Balancing Motherhood & DIY Blogging
The two most time consuming jobs I have ever had are as a mother and a blogger. And both pay the least. Go figure. But somehow I still love both roles enough to keep doing them. Okay, okay…well the first one is a full on heart commitment, right? Even on the roughest of days.
The other, I could let go by the wayside if I wanted to, and yet somehow I don’t. I keep trucking on as a mother and a blogger and try to strike a balance between the two. It’s tough though…I’m not gonna lie.
Today, I am sharing how I manage to make it work…
So let’s start with my journey to motherhood, if you are new to this blog of mine. I am a stay-at-home-mom to two little ones, Hazel, age 4 and Owen, almost 3. I always wanted to be a mother, but was jolted into it two months early, when our first daughter was born prematurely. I struggled with post partum depression when we brought her home (which you can read more about here on my former Typepad blog), and found that motherhood was not what I had imagined all those years prior. Not even close. Probably in those first four months of her life I had about a handful of good days. Seriously.
I have been blogging since 2007, but during that time, I posted about three times a year I think. There was just no room for it in my life then.
At the end of 2013, I felt drawn back into blogging, so I moved my blog from Typepad and started working away little by little to share my love of home decor, diy projects and life with my little ones.
By the end of 2014, I was in over my head and kept feeling pulled in so many directions. Should I be a “career” blogger and help bring in extra income for my family even at the expense of my kids and my own general well being? I was running on empty and just trying to get stuff done till I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It was no good. I was overworked, underpaid, and had done it all to myself! I let the pressure get to me.
At the beginning of 2015, I started to give myself a break with blogging and now I take a different approach. Eventually, I was able to let go of a lot of the pressure I was putting on myself. I strive to only work on posts when the kids are napping or after they go to bed. On weekends, my husband will occasionally take them out for day, so I can try to get a couple of posts done for the week ahead. Like this post here, I am working on it over the weekend when it will go live on Wednesday.
Planning ahead has been the greatest tool in managing this blog. It frees me up during the week, so I can just “be mom” during the day and not worry that I don’t have any posts ready for that week. Doesn’t always work out, but it is great when it does!
My kids *sort of* know what I do, so during the week, they will occasionally help me with photographs for a post or work on a diy project with me. My daughter Hazel loves “showing others how we do stuff!”
In the past year, my favorite kid related project was working on these woodland collages with Hazel. She was very proud of them, and it was exciting when other moms would tag their own version on Instagram. I would show her so she could see our work in action….showing others how we do stuff.
Another big help that gives me time to get posts and projects done, is that my mom comes once in awhile (or whenever I need her really!) to watch the kids during the day. If I could afford to pay her to be a part-time nanny, that would seriously be my ideal situation. Maybe if this blog ever makes a decent income π
I honestly admire any mom who can balance this whole motherhood gig with another career or entrepreneurial endeavors. There is no way around it: it is tough. And can also bring in those guilt feelings. For all the things that are getting overlooked, left unfinished, the laundry piled up, the dirty dishes and messy toys all over the house. Not to mention the stuff I just “want to do” like create my dream kitchen and paint furniture, learn how to weave, take more photography courses…(this list could go on for days!).
Those things won’t have any weight. What might, will be these two precious souls and how I handled them. Was I gentle even when hurried or frantic about deadlines or losing daylight to get good photographs? Did I put their needs before my own when I felt stressed or just plain wanted to do my own thing? Those are the true tests. And I am grateful for grace because I know I blow it some days…big time.
The best mama advice I ever received was actually one night when sitting in bed, reading Ann Voskamp’s blog (something I do regularly right before bed) and I read this post and these words jumped out at me,“Life is not an emergency but a gift β so just. slow. down. There are children at play here and we donβt want anyone to get hurt and the hurry makes us hurt.”
I want to be determined to not let this life and this blogging career, if you will, feel like a race. Something I am losing at when others are lapping me over and over. I have my own journey…and these two kids’ faces and hearts who need me the most. Who could really careless what goes on in my analytics or pin counts or ad revenue or sponsorship opportunites or whether our house is up to date with all the latest trends.
They just want me. Just as I am. My little man Owen even tells me he likes me best in my husband’s white undershirts and my black yoga pants (my pajamas!). Nothing fancy needed to impress him. Just a mother’s loving arms to hold and a warm shoulder to lean on. And a heart that truly listens to even the unspoken needs. I never want any career or personal endeavors to get in the way of that. Ever.
There really is no hard an fast method to my balancing being a mom and running a blog. I do the best that I can and some days just feel like I’m treading water. We all have times like that. You might even wonder why I would continue to pour so much of myself into a blog, when it can be exhausting at the end of a long day of motherhood, to sit down at an uncomfortable computer desk, edit photos, add graphics, write a post, explain how-to’s, share on social media…wear all the hats a blogger needs to make this thing work.
The reason is simple really: It’s my outlet. My own space. Where I can be more than the role of a mom, which is wonderful in and of itself, but I also crave more…creativity, encouragement from like minded souls, sharing my thoughts here…with you. Yeah, I kind of love that.
If you are mom and also a blogger, or have an outside career or run your own business, you probably know what I mean. How do you strike a balance? I’d be happy to hear in a comment below. It is always nice to connect and not feel alone in both motherhood and blogging!
Be sure to stop by my fellow #DIYmama bloggers and read how they keep it balanced. I am looking forward to visiting each of them myself and maybe get some pointers to implement in my own journey.
Day 2 Mamas:
Till next time…
~Alice W.
