Spirals and Spatulas Posts

With only 24 hours in a day, how do working moms hold their position in a company or run their own businesses, raise children, and maintain their homes at the same time?

One afternoon, my neighbor—a single mother and a corporate woman—and I had a small talk while our kids were out playing in the park. She told me, “I suck at being a mom. I miss out on a lot of things because I’m always at work. I even had to take a day off just to bring them here.” Looking really tired with dark circles visible around her eyes obviously from very little sleep, she kept on rambling about how she couldn’t even get a decent haircut or a manicure because she only has very little time left in her day that she’d rather spend with her family. But when she arrives home, she becomes too occupied with the chores. She ended up comparing herself to me — how I always have time to take my 3-year-old son for afternoon walks in the park.

We’re a few of the many who struggles with balancing having a career and being a mother. One of the things I learned when I become a mom is it’s important not to compare yourself to others. Even with my high profile job in the financial sector, I still had to battle insecurities left and right.

Now, I have time to take my son for afternoon walks because I work as a freelancer—which also means income is not as stable as what a corporate job can offer. It’s one of the things I gave up when I became a mother. It wasn’t easy letting go of a job I love and worked hard for, but it’s what my family needed at that time—I had to be there to take care of my son because he will never be a child forever.

It’s important to ask yourself what matters most to you and your family. Always line up your work situation with your goals. If you want to enjoy nighttime and weekends with your family, focus on a career where you don’t have to work extended hours. It’s one thing to be a professional and a good mother, but it’s another thing to be present in both roles. When I still had my corporate job, I eventually stopped trying to find work-life balance. I recognized that sometimes, work will come first. As mothers, spending time with our children is our number one priority but sometimes, we have to put work first in order to continue providing for our family and reach the career growth we want for ourselves as well.

Finding a support network is also important—friends, family, or other working moms who understand the emotions and challenges of balancing working and parenting. Co-workers who are also parents are a great source of support, too. You can talk to them about your kids during your free time. My co-workers and I used to share videos and pictures of our children after a stressful time at work to cheer us up. We also share the struggles we have as parents. I never felt alone ever since I started building what I call my ‘support circle’.

For me, there is no right answer on how to balance career and motherhood. There will always be days where I would feel guilty for working so much and days where I would feel guilty for not working enough. I realized that I had to accept the fact that I couldn’t do everything at one time. I still hang on to my dreams of having a successful career. It would just take a longer time for me to achieve.

Lastly, if there’s one thing we don’t want to happen, it’s burnout. Be kind to yourself. It’s not easy to put yourself first, but self-care is essential. Have a bottle of wine. Take a walk. Find one thing that makes you happy and do it. Invest in your well-being until it becomes a habit. You’ll be surprised how that can make a positive shift in your life as a career-mom.

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Parenting can seem like a difficult, challenging, and overwhelming world. But to tell you the truth, every parent has his own manner of raising his child. And this means that you shouldn’t let yourself influenced by how others suggest it is best to raise a kid. Anyway, if you are looking for some tips on how to raise an artistic kid, you are in the right place. Up next, we’ve shared with you our insights on what might help you encourage the creative side of your child. Let’s see how you can encourage your little one to explore and use his artistic side.

Support your child’s unexpected choices

Well, the first thing you can do to raise an artistic child is to support unusual approaches. So, before you correct your child and you tell him how he should approach specific activities, stop yourself. Let your child explore and admire his purple sky, instead of the boring coloring approach in blue. And don’t stop here! Tell your kid he made a fantastic choice and that you appreciate his initiative.

Spend as much time outdoors as possible

Spending time outdoors can do wonders for your child’s brain. No matter his age, the time spent in nature will allow him to discover the world around him. You can spend an hour per day analyzing the clouds, or you can help him search for the most impressive rocks in the nearby park. This type of observation helps your child put the basis of his creative skills.

Don’t just read to your kid

Of course, it is highly recommended to read stories with your child every day. But if you aim to raise an artistic child, there is a unique approach you can use. Take a fairy tale, choose two characters, and encourage your child to act accordingly. It would be best if you led on with your example of acting, and we guarantee your child will follow up. It is a fun way to entice your child’s imagination and make a story even funnier. Defeat dragons or go on your next magical quest together!

