The Reality of a Working Mom

As I attempt to figure out this ever-changing balance between working full time as a teacher and doing all the things that motherhood require I have come to this realization.

Most of the time my kitchen looks like this...

A majority of the school year my desk looks like this...

In a perfect world I would be both a night owl and an early bird.  I would have a spotless desk at school and grading would be up-to-date and my lessons and activities in the classroom would be top-notch.  My kitchen would be clean, laundry folded, and I would read books, play dress-up, and make crafts with the girls.

But that's not my reality.

My reality is constantly trying to decide what is the most important thing for me to do at each individual moment of the day.

That means the majority of my time at school is spent researching, developing, and reflecting on lesson plans, activities in class, or long-term projects I want my students to create.  The flip side of that is, I am constantly behind on grading and my desk top is both neat and organized four days out of the school year.  The first day, day after Thanksgiving Break, day after Christmas Break, and after Spring break (that one's a maybe...).  I can stack the piles of papers to appear to be neat when I have a sub coming, but that's just for show.

I have attempted to address grading in a different way so that the assignments I grade are ones that are really worth the time I spend.  I attempt to do very little at home.  I have to have a separation between my school life and my home life.  I take stuff home to grade every weekend.  I rarely do it.

At home I fight a constant battle of clutter and dishes.  The girls are just starting to get old enough to help a little and actually do it well.  There are days where I make them help me unload the dishwasher, pick up clothes and toys off the floor, and wipe down counters and bathrooms.  I really try to have them involved in this aspect of living at home, this way they grow up with it as a reality and it's not a shock when I ask them to fold towels as teenagers.  I do admit, at times, it is just easier and faster for me to do it by myself, and that does happen.

But I also want to play with them, read them stories, and enjoy them at this young, silly, carefree age.  I know it's not going to last, I know that when I say "I can't wait for them to be more independent" that the day will come when they are independent and I'll be wishing for the little pitter-patter of their feet running in to tell me another "great idea."

It's a balance.  Things have to be sacrificed.  I'm learning to live with a little clutter and a messy desk in order to spend time with the more important aspects of each job I have.

I'm a work in progress.  As are all mamas, daddy's, and families.