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Embracing the Messiness of Childhood
21 Comments
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
oh this struck a chord! i am a mom (my kids are 17 months apart so i was there with the two under two and get that, too!), i am a blogger, and i am a brick & mortar shop owner. it's a challenge balancing it all and i didn't consider the shop until my kids were in school full time. what keeps me going is, like you, something calling me to write, share, connect. and also what keeps me going is that i know i am teaching my kids to follow your passions and work hard for what they want. so when i feel like i am failing them, i know that i am not…. i am inspiring them. and you are, too… you are inspiring your kids and all of us! π
Meagan Brockway
Wow – such beautiful and fulfilling words to live by as a new mom. Thank you so much for sharing and that collage project is so stinking cute!
DD's Cottage
I enjoy reading your blog and IS every week and am glad that you do it! I too know the struggle of balancing all!
French Bohemian Farmhouse
Back in 2003 we were in a new house,I was a stay at home mom, my girls were 6 & 4, I was sharing a space in a brick & mortar shop, had an Ebay store, and I was painting furniture for juried home dΓ©cor shows..I can honestly say I got more done then than I do now..My girls needs always came first, my husband had a home cooked meal every night, the house was clean, and I managed it all..And I loved it all..I am guessing I was in my thirties and had more energy, and had something to prove..Now in my forties, my girls are 18 & 16, I am still running an on-line shop, searching for an old barn to convert into my own shop, and want to blog more, but I have less ambition now..I still want things for myself, but I guess I am craving more tranquility and "time" for myself, which I find through taking pictures, decorating, and through my social media pages..I think with age I know things will get done, they do get done,and if they do not it is "never" the end of the world..My girls are thriving, and our home is filled with laughter and love..But most importantly my soul is fed by my family's happiness, as well as the things that make me happy, making for the balance my life requires and that sustains me through each and every day of this life I was given/gifted by God..I never take a day for granted, it can all change in a moment. I appreciate the good days and the bad days..I know on those bad days "this too shall pass", and on the great days, I smile, and breath easier..Cause I am doing it, and doing the best that I can..And that's enough for "me"…Karen~
Noelle Garrett Designs
Thank you Alice!
I really needed this today. I am in the middle of trying to "figure it all out." I have 4 kids (13, 10, 3 1/2 and 18 months). I have been running by own business for almost 7 years now and am at the point of wanting to walk away from it all. I have been managing to juggle both worlds for awhile now but really have come to realize my happiness – or on many days lack thereof, my families needs and my stress level just cannot do it all any longer. I walked away from the teaching profession after my 2nd was born because I wanted to be home with my kiddos and I don't regret that a bit, but found I needed my own outlet. I am at the point where creating feels like a chore and I really need more time with my littles before school starts.Thank you for sharing how you make it work and helping me realize it can be done, but I may need to tweak how I do things first. I'm sorry for writing a novel here. I think this has been on my mind for too long now and your words really struck a chord. Thank you again and keep doing what you're doing! We all need more women who are honest and share their experiences being a mom and still making time to do the things you enjoy.
Blessings to you… . Carrie
Susan Duane
Alice this is the sweetest post. You are so right. You will never regret the time spent with your children. I haven't for a moment! Beautiful post!
Charlotte Smith
Gosh it's complicated isn't it!!! We get so much validation from doing these blogs/ projects/ photographs, but then that guilt just yanks at our heartstrings! My kids have started the bickering phase and I find myself worried that it's because I don't spend enough time focused ON them. I worry that I'm always distracted and never giving them my full attention. They have no idea what I do. My hope is that one day they might. And one day they will realize how much their mom accomplished. I so appreciate your wisdom and candor. Isn't it amazing how genuinely we all connect because of these blogs of ours!! xx
Sheila Rumney
Love you sharing your heart. All too soon those small kiddo years are over and you move into a new stage where they are flying the nest… going off to college and a life of their own. I miss those years with my kids… With Janna living up at school year round and Connor starting his senior year of high school, I am navigating another motherhood passage. Trying to enjoy this stage now where I am more of an observer than an active participant. May God continue to bless you sweet Alice!
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Sheila! I know it will go by in a blink!
Jillian Iamahomemaker
My kids are eyeball deep in the bickering stage, at 5&7&even the 16 year old joins in (that's fun!) All we can do is try our best at everything we are passionate about and cross our fingers that it all turns out ok. Best advice you could give, just.slow.down. I totally agree!
Alice Wingerden
Thanks Jillian!
Danielle
So beautiful written and well said, Alice. I so enjoyed reading about your story and how you balance creativity and motherhood. xx
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Danielle!
Amanda Fettig
I just loved reading this, Alice! And it's all so true. Especially slowing down! I think it's easy to get going so fast that we miss all those little precious moments, and those are the ones we need to cherish.
Alice Wingerden
Thank you Amanda! And you are so right! π
Rachel with Shades of Blue
Such a beautiful post Alice. You have a way with words and capturing the right photos for each moment as you speak. Loved your message. Those babies are lucky to have you, as you are them! Hugs!
Alice Wingerden
Thank you so much Rachel!
Bee Windgate Lane
So true! I feel lapped all the time but try and remember that comparisons just aren't gonna help. We all gotta do what we can at our own pace! Your littles are adorable π
Alice Wingerden
Thank you! And yes…keeping our own pace in mind is best!
A Designer At Home
I shouldn't have drank a glass of wine before reading this. I'm fighting tears. The only thing I know I'm good at is my job and that's because it pays my bills. I wish I were a great mother and a great blogger.
And PS, you and your children are SO beautiful!
Alice Wingerden
I'm sure you are all three and don't give yourself enough credit! I KNOW you are a great blogger π