I have a pretty fluid work/home relationship. I try not the bring the stress of work home with me or vice-versa. But I do work at home often and play at work only sometimes (damn that Elinor and her Scrabulous). The fact of the matter is - my job requires more than 40 hours/week of my time. In general, I’m okay with that. I like my job and I want to be good at what I do. I want to meet my personal goals. I want to meet the goals of the job. I am respected at work, I have a great management support system, and I work hard to gain and improve that infrastructure.

But more importantly, I want to be a great mother and wife. And that requires more of not only my time, but my mental space and energy.

Oy. The conflict.

So, I keep my office hours to at least 40 hours and work after baby goes to sleep. It’s still not enough time to get my bills paid, clean the kitchen and, not the mention, unpack and finish renovating a house. There is also not enough time to meet the needs of the day job. I get the bare minimum done, and I hit some goals, but not all. It’s also not enough time to be spending with my family. Frantic morning hours, a quick thrown together dinner, and some play time before bath and bed.

I’m working hard to eliminate the guilt, frustration, and dissatifaction inherent in the perfectionist brain that is mine.

I know many of you have been there - with or without a kid. We all face so many of the same conflicts.

How. Do. You. Do. It.?!