By Gabrielle Anderson, lmft

To be a mom and an owner of a small business is definitely at times not an easy balance. My heart is home with my husband and kiddos, but my head is with the practice. Our family, like many others, has had its share of pain and heartache. Lyme disease swept over our house like a dark cloud and seemed to hover over our home. Chronic illness is something my family has had to fight for years. Watching my husband & children struggle to battle the disease has not been easy.

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When a Mom Must Work...

I am so fortunate that I love what I do, because I have to work. I have to lead others and help my clients heal and grow. I love my work and feel proud of my practice, but I struggle every day to find and create balance. Every day I have to make the decision of when to sit with my laptop and when to close it shut. I choose when to answer emails and texts, when to stay late at the office and finish notes and when to just walk away. Do I feel proud of all of my decisions? No. I actually do not. Maybe that is why I am writing this blog today. 

To be More Mindful

 As I write this, I am on my way home from a wonderful, much needed vacation with my family. I did not check my emails once. I played on the beach, drank margaritas, rode bikes on the beach, visited with old friends and loved it. I refuled and now I feel satisfied. This feeling causes me to pause and reflect. I reflect on the way I want to navigate my life and the balance I wish to strive a little harder to find. 

I need to work. I have to, no questions asked. BUT I also want to find that sweet spot in the middle where my heart and head are both content and satisfied. That sweet spot where I feel proud of my choices and how I use my time. I talk about “shadow comforts" and “time monsters” in the therapy room all of the time. Now it is my turn to evaluate and re-evluate mine. Do I like how I choose to manage my hours? Do I like the rules I set and follow for myself about how to stay organized and on top of my game?

Balance is not a Destination

One thing I do believe. Balance is NOT a destination, but rather a journey and a process that gets created and recreated and tweaked all of the time. To be mindful and purposeful and true to myself is what I am striving to do. It is not easy to be a working mom. Not easy at all. I love my little guys and want to take care of them AND experience them. My wish for you: take the time to evaluate for yourself. Choose your life and passions; do not let them choose you.