Encourage his passions

For you, as an adult, a certain passion for dinosaurs might seem useful. But your child really loves that thing, so if you want to encourage him to keep up discovering the world around him, it is highly recommended to encourage his passions. Encourage him to talk about what he loves most and reassure him it is a great passion.

The bottom line is that raising an artistic child is not so challenging as it might seem at first. You will have to do your best to offer your kid as much liberty as possible while encouraging his small achievements. And you can be his role model, too! Let your child see you read, dance, or listening to music. Show him how you accomplish things and always let your child know you really value free thinking. Showing your kid that being adventurous is rewarding can help him in his adult years, too.

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Being a mom can be rather challenging, especially when it comes to creating the best meal plan. There is plenty of information available only, and many debate on what to feed children or not. Hence, you might feel like there is no in-between solution, while your child might seem to avoid any healthy food or snack you might serve. Anyway, if you are like me, you won’t abandon this task! This is why I do encourage you to keep reading this article. Up next, I shared my top three kid-friendly meals that my twins loved! And the best part about those recipes is that they are both nutritious and tasty. Let’s see how you can pamper your kids with new, interesting recipes.

Chia Pudding Parfait

Well, kids are always in for something sweet. And why not give them something tasty and nutritious? I wasn’t sure my twins would go for this chia pudding parfait, but to my surprise, they loved it. Besides, the chia seeds are rich in protein, good carbs, and a wide array of nutrients. I do recommend using this recipe for breakfast. It will keep your kids full and extremely happy they have something similar to a dessert first thing in the morning.

I used the following chia pudding parfait recipe:

1 (13.5 oz.) can full-fat coconut milk (such as Thrive Market)

⅓ cup chia seeds

1 tsp. vanilla extract (such as Simply Organic)

1 Tbsp. organic maple syrup (optional for sweetness)

I mixed all the ingredients in a blender and poured it in a glass container for storing it over the night.

Afterward, I layered the pudding-like this: one layer of chia pudding, one layer of raspberries, one layer of granola, and repeated with an additional second layer.

Eat the rainbow

If you are having a hard time making your child eat his vegetables, this recipe might help you. Eat the rainbow is a simple and nutritious kid-friendly meal, in which you can add several vegetables. I prefer starting with a chili con carne recipe and add carrots, celery, red peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans, and kale.

I used the following recipe for this:

2 tsp sunflower oil

1 large red onion, chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

2 sticks celery or 2 courgettes, finely chopped

1-2 cloves garlic, crushed

2 fresh red chilies, seeded (if desired) and finely chopped

350g (12oz) extra lean minced beef (5% fat)

1 tsp each hot chili powder, ground cumin, and ground coriander

2 tsp tomato purée

1 1/2 tsp dark soft brown sugar

400g (14oz) can chopped tomatoes

250ml (9fl oz) homemade vegetable stock

400g (14oz) can red kidney beans in water, rinsed and drained

Chopped fresh coriander, to garnish (optional)

I cooked all the vegetables in the oil for around ten minutes, afterward, I added the beef and followed with the rest of the ingredients. I allowed the composition to cook for half an hour gently and everything was ready for serving.

Ratatouille

If your kids watched the famous Pixar movie, you have an advantage with this recipe. Ratatouille is a funny-looking kid-friendly meal that will make every child eat his legumes. And you can even encourage your kids to join you to cook together this dish.

I used the following recipe for this:

2 medium eggplant, diced into 1/2″ pieces

kosher salt

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large onion, chopped

2 bell peppers, cut into 1/4″ spears

1 bay leaf

1 tbsp. tomato paste

1/2 c. dry white wine

2 zucchinis, sliced into 1/4 ” coins

3 cloves garlic

2 c. halved cherry tomatoes

1 tsp. dried oregano

pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

fresh basil

I basically cut all the ingredients, add them in a large man, season accordingly to our taste, and place the composition in the oven. Let it bake for around 40 minutes, and you are ready to enjoy a tasty meal with your kids.

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