Hello My Dear Reader,

Just when we think we've got it all figured out, life has a funny way of throwing us off course doesn’t it?

I'm sure many of you can relate to the challenges of juggling the two immensely rewarding yet demanding roles of parenting and career. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been navigating through a particularly challenging period due to an awful bug that's been making the rounds at my children's school. With three of my four children taking turns to stay home for 2-3 days each, my well-planned schedule went straight out the window, and I found myself scrambling to adapt.

Flexibility

So, imagine this: you've meticulously planned your week, set important meetings, and carved out dedicated work hours to keep yourself focused and really propel your business forward. You get that dreaded phone call that your child is unwell and needs to stay home from school. Instantly, your plans crumble, and you're left with the daunting task of reshuffling your commitments to accommodate your family’s needs.

The pressure to excel in both spheres of life can often lead to feeling inadequate or a fear of falling short in one or both areas. This self-imposed expectation of perfection can create a cycle of stress and anxiety, making it even more challenging to navigate through unexpected challenges.

In moments like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or even guilty for not being able to give 100% to both your work and your family. The pressure to excel in both spheres of life can often lead to feeling inadequate or a fear of falling short in one or both areas. This self-imposed expectation of perfection can create a cycle of stress and anxiety, making it even more challenging to navigate through unexpected challenges.

I've come to realise, that the key to navigating through these challenges lies in embracing the chance to be flexible and change things up. Instead of berating ourselves for not sticking to the original plan, we need to give ourselves permission to adapt, and adjust. Being open to flexibility allows us to respond to the ever-changing demands of parenting and business ownership with creativity and resourcefulness.

When we embrace that flexibility, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and solutions that we may not have even considered before. It encourages us to think outside the box, innovate, and find alternative ways to meet our commitments without compromising our well-being or the well-being of our loved ones. It also fosters a growth mindset, enabling us to learn from our experiences, and adapt to new circumstances, becoming more resilient in the future.

Learning to prioritise what truly matters in the moment helps us focus our energy and attention on the tasks and responsibilities that are most crucial at any given time. It allows us to make those informed decisions about where to allocate our time, effort, and resources, ensuring that we are meeting our most pressing needs and obligations without spreading ourselves too thin.

While it's natural to feel overwhelmed or guilty when navigating the challenges of balancing parenting and business, it's essential to remember that flexibility is our greatest ally. By giving ourselves permission to prioritise jobs and responsibilities, we can navigate through life's ups and downs with greater ease, resilience, and grace.

Self Forgiveness

An incredibly powerful tool that can help us navigate through the curly moments of balancing parenting and business, is Self Forgiveness. It's about recognising that we're only human, and that it's okay to make adjustments to our plans when life happens. By letting go of perfectionism and embracing a more forgiving mindset, we create that space for our creativity and resilience to flourish.

Part of this mindset of forgiveness involves giving ourselves permission to make choices that prioritise our children's well-being and happiness, even if they don't align with our ideal parenting or business practices.

For instance, if you have an urgent report you need to finish, it's perfectly okay to tuck your sick child into a blanket on the couch and let them watch TV all afternoon. While it might not be the most stimulating or educational activity, it provides comfort for your child and a chance for you to have the space to get that urgent job out of your mind’s inbox!

By allowing ourselves to let go of rigid expectations and embrace these moments of simplicity and comfort, we not only alleviate some of the immediate stress and pressure but create opportunities for genuine connection & bonding. These seemingly ordinary moments can actually be powerful reminders of what truly matters in life and help us re-centre our priorities and perspectives.

We can use these moments to cultivate a nurturing and supportive environment for our children to thrive, while also fostering a sense of balance, harmony, and well-being within ourselves. Remember, it's these small acts of kindness, understanding, and self-compassion that contribute to our overall growth, and our ability to navigate through life's ups and downs.

