End-of-Summer Update (aka The Laughable Task of Trying to Balance Work and Kids)
As a working mom in Silicon Valley, it's a huge challenge to find the balance between work and family. I love my work, but I see how quickly my kids are growing, and I'm okay sacrificing the "extra" work stuff to do fun stuff with the kids. Hence the huge hiatus from this here blog. The highlights of our summer (in no particular order) include a road trip to Portland, viewing the eclipse, numerous hikes, lots of ice cream (my weakness!), a lot of walking, a trip to the beach, Sunnyvale's Great Waldo Search, dropping Kid #1 off at CalArts in SoCal for a month, the Library's summer reading program, more ice cream, and a visit to the Tech Museum of Innovation. Phew! Maceo's favorite? "We went to Oregon....For a week." And Arya liked experiencing "the earthquake" and seeing how much she weighs on Mars and the Moon at the Tech. I loved hanging out with them, but they also drive me a bit crazy! Fortunately I have my classes to keep me sane. (Love that I have a career in which I show up stressed out and leave totally relaxed and grounded!)
We've got just one week left of summer break (lots of play dates to catch up on now that their pals are back from summer adventures) and then it's back to school. And not just for the kids! In October, I start Dharma Path Advanced Studies (DPAS) at the Samyama Yoga Center. Nearly every weekend from October until May, I will be engrossed in everything yoga! I am looking forward to deepening my understanding of anatomy, yoga philosophy, modifying postures to make yoga accessible for more people, and much more...Most of all, I look forward to sharing all of it with my wonderful students! The time switch of our Sunday class from 11:00am to 9:45am (starting September 10) will allow me to participate in DPAS with less of a need for subs.
As the season changes from summer to fall, it's time to cozy up to the comfort of routine. It's going to be a very full, demanding school year for all of us. Nevertheless, with the kids back in school, I plan to get back to my blog, discussing topics of interest to expectant and new moms as well as inspiration from my studies. While I have yet to meet a mom who truly feels "balance" in her life, it's a step in the right direction to have a summer of memories with my children, then to send them back to school and dive back into the work that I love!
What makes you feel successful at juggling your family and your work? Post your thoughts and tips in the comments.
Waiting for ice cream at Salt & Straw, Portland
Ice cream in Ashland
Ice cream at Marianne's in Aptos
And we had some donuts, too