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Welcome to the October Carnival of Natural Parenting: Staying Centered, Finding Balance
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared how they stay centered and find balance. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
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I’m a Libra. Which MEANS that I (my life) should look a bit like this:
(doesn’t she look so peaceful?)
Yet, more often, I (my life) actually look(s) a bit more like this:
(sure, he looks balanced now, but we all know what happens on the next page…)
Some things, I am: An attachment parent to two children. A wife. A writer. A web content manager. An artist. A vegetarian.
Some things, I do, and through these actions, become part of who I am: Swim lesson and school chauffer. A housekeeper. A booboo healer. A cook. A provider of spiritual guidance and daily reassurance. A finder of lost things. A practitioner and teacher of natural living. A mediator of arguments. A photographer. An inventor of games. A meal planner. A day planner. A life skills teacher. A middle-of-the-night glass of water getter and nightmare soother. A student of patience, discipline techniques, and tolerance for goofy behavior and misbehavior.
Mostly, I do and am, all of these things, on a daily basis; primarily because they are necessary for myself, and everyone involved in my immediate life, to be happy, productive, and healthy: The children need loved, cared for, taught, comforted, protected, chauffeured, and guided. The house needs cleaned. The meals need prepared. The clothes, washed. The paid work, worked.
But, I’m also a gardener, a blog writer, a book reader, a mountain hiker, a yoga practioner, a traveler, a movie watcher, an art maker. These things are soul fillers. Yet somehow, as important as they are, they don’t seem to find their way into my days as often or as routinely as I’d like; probably because the necessity of these things to everyone else’s livelihood is negligible. These things are just my things… they become filed away as non-necessities, and so, I can safely ignore them. At least, that’s how the practical side of my brain rationalizes it.
Right now, I’ve entered the busiest time of year for me. Our business surges in the 4th quarter; so my husband and I work crazy days and long nights. The children are back in school, in lessons, and friends. I find some of the things which typically take precedence, out of necessity – like keeping the house clean – fall somewhat by the wayside (hey, I keep the clothes clean, but don’t expect the laundry to be folded), and those things which don’t often make an appearance – like travel, art making, book reading – usually end up disappearing entirely the following January. And yet, the emotional side of my brain tells me perhaps I’d be better able to balance on the ball with all of those things in the air, if I’d allow more of those soul soothers to take precedence – precisely at the time when I most likely to push them aside. The more I get to refill my tank with non-necessities, the more likely I am to be able to tackle the daily necessary tasks.
So, for myself, I’m going to try this last part of the year to be more balanced; to incorporate more non-necessities in with my necessities. I’m aspiring towards being more of a Libra. Because the happier, more peacefeul, more balanced mama feels, the better of a mama I can be.
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Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be updated October 12 with all the carnival links.)
Balance — Sheila at A Gift Universe has put her baby first — and has no regrets. (@agiftuniverse)
A Moment for Mama — Starr at Earth Mama has learned how to recharge on the run, so she doesn't miss a moment with her children.
Take a 30-Minute or 5-Minute Me-Break — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now discusses the merits of taking small daily breaks to maintain balance. (@DebChitwood)
Achieving Balance — In a guest post at the new Natural Parents Network, Heather explains how yoga has helped her find balance in her personal and family life. (@NatParNet)
A Stitch in (Quiet) Time Saves Momma’s Mind — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma didn't realize she needed "me" time — until she got it and had no idea what to do with herself. (@kitchenwitch)
Attachment Parenting and Balance — Michelle at The Parent Vortex believes that the last item on the "attachment parenting" list is both the most important and the most overlooked. (@TheParentVortex)
Little Breaks Bring a Little Balance — Jen at Grow with Graces finds balance - some days! (@growwithgraces)
Finding Balance — Are you a Type A mama? Dionna at Code Name: Mama is, and she needs your help to find balance. (@CodeNameMama)
(high)Centered — Stefanie at Very, Very Fine has had a spa gift certificate sitting on her nightstand since last year, a symbol of her inability to take time for herself.
Taking Time for Me — Marita at Stuff With Thing takes refuge in the world of books, with her daughters immersed in reading beside her. (@leechbabe)
Writing as a parent: October Carnival of Natural Parenting — Lauren at Hobo Mama didn't let parenting put her passions on hold. (@Hobo_Mama)
The Dance of Balance — Balance isn't static. It is dynamic, it is a dance, it is about keeping in touch with you. Read this wonderful bit of wisdom from Seonaid at the Practical Dilettante. (@seonaid_lee)
Rest Hour - a Primer — Do you get 15 minutes to yourself each day? How about an hour?! Mrs. H. at Fleeting Moments shares her tips on how to incorporate a "rest hour" for adults and kids.
Separation Is Critical — Only through enforced separation with the end of her marriage did Jessica at This is Worthwhile realize she should have taken time apart all along. (@tisworthwhile)
Bread, Roses, and a Side of Guilt. — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy isn't ashamed to admit that she enjoys a pint once in awhile, or that her daughter recreates it during pretend play.
The World from Within My Arms — Rachael at The Variegated Life finds balance despite her work and her husband's commitment to art through attachment parenting. (@RachaelNevins)
Balancing the Teeter-Totter — Rebecca is rediscovering balance by exploring her interests and passions in several different categories. She shares in this guest post at The Connected Mom. (@theconnectedmom)
Balancing this Life — Danielle at born.in.japan is slowly learning the little tricks that make her family life more balanced. (@borninjp)
Uninterrupted Parenting — Amy at Innate Wholeness has learned that she does not need to interrupt parenting in order to find balance.
Knitting for My Family — Knitting is more than just a hobby for Kellie at Our Mindful Life, it is her creative and mental outlet, it has blessed her with friendships she might not otherwise have had, and it provides her with much-needed balance.
Taking the Time — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker has all the time she needs, now her girls are just a bit older.
Please, Teach Me How — Amy at Anktangle needs your help: please share how you find time for yourself, because she is struggling. (@anktangle)
A Pendulum Swings Both Ways — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment found herself snapping with too little time for herself, and then veered toward too much.
Finding Balance Amidst Change — It took a season of big changes and added responsibility, but Melodie of Breastfeeding Moms Unite! now feels more balanced and organized as a mama than ever before. (@bfmom)
At Home with Three Young Children: The Search for Balance, Staying Sane — With three young kids, Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings knows parents sometimes have to adjust their expectations of how much downtime they can reasonably have. (@sunfrog)
Attachment Parenting? And finding some "Me Time" — As a mother who works full time, Momma Jorje wants "me" time that includes her daughter.
A Balancing Act — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes has concrete ways to help keep centered with a little one and a new baby on the way, from exercise to early bedtimes to asking for help. (@sheryljesin)
Aspiring Towards Libra — Are your soul-filling activities the first to be pushed aside when life gets hectic? Kelly of KellyNaturally.com aspires to make time for those "non-necessities" this year. (@kellynaturally)
SARKisms for Sanity — Erica at ChildOrganics has found renewed inspiration to take baths and laugh often from a book she had on the shelf. (@childorganics)