My top tips for balance and creating room for Self-Forgiveness would be:

Create a Flexible Schedule: Instead of a rigid timetable where you have no room to breathe, create a flexible schedule that allows you that space to allocate time for both work and family, while also leaving room for unexpected interruptions.
Practice Self-Care: Remember to take care of yourself amidst the chaos. Whether it's a quick walk outside, a few minutes of meditation, or simply sitting down and enjoying a cup of tea, make self-care a priority.
Communicate Openly: Keep those lines of communication open with your clients, colleagues, and family members. Let them know about your situation and reassure them that you're doing your best to manage your responsibilities.
Seek Support: Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Whether it's delegating tasks to others or leaning on family and friends for support. My mantra is always: seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Perfect-Imperfections

As we navigate through the unpredictable journey of balancing parenting and running a business, we need to remember to embrace imperfection as a badge of honour, rather than a mark of failure. Each challenge we face, each curveball life throws our way, is an opportunity for growth, learning, and self-discovery. We can’t always be perfect, so it’s madness to let our search for perfection get in the way of our definition of success. Imperfections can actually be more use to us than anything else. I call these “Life’s Perfect Imperfections”

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Some of the “Perfect Imperfections” that I try to remember in my family’s world are:

Screen Time:

This is an example I’ve already mentioned. Allowing your child to watch TV or play video games for extended periods is often frowned upon because excessive screen time can be seen as detrimental to a child's development.

In the context of running a business and caring for a sick child, sometimes a bit of extra screen time can be a lifesaver. It’s certainly doesn’t make you a bad parent. It provides a source of entertainment and distraction helping them to not feel so miserable, and allowing you to focus on work or tend to other responsibilities knowing that your child is safe and occupied. As long as it's balanced with other activities and not used as a constant babysitter, a few hours of screen time can be a really reasonable compromise.

Quick Meals or Takeaways:

This is a great example. Serving your children “quick-and-easy” meals, or ordering takeaways frequently, is often criticised for being unhealthy and lacking nutritional value.

Look, even if you love to cook, like I do… When you're juggling a business and parenting, preparing elaborate home-cooked meals every day is not always feasible. Opting for quick and convenient meal options occasionally doesn't make you a bad parent. It's about finding a balance that allows you to provide nourishing meals while also managing your time effectively. Plus, it gives you more quality time to spend with your children rather than being stuck in the kitchen.

Skipping Extracurricular Activities:

Not enrolling your child in multiple extracurricular activities to enhance their skills and talents can be seen as limiting their potential and opportunities for growth.

While extracurricular activities can be enriching, they can also be time-consuming and add another layer of complexity to your already busy schedule. Choosing to limit or prioritise certain activities based on your family's needs and interests doesn't make you a bad parent. It's about making thoughtful decisions that align with your family's values, priorities, and well-being.

Inconsistency in Routine:

Maintaining a consistent daily routine for your children is often touted as essential for their stability, discipline, and overall development.

But in this unpredictable world, sticking to a rigid routine isn't always feasible. There will be days when you have to adjust or deviate from the usual schedule to accommodate work commitments, family emergencies, or any unforeseen circumstances. Throwing the family schedule out the window for the week, does not make you a bad parent. While consistency is beneficial, occasional deviations can teach children flexibility, adaptability, and resilience, valuable life skills that will serve them well in the future.

…I’ll be the first to admit I find my inner judge berating me about all of these, but I thought I would share them with you anyway!

So…

Of course navigating that intricate balance between parenting and business ownership is undoubtedly challenging. It’s filled with unexpected twists and turns that test our patience, resilience and adaptability. However, it's crucial to remember that perfection is not the goal; it's about finding joy amidst the chaos, embracing flexibility, and prioritising what truly matters in each moment.

Flexibility allows us to respond creatively and resourcefully to life's curveballs, while self-forgiveness empowers us to let go of rigid expectations and embrace imperfections as opportunities for growth. By adopting a flexible mindset, practicing self-forgiveness, and prioritising well-being over perfection, we create a nurturing environment where both our businesses and families can thrive.

So, the next time life throws you a curveball, remember to take a deep breath, adapt with grace, and embrace those "Perfect-Imperfections" as beautiful reminders of the messy, unpredictable, and incredibly rewarding journey of balancing parenting and business. After all, it is these imperfect moments that make life truly meaningful, they teach us gratitude, and the profound power of love and connection. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and remember, we're all in this together, learning, growing, and supporting each other every step of the way.

***Don’t forget, it’s a sign of strength, not weakness to ask for help and remember, I’m just an email or phone call away!***

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The Art of Self-Forgiveness: Finding Balance Amidst Life's Curveballs

Flexibility

Self Forgiveness