Ahh, the life of a work at home mom. A pleasurable balance of work, and child rearing. Happily hanging the laundry from the line while sounding clever and witty on conference calls.  Slips from heels to converse in the blink of an eye and manages sales calls and 3 dozen cupcakes with the same breezy ease.

Until summer hits and it all goes to hell.

Such has been my week. My normally hyper-productive days have turned into a scramble of trying to acknowledge my email with a glance and a handshake while packing yet another picnic to haul with the kids, towels and various blow up floaties to yet another beach for fun and frivolity.

My glazed over expression as I build sandcastles while writing emails in my head, and sorting out how I can squeeze in that client call tomorrow and have the kids quiet and happy while I do it.  Searching pinterest for clever and affordable crafts that will keep our strange range of ages happy and entertained for more than 5 minutes.

The delicate balancing act of all work-at-home moms, that is failing.

Because sometimes there is no work-life balance. Sometimes it has to be all life.

And what I have learned, is that the worst thing I can do when life takes over, is struggle and fight it.  Much like quicksand, if you push against it, you will just sink in deeper, and deeper and deeper until you drown in stress and anxiety and broken promises.

So I will stop struggling and succumb to summer break.  I will let myself off the hook and only expect 10% of my normal workload (which will also mean 10% of my normal income… but who needs wine anyway?)

I will still try to squeeze in the necessary bits and pieces here and there, but worry about what I am not doing a little less.

I will give myself a break and know that the important bits will wait a little while. (and cross my fingers pleading that the important bits DO wait a little longer)

And I will religiously check the weather report, praying to the weather gods for a few days of rain so I can stick the kids in the loft with a huge box and pack of felts to keep them happy.

And give what I can to my work, or what is left after the kids have had their way with me.

And when the time is right, and the hellions children are happy, I will come back.

And come back refreshed, and ready to kick some arse!