Are you juggling too much?

As mothers we can fall into a pattern of trying to please or appease others. Maybe we learnt this from our mothers.

I think this pattern can be especially true for the hard working home based mother.

If your child has a complex medical condition your list of people to please might go something like this.

• Husband
• Kids
• School
• Specialist
• Physio
• OT
• Podiatrist
• GP
• Immunologist
• Psychologist

I also expect myself to perform to a fairly high standard in my part-time work, looking after the house, my voluntary work, my extended family and in my friendships.

It is not hard to see why it gets way too hard to be getting it right on so many fronts.  I’ve been there and I am meeting other mothers at hydro who admit that they have been doing the same.  It is a one way ticket to a break down.

The solution is to break down and admit two things.  The first is that you are trying to do too much.  The second is that you need help.

Do not attend your next appointment unless you have a support person with you.  Go to that appointment with the list of roles you are trying to fill.

Ask for help from your specialist to put a pain management plan in place that co-ordinates all your great team.

The earlier you admit that you need help the sooner the problem becomes more manageable…and the sooner the joy comes back into your life.

I am also learning that we are in this for the long haul.  For my efforts to be sustainable  I need to learn to get my name to the top of the list of people to please.

Juggling photo courtesy of madaboutasia at Flickr Creative Commons.