WHO AM I AGAIN?

The term “work/life balance” gets thrown around a lot these days and there’s no doubt it is an important mantra - gotta have goals right? But I feel like the people who urge us to maintain that all-important “work/life balance”, and the ever-important “me time” may not understand that for some of us, it’s more likely that we’ll run over a unicorn on the way to work. It just isn’t on the cards, is it?

When we bring in the complexity of children, our day at The Spa is looking less and less likely. Let’s take things one step further and bring in some additional needs as well. Book me in for some “me time” in 2055 (better pencil it in….I may need to cancel). So obviously I’m joking, but I can certainly say that I’ve felt the pressure to take my time, undertake self-care and achieve a work/life balance. That pressure can actually have a counteractive effect. Sometimes all that planning, negotiating, worrying about ticking all these “stress relief” boxes is bloody STRESSFUL.

Through all the day-to-day stuff it can feel like we lose a sense of who we are. I know who I USED to be when I was 30 years old. (Remember when you thought you were busy before having kids 😄 I know who I was when I became a mother for the first time, but as the years have gone on, and the challenges (and children) have multiplied, we poor parents can get a bit lost in the mix. Like most parents our primary purpose becomes the children, when you have a child or children with additional needs this can mean a lot more time, energy, effort and emotional exertion is required. Where do we get all this extra energy and stamina from? Possibly coffee? We just find it and push through.

For me, starting my business and reentering the workforce has been essential. I was ready to join the land of adults again after five years at home. Working has BECOME my balance. Working has become my time out and my space to recharge. I know for many this seems counterintuitive and if someone had said to me when I was younger “one day your break will be working” I would’ve laughed and informed them that my break will almost definitely be snowboarding my long service leave away in Canada.

Yet here I am. Working in my own business, managing a busy home, caring for three children all of whom are challenging in their own ways. I’m certainly not spending much time at day spas. None of this would be possible without having access to a Support Worker via the NDIS. Without that extra support, I would not be able to run my business, I would not be able to take any time out (whatever that looks like), I would not be able to give my kids one-on-one attention when they need it and I would not be maintaining any sort of balance in my life.

Having access to a Support Worker has given me the time and space to at least think about who I am these days and I’m thankful for that.

If you’re looking for some extra support check out our links and book an initial phone consult with Kim.

Sunshine Family Support can help match a Support Worker to your family https://www.facebook.com/SunshineFamilySupport

Lifeline 13 11 14 https://www.facebook.com/LifelineAustralia/

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 https://www.facebook.com/beyondblue/