The other day, I was working on my laptop. I then stood up and within thirty seconds of updating a website for work, I was spreading peanut butter on a slice of bread starting to prepare lunch for my children.

I finished up preparing their lunches, sat down (probably with peanut butter on my fingers) and worked for fifteen minutes and stood up again to cut fruit to complete their meal. I then sat back down and worked even more. I then stood up to clean up the lunch mess. From my laptop to the counter top, over and over again. All day long.

This was the same day that I needed to send out an e-mail campaign to thousands of professionals with my son sitting on my lap. Which is a challenge in itself considering we are inches away from him carrying me around the house.

So, all day long I juggle children, work and sometimes the dusting and laundry gets done, too.

But that is rare. And that’s okay.

Because I know how lucky I am to be able to work from home. I know how good I have it that when my kids have a snow day, not only does it not affect my work, but I can go outside and play in the snow with them and still get paid for that day. I know how lucky I am that I can easily fit in doctor’s appointments for both my kids and myself without talking to my boss about taking time off.

And now that I’ve been working from home since June, it’s about balance for me and explanation for my kids. Sure, there are days when I have an important deadline for work and my phone won’t stop ringing and it just so happens to be the same day that my daughter insists on playing a two hour piano recital on her pink keyboard while laying on her bed, but somehow, after taking many, many deep breaths, it all gets done.

With as little hair loss, sweating and yelling as possible.

Which may lead me to the answer of my own questions:

Why aren’t I spazzing out about Christmas? Why am I not stressed or worried? Am I forgetting to buy a gift, am I completely overlooking a family tradition? What is wrong with me?

Why am I so calm?

In years past, I haven’t been so calm. So, what’s wrong with me this year?

And I have found the answer. There is nothing wrong with me, in fact, there is FINALLY something RIGHT with me. I’m a better planner, I’m less of a procrastinator, all because this job and this new lifestyle have taught me some valuable life lessons. I think that may be the best Christmas present I could have given myself.

This may be the best Christmas, yet.

Maybe I’ll fit in some time to bake and eat a few dozen cookies. I can totally plan for that.  But I will forget to plan to clean my bathrooms.

I’m convenient like that.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 10:39 am and is filed under parent. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.