, especially working mothers, think we must be there for every moment in order to be considered a great mother. Yes, we would love to but we must also be able to pursue our on interests and passions. Sometimes that means missing some important moments. I make it a point to be there for almost every game, most practices, concerts and competitions, and I recently “relinquished” being a Room Parent after a five year run (something had to give!).
One of the reasons I started my own firm is because I wanted flex hours and I wanted to be able to be there for when my boys got out of school. Rarely I am not there for them when their bus rolls up and we are able to have quality time–catching up on the day, doing homework, having a snack. I know this is a true luxury for business owners and often I am interrupted by an important call or email correspondence during our QT. I find myself working until the wee hours into the morning to accomodate this break in my work day. All that matters for me is that my boys remember they had a mother that was there but also pursued her passions, her hobbies, and her interests without sacrificing her family or her dreams.
Going into 2013, I will remain working on my work-life-family balance. It is a struggle but anything worth having is worth working hard at! I am thankful for a husband, who travels often, but helps tremendously with our household and two young men that are getting more and more self-sufficient as the days go by. They understand but are still bummed when I attend conferences, go on business trips, or have to miss out but I know in the long run I am doing what is best for me and my family.
How do you maintain work-life-family balance? What will you work on in 2013?
With ten years of experience in nonprofit management and public relations, Aliah Davis-McHenry is a strategic visionary who thrives on creating, implementing, and managing innovative communications campaigns.
Driven by creativity and relentless energy, Aliah delivers compelling and multifaceted solutions for Aliah Public Relations clients. She has worked with an extensive list of nonprofit organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. A graduate of Rutgers University, Aliah serves as a Board of Director and Marketing and Communications Committee Chair for the Association for Women in Communications and on the Women’s Leadership Council for the United Way – Northern New Jersey. She also speaks on social media, women’s issues, and entrepreneurship.
When Aliah isn’t spending time with her family and friends, she can be found blogging, traveling, and exploring her love of photography, music, art, and fitness. You can connect with PR Diva’s Founder on Facebook (www.facebook.com/aliahpublicrelations) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/aliahpr).
