I truly enjoyed this read & can relate so much. It brought me back to when my first son was a baby during Covid and I was working full time but managing a very similar schedule to you (minus owning my own business at the time.) Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thanks so much for your note, Bridget – it's comforting to know that you understand the juggling act that is caring for young children and a career! I continue to remind myself that this is only a fleeting season, and it's bound to feel easier and easier with time. I'm so glad that I've found your writing and can't wait to read more of The Mother Load 🤍
Very much relate! Saffron Ave was the most important thing for almost 12 years.. and working was my happy place. That shift after having my daughter was wild and getting used to way less hours was crazy. But... we get to do that, to be with them at such a crucial little age. She's 1.5 and I'm still trying to figure out a schedule, but can relate so much to what you wrote!
Angela! I'm so grateful that these words found you – I've admired your work with Saffron Avenue for years, and it's so nice to connect with you here on Substack. This shift away from the familiar cadence of work and into the unknowns of motherhood can feel so disorienting, but it also feels like the absolute right thing in this life stage. It sounds like you feel the same. I also love that you mentioned that we *get* to do this, to be with them, at this crucial little age. What a beautiful privilege to have. Here's to continually figuring it out as we go 🤍
This resonated deeply with me as I just had my second child a year ago and am navigating motherhood / being a small business owner simultaneously. This season is teaching me a lot about myself- so much of it is also adapting, going with the flow, and loosening the grip on my type A planning ha!
Thank you so much for reading, Christina, and I’m so glad that these words hit home for you. I completely understand living as a type A person – it can be so challenging at times, and learning to go with the flow is harder than it sounds! I’ve viewed this season as a blend of work, life and motherhood versus a balance of it, which has been so helpful as a small mental shift. Always here for you!
I love this — thank you for sharing! I’m also in a season of slowing down as we welcome our second daughter any day now. I first started my design studio the year I was pregnant with my first. Having the flexibility in a career I love so much has been such a blessing, but it does get hard when navigating it all in the margins of motherhood. Like you, I’m so grateful for a husband who supports us and allows me work to remain fun vs mandatory. I always love the thought that work and mom life doesn’t have to be balanced, just harmonious. Excited to connect and follow along in your journey!
Congrats on the upcoming arrival of your second daughter, ah! How exciting. Those final days of waiting are such a bittersweet blur. I really, really love how you frame work and motherhood as something that should be harmonious versus balanced – I've been searching for "balance" for the last year, and it's felt like a myth. But harmony? That sure seems doable. So happy to have connected with you too, Amanda! 🤍
Thank you, Lindsay! You’re so right — such a magical blur. Simultaneously ready for her to be here and not ready for my pregnancy to end. And I’m so glad harmony vs. balance resonates with you! I remember feeling the same when I first heard it put that way.
Really enjoyed reading this and seeing how someone else tries to find that balance! I’m a stay at home mom and writer. We have a pretty similar routine to your M,W,F schedule, so naptime and bedtime are when I try to get my writing work done.
I’ve thought about getting up super early so I can collect myself for the day, but my little usually sleeps 9-7 so I end up staying up kind of late for more writing time.
I’m trying to figure out how to add in a couple trips to the gym and ideally I’d like to go to bed around 11. But sometimes creativity strikes and I find myself up at 1AM. It definitely takes some flexibility so I’m just trying to roll with it.
This season of life has taught me so much about balance and sneaking in time when I can – your recent post about *thinking* that you were busy, but then entering motherhood...did I write that myself? 😂
I'm trying to rotate in a new workout routine in the new year as well, so definitely let me know how you work that into your schedule. Learning to be flexible can be so challenging (it is for me, at least), but more more I'm seeing that motherhood requires it. So happy to have become acquainted with your writing!
😂 I'm so glad to hear that! Every time I write a post I'm like "I hope someone gets it", so it's very encouraging that it resonated!
Yes, that flexibility part can be challenging. I really try to just roll with it, but there are days where the super organized, get-everything-done part of me fights back. Motherhood is definitely pushing me to grow in ways that I didn't realize. Looking forward to your future posts! Happy Holidays!
Wanted to say how much I respect your boundaries with your time and energy and schedule. I wish I had done that when I had my kids! I’m sure sometimes it’s easier than others but overall, I think having a routine is so helpful. Curious, even with a structure to your day, do you ever find your mind wandering during your mother time and wishing you could do some work then? My artist brain had trouble navigating the on/off nature of creativity outside of the slotted time.
Thank you so much! It's definitely am imperfect schedule and varies so much day-to-day, but I'm so grateful to be able to infuse flexibility into my work while she's still small. And *yes* I find my mind wandering – too often! It makes me feel so guilty and like I'm never fully present in mothering or in working at times. I'm hoping that feeling will ease away with time, but until then, I try to take everything in stride.
Refreshing to hear your mind wanders too. I think that’s a normal and expected part of being a creative spirit. We can’t always decide when the ideas come. ❤️
I’m feeling so inspired by this post, thank you for sharing 🩵 Balancing motherhood with work, creative endeavors, and self care was a huge struggle for me in 2024 and I’ve been feeling a little lost in how to make necessary changes this year.
Maintaining boundaries for my time has been the hardest part! Any tips for sticking to the balance and saying no to things you may want to do but will disrupt the flow??
