A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

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Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.
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Summer memories of years gone by...

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A mom with two kids on a stoop

This photo reminds me of when I was so happy to be a mom of two chilling at my friend Jules' house on a warm Memorial Day afternoon. I was confident, felt reasonably in control and the sun was shining in Pittsburgh, so that was cause to celebrate. We still had a nanny then... (To learn about our post-nanny life, click here.)

Also, I thought we looked pretty cute! 

The current brood

So much has happened since that day. My family has grown. We no longer have a nanny. Having three kids has definitely humbled me--especially without the extra set of hands. I now know that times can be enjoyed with less sunshine. I have learned that moms of three never chill. And, I have discovered that my capacity to love exceeds my prior expectations. 

Still, I do think we look pretty cute! :-)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA

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