Function in Disaster, Finish in Style
Among the many wonderful, wonderful things about my high school, its unofficial motto was "Function in Disaster, Finish in Style (Stay calm at the center of your being)." I often find myself repeating this phrase to myself in moments of craziness ... though, I have to admit I find the first two phrases easier than the third (staying calm in disaster takes a true zen that I often don't have but am working towards). And, for the past two weeks, these words have become a mantra for me: I have quickly ramped up at work with what feels like 100 balls in the air and Johnny had a two week work trip, leaving me as the lone ranger with Charlie.
It's been good, it's been hard, it's been challenging.
From a work perspective, I had two proposals due in these two weeks, on top of several client meetings, two work day trips, and working on several upcoming presentations. From a life perspective, I was on point for all things Charlie from daycare prep, laundry (all. the. laundry. every day. because ... now that we are doing solid foods, everything is everywhere, for both of us), and of course loving on her.
Johnny comes home tomorrow and I am proud to announce that Charlie and I survived - with some disaster in the thick of it all. For those of you who have been reading these posts, I even asked for help - both when an unexpected work trip popped up and when disaster struck as Charlie got sick the night before said work trip (and we were up from 11:30-3 with her inconsolably crying, which is basically my own version of torture. Talk about feeling helpless and out of control...) and I ended up cancelling the trip (I was supposed to leave the house at 4:15am; decisions made at 3am are difficult to be made logically - but it was the right move).
The biggest thing that I struggled with in this two week period was that third phrase in the motto - staying calm at the center of your being. Or, said slightly differently - self-care. Many of us are really good at this concept of function in disaster, finish in style - put your head down, work long hours, be really busy, and push through. However, many of us -- definitely me -- struggle with the equally important piece of taking care of yourself when everything is crazy, and staying calm and grounded.
To get through the day, I was getting up at 6am and not sitting down until 8:30 or 9pm; and then, often spending my last hour awake on emails that I'd missed while I was doing Charlie things. What has been missing in my days is time spent to gather myself, to exercise. I've gotten into auto-pilot with my checklist of everything that I need to do (Feed Charlie. Bathe Charlie. Put Charlie Down. Prep Daycare Bottles. Prep Coffee (!!!). Do Laundry. Fold Laundry. Take Trash Out), rather than stopping to evaluate what actually needs to get done and/or what ball can be dropped so that I can have a breather.
Some of the answer probably goes back to asking for help; but also some of the answer is probably giving myself a break in terms of the expectations that I have for myself and cutting myself some slack. I did succeed at this some days - like having my in-laws help with Charlie or having a glass of wine on the deck while feeding Charlie her dinner. As evidenced below, Charlie also wanted to imbibe, but has to wait a couple of years for that...
As we get ready for another crazy couple of weeks (we are gone the next 3 weekends and Johnny and I both have work trips interspersed throughout), I want to reground myself to this mantra while not forgetting the critical third piece of staying calm at the center of my being.
It's been good, it's been hard, it's been challenging.
From a work perspective, I had two proposals due in these two weeks, on top of several client meetings, two work day trips, and working on several upcoming presentations. From a life perspective, I was on point for all things Charlie from daycare prep, laundry (all. the. laundry. every day. because ... now that we are doing solid foods, everything is everywhere, for both of us), and of course loving on her.
Johnny comes home tomorrow and I am proud to announce that Charlie and I survived - with some disaster in the thick of it all. For those of you who have been reading these posts, I even asked for help - both when an unexpected work trip popped up and when disaster struck as Charlie got sick the night before said work trip (and we were up from 11:30-3 with her inconsolably crying, which is basically my own version of torture. Talk about feeling helpless and out of control...) and I ended up cancelling the trip (I was supposed to leave the house at 4:15am; decisions made at 3am are difficult to be made logically - but it was the right move).
The biggest thing that I struggled with in this two week period was that third phrase in the motto - staying calm at the center of your being. Or, said slightly differently - self-care. Many of us are really good at this concept of function in disaster, finish in style - put your head down, work long hours, be really busy, and push through. However, many of us -- definitely me -- struggle with the equally important piece of taking care of yourself when everything is crazy, and staying calm and grounded.
To get through the day, I was getting up at 6am and not sitting down until 8:30 or 9pm; and then, often spending my last hour awake on emails that I'd missed while I was doing Charlie things. What has been missing in my days is time spent to gather myself, to exercise. I've gotten into auto-pilot with my checklist of everything that I need to do (Feed Charlie. Bathe Charlie. Put Charlie Down. Prep Daycare Bottles. Prep Coffee (!!!). Do Laundry. Fold Laundry. Take Trash Out), rather than stopping to evaluate what actually needs to get done and/or what ball can be dropped so that I can have a breather.
Some of the answer probably goes back to asking for help; but also some of the answer is probably giving myself a break in terms of the expectations that I have for myself and cutting myself some slack. I did succeed at this some days - like having my in-laws help with Charlie or having a glass of wine on the deck while feeding Charlie her dinner. As evidenced below, Charlie also wanted to imbibe, but has to wait a couple of years for that...
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