Assisting mothers to achieve the life of their dreams
Work/Life balance...what does this mean?
11 Feb 2006
The term "work/life balance" has become very topical and thrown around a lot in the last few years - so what does it mean? Well we all know what work is, activity directed toward making or doing something, usually for payment but not always. Especially in the case of mothers! Life in the true sense of the definition is all about being alive, but when we talk about work/life balance we are talking about everything outside of work. Balance is achieving equilibrium. So, work life balance is about getting balance or equilibrium between our work and our life. But is that really what women want? Some women love working 40+ hours per week while managing a household while others love being at home with their kids. I think the important thing when looking at balance is that as women we have the opportunity to chose how we "balance" our lives. When we lose this choice we feel out of "balance" and therefore out of control. It is also common that these choices change. Some women are career minded both before and after having children and then get to a point where enough is enough they aren’t happy with the balance and want to be at home more. Others, are at home and decide they need something more and choose to work perhaps part-time or from home. Gone are the days when we have to stay in the same job all our lives whether it be a stay at home mum (SAHM) or a work outside the home mum (WOHM), or some combination of the two. The important thing out of all of this is don’t get caught up in all the hype. Be your own person and feel confident about the choices you make. I have been a WOHM, a SAHM and also a WAHM (work at home mum) and I have seen how society treats you an all these cases. It is sometimes hard but believe that what you are doing is right for your situation, your family and most importantly you! To be a good mother is to be a happy mother and this is all about having the ability to choose how you want to live. ©Sheryl Fonoti is a WAHM, life coach, motivational speaker and author.
Visit her website www.dreamstoreality.co.nz and sign up for her free e-zine or email her at Sheryl@dreamstoreality.co.nz for a free introductory session
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