Family First: A Lot Easier Than it Sounds

When I worked for someone else, I was bound by their rules.  If there was a job to do or an event I had to attend as part of my job, that was what I had to do.  I had to work my schedule around their rules. 

I didn’t like it.

I have three kids.  I am the primary caregiver in the home because I want to be and it works for me and my husband’s schedule.  I wanted more control over my life.  I wanted more flexibility.

I started working for myself and I got it.

I work wonky hours.  I get up with the kids, get them off to school, then work like a frantic woman to get in as much as I can in order to get them off the bus at least twice a week. I get them snack, start dinner and work for an hour or two until Daddy gets home.  We sit down and eat together 95% of the time. I try to fit in a workout and then I work again for a few hours until bedtime. My husband and I put the kids to bed and then I stay up late into the night and work some more. 

It’s not a work schedule for everyone, but I like it.  I like that I can set my meetings around my kid’s schedules.

When I chose this life I said, “The rule when making business and work decisions has to be: Family First”.

But it’s not always that simple. 

A lot of events happen after hours.  A lot of what I do happens anytime, anywhere.  Work is anytime; Weekends, weeknights and where ever.  I often have to travel.  I love being social and I love attending events and I love working, but sometimes I need to step back and say, “You can’t go to everything!” 

When events do happen on weekends or weeknights I try to incorporate the kids into them.  This is me and Marcello (my youngest) judging the Kawartha Butter Tart Tour (gluten free category).  My other kids are in the audience (they didn’t want to judge!)

Tonight was one of those nights.  I was supposed to be at an event in Toronto.  A great event that could  and probably would have lead to new clients and great networking. 

BUT I AM TIRED.

I run a house. I have three kids (one of whom is up every single night with brutal itchy skin and eczema that needs attention). I have two realllllllly annoying cats who think meowing in the middle of the night is acceptable. We have hockey, we have dance, we have homework.  We have the life so many brilliant parents have, because we decided to have kids.

Side note: Remember when we didn’t have kids?

WHAT DID WE DO WITH ALL THAT TIME?????

I don’t know either.

So about 1pm today I said, “Screw it!” I’m not going to Toronto.  I picked up my kids, my husband grabbed subs, he took our son and daughter to hockey practice and my  youngest son and I ran to the hockey arena to meet them.

We laughed as we ran (more like walk/run actually).  He yammered on about a million things that were important to him (like all the cat poop on the side of the road) and I listened.  You know what,  it was awesome, it was bonding time, it was memories.

I needed it just as much as my family needed it.  My gut was telling me which event was truly more important and I listened.

Family first, it isn’t always easy, but it is always important.

MF