How Do I Do It All?

As my mom keeps reminding me... you can have it all, but you can't have it all at ONCE. At various points in your life you just need to shift your priorities.

Some ideas to consider:
1. Do you need to go back to work right away or can you wait a year? Your career hasn't really started yet, so now is a really good time to stay at home for a year or two if you can/want. Much easier now than it will be to go back to work for a year, then drop out again.
2. Things will get much much easier as your baby gets older - there's a *big* difference between a 3 month old and a 6 month old. You will find more time to keep the house clean and exercise soon. Better yet, try and incorporate exercise into your daily activites (I ride my bike to work every day) and you won't need to spend extra time doing it.
3. What time does your baby go to bed at night? If you can get him to have a ~7 PM bedtime (my son has been doing this since he was 2 months old) then you'll have some "me" time after he goes down.
4. Pick activites to do with friends that are low key. Invite them over for dinner and a DVD. Play some games. Go out to lunch on the weekend. All of these can have a baby easily incorporated into them. Especially if you're at someone's house, it's easy to put the baby down for a nap/bed and have some time to be an adult.
5. Don't worry too much about the dieting thing just yet. Try and eat healthy. For me, this means that I go through a cookbook and plan 3-4 dinners to cook for the week. Then I grocery shop on the weekend to make sure I have all the ingredients. (We eat leftovers for the remaining meals). I eat better, and healthier, than we would otherwise. If you're breastfeeding, don't bother dieting at all - that weight will drop right off, just be patient.

It's hard, but don't try and be a "Supermom". There's no point in burning yourself out. Who cares if your house is a little messier than it was? And nobody expects you to look like a model when you've got a 3 month old.

You can have it all but not all at the same time.Stay home with your baby for one year- go in debt or further in debt . I did and I have never been sorry. Put your baby first and the rest will follow. Once a week you need to have some time off with your husband( trade with another family). You need to let your words match your actions- if family counts. Find a spiritual community and you won't miss the fancy stuff. Invest in board games and museum memberships. This time will never be here again, If you must work- do it part-time. You have been given a baby and the intelligence to raise it. Give up the idea of perfection and you might find a good park district excercise class.( They also have babysitting).
Embrace your inner walmart shopper and you'll see you love being the first one your baby comes to ( not the nanny). Good luck! Don't give up the struggle- don't give up your baby!!
Also some advice I got was when you return to the work force after your children are in highschool you can still look forward to a thirty year career and pension. It's true!

ONE DAY AT A TIME ( =

You cannot do it all. Pick and choose your battles and you will be happier. Take care of your baby and your health. Everything else will fall into place. Also, ask for help if you need it.

I mean this in the nicest possible way.
Stay home with your baby, get the help you need, and CHILL! Your daughter needs you, and you need to relax. You are headed for disaster if you keep trying to have it all, right now. It cannot be done.

Bonnie...

I have two kids (18 and 14 yrs old) and now I realize that you can't do it all. Remember your priorities...and realize that when we die our head stone will not read you had a perfect house...it should read loving mother and wife! Learn to let go of some things! And if you are married..train him right..share the work and caring for your baby! Make time for yourself to excercise ..it is important to keep you healthy and get that free time for yourself. I hope this helped.

H.

The answer is simple. You can't. At least, not yet. You are a new mommy and it is so hard! No one can prepare you for this, it is so overwhelming!!! Especially if you are a high achiever, educated, and used to being a doer (Type A)! My daughter is now a year old and I am just now getting on track and feeling in control again. So, take it easy on yourself. Every day is totally different. One day you get the laudnry done, the next you can't get out of your pajamas!