Balancing Love, Little ones and Lip gloss

If you're looking for work-life balance, you came to the wrong place. It doesn't exist here. Picture this, you've adopted a name called “mama” that's on repeat until about... the kid turns seven. You currently have 15 min to get to the post office before the truck goes out for deliveries and you refuse to disappoint your customers because you offer free shipping, and they're accustomed to Amazon pulling up every day. All while your husband is asking “what's for dinner”, quickly forgetting or simply ignoring the fact that he doesn't know that the argument that just took place while in “business mode” isn't over. What a kodak moment huh :\ 
 
Let me paint you a better picture. Imagine quitting your job with $110 dollars to your name and you have a shopping cart filled with enough items to make a lip gloss that would eventually turn into 4 years of high peaks and very low valleys called “self-employment”. Well, that's my Mona Lisa. From exploding on the scene with Lemonade Stand Cosmetics to losing our creative juices chasing orchards that bared no fruit, to finding our roots in a solid foundation, here’s where perspective was found: Inside the Box. 
 
Ok, now that the dramatics are over, here’s how it's done! Or at least how I did it. First and foremost, you must prioritize responsibilities. Again, don't try to balance these to-dos, make a list and get into a consistent routine. You may think family comes first but nope, wrong again. YOU come first.  
 
At the time of writing this, I can't lie or make up fantasies about getting up with the birds at 4am, hitting the gym and starting my day with the breakfast of champions. To be honest, I sleep until I wake or am woken and the first thing, I do is the “silent prayer”. Once my fifteen minutes of observation is complete, the little one comes next. After teeth brushing and face washing has commenced, I tell Nola to get dressed for the day as I walk into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. With every good meal comes a good amount of dishes and once that kitchen light goes off, my day begins.  

When working from home for the family business there's no set time to do, just do. So, as I struggle to get these leggings around my lovely lady humps, I'm effectively communicating with my head about which hats to wear. Although it's a privilege to have a husband like Marcus, he can be very challenging and demanding, especially when my emotion clouds the logic needed to complete simple tasks. Burnout isn't real, and you must avoid THINKING that it is at all costs. To steer clear from exhaustion, you must set boundaries. Know when to set apart the Boss from the lover.  
     
Stay with me, I know that was a lot to take in but here’s some encouragement, you can leverage your support systems!... or not. We homeschool and quite frankly there’s not much family in the city we reside in, so there's no one to pawn my kid off for time I can't get back. Don't get it twisted, we do this for the money but its F.O.E.  
Family Over Everything! 
 
With that being said, carving out quality time for your relationship and coming up with strategies for maintaining intimacy and connection is a waste of time. Now before you click on a new tab and search for an article to fit your sensibilities, check this out. Sometimes there’s no need for a plan of attack. ATTACK! Enjoy the daily obstacles life throws in front of you and your significant other and you'll see that your love language isn't found in some book. 
 
In conclusion, parenthood and the complexities of marriage while laying the foundation for a business can be a gift and a curse, but it's better than yo punk ass 9-5. Nah, I'm just playing😉. All jokes aside, it can be done. Remember, work-life balance is a myth, take it from the words of a wise women I never knew.  
 
“You will never feel truly satisfied by work until you are satisfied by life.” 
 

By Marcus Lowery

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