I truly enjoyed this read & can relate so much. It brought me back to when my first son was a baby during Covid and I was working full time but managing a very similar schedule to you (minus owning my own business at the time.) Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thanks so much for your note, Bridget – it's comforting to know that you understand the juggling act that is caring for young children and a career! I continue to remind myself that this is only a fleeting season, and it's bound to feel easier and easier with time. I'm so glad that I've found your writing and can't wait to read more of The Mother Load 🤍
On a very similar schedule with my son. Even down to the Tues/Thurs deep work sessions!💖
I love that! It’s a lot to manage at times, but worth it ☺️
Very much relate! Saffron Ave was the most important thing for almost 12 years.. and working was my happy place. That shift after having my daughter was wild and getting used to way less hours was crazy. But... we get to do that, to be with them at such a crucial little age. She's 1.5 and I'm still trying to figure out a schedule, but can relate so much to what you wrote!
Angela! I'm so grateful that these words found you – I've admired your work with Saffron Avenue for years, and it's so nice to connect with you here on Substack. This shift away from the familiar cadence of work and into the unknowns of motherhood can feel so disorienting, but it also feels like the absolute right thing in this life stage. It sounds like you feel the same. I also love that you mentioned that we *get* to do this, to be with them, at this crucial little age. What a beautiful privilege to have. Here's to continually figuring it out as we go 🤍
This resonated deeply with me as I just had my second child a year ago and am navigating motherhood / being a small business owner simultaneously. This season is teaching me a lot about myself- so much of it is also adapting, going with the flow, and loosening the grip on my type A planning ha!
Thank you so much for reading, Christina, and I’m so glad that these words hit home for you. I completely understand living as a type A person – it can be so challenging at times, and learning to go with the flow is harder than it sounds! I’ve viewed this season as a blend of work, life and motherhood versus a balance of it, which has been so helpful as a small mental shift. Always here for you!
I love this — thank you for sharing! I’m also in a season of slowing down as we welcome our second daughter any day now. I first started my design studio the year I was pregnant with my first. Having the flexibility in a career I love so much has been such a blessing, but it does get hard when navigating it all in the margins of motherhood. Like you, I’m so grateful for a husband who supports us and allows me work to remain fun vs mandatory. I always love the thought that work and mom life doesn’t have to be balanced, just harmonious. Excited to connect and follow along in your journey!
Congrats on the upcoming arrival of your second daughter, ah! How exciting. Those final days of waiting are such a bittersweet blur. I really, really love how you frame work and motherhood as something that should be harmonious versus balanced – I've been searching for "balance" for the last year, and it's felt like a myth. But harmony? That sure seems doable. So happy to have connected with you too, Amanda! 🤍
Thank you, Lindsay! You’re so right — such a magical blur. Simultaneously ready for her to be here and not ready for my pregnancy to end. And I’m so glad harmony vs. balance resonates with you! I remember feeling the same when I first heard it put that way.
Really enjoyed reading this and seeing how someone else tries to find that balance! I’m a stay at home mom and writer. We have a pretty similar routine to your M,W,F schedule, so naptime and bedtime are when I try to get my writing work done.
I’ve thought about getting up super early so I can collect myself for the day, but my little usually sleeps 9-7 so I end up staying up kind of late for more writing time.
I’m trying to figure out how to add in a couple trips to the gym and ideally I’d like to go to bed around 11. But sometimes creativity strikes and I find myself up at 1AM. It definitely takes some flexibility so I’m just trying to roll with it.
Thanks so much for the encouragement, Caitlynn!
This season of life has taught me so much about balance and sneaking in time when I can – your recent post about *thinking* that you were busy, but then entering motherhood...did I write that myself? 😂
I'm trying to rotate in a new workout routine in the new year as well, so definitely let me know how you work that into your schedule. Learning to be flexible can be so challenging (it is for me, at least), but more more I'm seeing that motherhood requires it. So happy to have become acquainted with your writing!
😂 I'm so glad to hear that! Every time I write a post I'm like "I hope someone gets it", so it's very encouraging that it resonated!
Yes, that flexibility part can be challenging. I really try to just roll with it, but there are days where the super organized, get-everything-done part of me fights back. Motherhood is definitely pushing me to grow in ways that I didn't realize. Looking forward to your future posts! Happy Holidays!
Wanted to say how much I respect your boundaries with your time and energy and schedule. I wish I had done that when I had my kids! I’m sure sometimes it’s easier than others but overall, I think having a routine is so helpful. Curious, even with a structure to your day, do you ever find your mind wandering during your mother time and wishing you could do some work then? My artist brain had trouble navigating the on/off nature of creativity outside of the slotted time.
Thank you so much! It's definitely am imperfect schedule and varies so much day-to-day, but I'm so grateful to be able to infuse flexibility into my work while she's still small. And *yes* I find my mind wandering – too often! It makes me feel so guilty and like I'm never fully present in mothering or in working at times. I'm hoping that feeling will ease away with time, but until then, I try to take everything in stride.
Refreshing to hear your mind wanders too. I think that’s a normal and expected part of being a creative spirit. We can’t always decide when the ideas come. ❤️
I’m feeling so inspired by this post, thank you for sharing 🩵 Balancing motherhood with work, creative endeavors, and self care was a huge struggle for me in 2024 and I’ve been feeling a little lost in how to make necessary changes this year.
Maintaining boundaries for my time has been the hardest part! Any tips for sticking to the balance and saying no to things you may want to do but will disrupt the flow??