I woke at the crack of dawn this morning, even though I had been up way past my bedtime.  As I crept past the lils bedrooms, I glanced in to see their sleeping faces lit up by the sun’s first rays.  They weren’t awake, but I knew I didn’t have long, so I couldn’t linger.  Lunches were made, clothes set aside, a really quick shower, lil faces kissed, and I was out the door. Time for me to go to work.

My return to work has been gradual over the last few months. I did nothing for the first three months that we were home; then I started teaching an online section of a course for a local post-secondary institution, and finally started working part-time from home in early March. It’s very part time, but it is a huge adjustment for me, bigger than I thought it would be.

I have noticed in the last few weeks that I have started to juggle, and that my juggling skills are not what they used to be.  Those balls are starting to fall, and some of them even rolling away.  Last week’s ball was the menu plan; we had pasta for dinner four days and ordered in at least one night.  This week I have played shuffle the appointment: move the dentist to get the car in for service, move the car appointment for the lils assembly at school, rejoice when someone else cancels so that I have time to do the work I need to do.  I just need to find the right balance between what I want to do, and what I can do.

Finding that balance is important, as working is important to me.  I love the agency that I work for, and the work that we do.  Having others to chat with stops me from talking to myself every so often, and business meetings that lead to lunches with old colleagues and friends are tonnes of fun. Most of all, I want to find that balance as I like using my brain again, even if it is just part time.  Last night’s late marking and this morning’s missed walk to school are part of finding that balance. It’s elusive, but I’ll get there.