My Summer Job -- Juggler

As you can see my last post was dated the June 19th --- the first official day of summer vacation.  This was also the day I started my new career -- as a juggler.  I juggle work, I juggle playdates, I juggle kids activities around the house, I juggle appointments for all family members --  I juggle everything.

Now you're probably thinking, "You're a mom. Isn't that part of your job description."  True, but this summer there is a new ball added into the mix and it's a big one -- work.

Now it's not as if I didn't make plans for the summer.  My kids are enrolled in camp 3 days a week and I'm trying to put in 3 full days of work instead of 5 part time days so we have time for summer adventures together.  But you know what they say, the best laid plans...

In other words it's not quite working out the way I thought it would.  That one extra ball has thrown my whole act off.  So I've spent the last few weeks looking for a new way to balance and I've found it surprisingly by adding in one more activity.  It's called relaxing.  R-E-L-A-X-I-N-G.  I know some of you may not be familiar with this activity but I highly recommend it. 

I must admit I was forced into this whole relaxing thing by a scheduled family vacation.  The first two days of my vacation I actually had some work that had to be done.  I did this all from my outdoor office under the trees with a handy wi-fi connection that offered me a view of the pond.  Not a bad way to work... but that's what it was work.  Not vacation.

The next day I vowed not to work and after quickly checking my email I headed out for a day at the beach.  And you know what?  I actually relaxed.  Once I re-experienced what a real break felt like, I couldn't get enough of it.  I swam with the kids, I read, I fished, I went on a long bike ride, I sat and did nothing at all. Yes I did check my blackberry, but I didn't plug in my computer the rest of the trip.

I returned home on Saturday catching up on my stack of unread magazines on the long flight cross-country flight and fell blissfully asleep relaxed and ready to take on the world.

Normally on a Sunday I work a bit in the morning before everyone gets up and then sneak a little work in later in the day when everyone is occupied.  But this Sunday I unpacked, did everyone's vacation laundry and in the afternoon, my husband and I snuck out to a movie. Then I came home and cleaned out the mudroom.  I didn't check my work email (shocking!). I didn't check the traffic on the site (unbelievable!).  I didn't even look at the site (earth shattering!).

Today is Monday, back to work and I've rarely been more focused, productive and yes relaxed.  My summer job as juggler is far from over, but what I figured out is that I while I may always be a juggler, I do have a choice regarding which balls I have to juggle, and I can't forget to add in a little time for the me -- the juggler.