The Pro'sCons & Struggles of a work at home mum

I haven't blogged for a week or so I just needed a break.....Yep that's the truth in a nutshell. I have even had a bit of a break from my Facebook page.

I look at myself as very fortunate woman that I get to stay at home with my kids, as I have built my little business up slowly. There is definitely a down side however, actually I should rephrase that there are challenges of being a work at home mum.

I am still amazed by the amount of women who oooh & ahhh when they find out that I work from home. Generally I hear,

I could go on but I won't, but I am guessing you get the general idea of where I am going?

I write this post with pure honesty, letting others know it's OK to admit to being a little overwhelmed. I have also learnt that there are other mums who have the same battles as me, but feel ashamed in fear of not being perfectly perfect!!

Lately I have been absolutely stuck on the whole organisational side of life. I need to start getting more out of my day, stop procrastinating with some jobs & utilising tome more wisely. Even if that means no social media time until everything else important is completed.

Most of you know I have 2 kids, Hudson is nearly 4yrs & Charlotte nearly 2yrs. The are my world & want them to have everything like all mums a great home life, education & every opportunity that comes their way. BUT I also need to work, like the majority of us. Lately it's been quite hard as fortunately I have been getting busier, especially with my Quirky and Quaint business. The busier I get the harder the whole routine thing is.

For the last week I have been trying to simplify my world a little more, not by eliminating anything currently going on, but instead organising myself, & utilising my time much more efficiently. Almost with military style precision. I have actually become a little obsessed with finding ways of running the house with two energetic & demanding kids & a small business. The changes I have made are truly are not rocket science but small changes that have made a HUGE difference with the functions within my own world. I desperately need to make these changes as I am needing to work more & more around the kids. Lately it seems so difficult trying to balance the home, the kids & lastly the business. Even over whelming, sometimes I feel like I am spinning hehe & it's not for fun!!

The kids are priority of course, I love a clean house, but I also need to earn an income. All of them have an equal priority but are so different. My challenge going forward is to attempt some serious time management so I can try to achieve it all. I know its going to be trial & error, but need to do so in the most simple ways.

Here is my first of many changes I am going to share & make.

The first change - Efficiency while breakfast is on.

My mornings begin, in my case about 6.00-6.30am, Charlotte is not one to sleep in unfortunately. So normally we would hop up together, sit & cuddle on the couch, she would have a drink of milk, I would have my coffee. By then Huds

on would eventually get up then we would sit & have a cuddle & he would have juice. Sometimes the group cuddles would definitely go on for a little longer than planned. I was fine with that as I LOVE them, then I'd make breakfast & we'd all sit together. Then I would see the time & be chasing my tail until we had to leave for whatever activities where on for the day. I would generally not get everything done before I left & hated knowing it was at home w

aiting for me. I just couldn't help it I love those smoochy cuddles, as I know one day I wont get them....So I have been told.

My day still starts at the same time so nothing has really changed there. I still have a coffee & sit with Charlotte for a quick cuddle. In stead of sitting there for a good 45mins waiting for Hudson to wake & watching the Today Show, I hop up after my coffee, change the TV to ABC Kids for Charlotte & I start unpacking the dishwasher from the night before, make any lunches or snacks the kids need for the day, throw on a load of washing & do a very fast 'general' tidy up. If I can I usually eat my breakfast to. It's almost like speed cleaning! When Hudson wakes I still have a big cuddle with him & get his morning juice, but have just shortened the cuddle time. Then it's breakie for my babies, while they snack on their toast & fruit I jump in the shower & get ready for the day. generally they have finished when I come out so time to clean up their dishes & wipe down benches. After that time for them to be dressed, face washed & teeth brushed, then bags packed for whatever we're doing.

Oh another thing that has helped, no turning on the computer!!!

DONE!! For some that disciplined routine is normal, for me not so. Beside needing a bit of time to wake up, I just loved cuddling with the kids, but it was kind of making me crazy all the racing around & constant calling out to them both to get things done. No once all that is done I look around for other jobs to complete or turn my computer on & read some emails I received over night.

I have implemented some other 'new' routines which I will be happy to share soon. However I would love to know how else my morning an be improved, or if you know of some fab books to read about time management.