Being a Working Mom (Part 3) | Organizing Your Home Life

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This is Part 3 of our series on Being a Working Mom.  If you missed Part 1 or Part 2, check them out.

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I know that balancing your home life as a mom is a TON of work. I mean, it’s seriously a full time job within itself. When you are a working mom on top of it, it can create for complete CHAOS at times.

I know. I am living it.

And while I do have plenty of days where I feel like I’m on the brink of a complete nervous breakdown, I do have a few things that help me with the day to day.

First, is it’s important to Have A Plan. I start each week out by having a weekly plan. I plan meals, write up my grocery list, cut my coupons, figure out my work To Do’s and any extras that are going on in the week. Then, Jason and I have also gotten into the habit of touching base every night about what the next day is going to look like. It’s in these brief meetings that we map out everything that needs to get done and we prioritize it around our boys naps, busy schedules, photo shoots, and our social activities. It’s hard to be disciplined to do this every night but it really helps to have an organized plan to follow during the day. I only have pockets of time when I can get my work done for Session Nine Photography, so it’s all about making the plan work for you, being realistic in your expectations and being flexible. I’m not talking about hyper-scheduling. Just a flexible plan that you can see all that needs to get done within a day.

Second, get an organizer if you don’t already have one. I can’t keep everything updated in the computer. I am a pen and paper kind of girl and I need my organizer to be out, open and available to me to write anything down as it pops into my mind. My organizer is very detailed and has a spot for my schedule, Jay’s schedule, our work To Do’s, meal planning and a place where I plan out my cleaning for the week. Yes, it looks crazy. Yes, it’s a lot to have in one spot. But it works. It’s amazing what it will do for you if you have all of your information in one place! But more importantly, it’s amazing what it will do for you when it’s actually written down. I can’t keep lists in my head. Things totally get lost that way.

Third, is Being Ok With Imperfection. I did an entire blog post on this topic on my personal blog. The truth is, I really struggle with this. I don’t really want things to be perfect. I live in a real world and I understand that no one or no thing is or can realistically perfect. But I do place A LOT of pressure on myself. I want things to be perfect in the sense that I want things to flow perfectly. I want the day to flow in perfect harmony and for things to just, well, WORK.

But I have babies. So my theory immediately FLIES OUT THE WINDOW as soon as my feet touch the floor every morning. Doesn’t yours?

I think we all need to just cut ourselves a break. We work hard as moms, wives, employees and whatever other area we are working in. And it’s A LOT to balance. And balancing it all is an art, I think. But I have to let go a little bit. My house doesn’t always look like I want it to. Ok, it never looks like I want it to, Ha!. But this is a season, and I have to remind myself of that daily. I have to remember that I am a HUMAN. And it would be humanly IMPOSSIBLE to finish every single thing on my ‘to do’ list every single day. Although I am working harder than I’ve ever worked in my life, I also don’t want to go crazy. And I could easily drive myself crazy with the small details that aren’t always in place or working out. I encourage you. It doesn’t need to be perfect for your husband or kids to love you. Your life doesn’t need to look like a Pottery Barn catalog. Do you really want that? Messy is life. And life is lived in. And we were meant to LIVE. So don’t be afraid to be a little less than perfect and to LET IT GO, whatever area you struggle in.

I promise I’ll take my advice too.

* Disclaimer: Rider was and never is in harms way when sitting on the counter. I am never further than an arms length away from him. A good camera lens can make things look like you were closer or further away than you really are. I’m a real mom and this is seriously the only way I can cook dinner. Ha!

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I am Jessica Williams, full time wife, mother, and photographer. My husband Jason and I have two little boys, Cruz (2.5) and Rider (6 months) who have absolutely changed our lives in all the best ways possible. We live locally in Scottsdale, which is where I grew up, but we just moved back as a family almost a year ago. Jason and I are full time photographers with Session Nine Photography, photographing Weddings and Lifestyle Sessions locally as well as nationally. Jason also works at Scottsdale Bible Church as a Worship Pastor for Soma Young Adults and for High School Ministry. Having grown up in Scottsdale from a very young age, I really love living and raising my own children in Scottsdale. I love getting out in the city and I’m always looking for new things to do! I am passionate about being a mom and empowering women to find what they are passionate about and to live it out. I am inspired daily by women who are hard workers, who love their family and who remain true to who they are.