My tips for finding a balance between parenthood & personal goals

After International Women’s Day, I found myself reflecting on what it truly means to be an “empowered woman”, especially as a mother, an entrepreneur, and a dreamer with goals besides parenting. Motherhood is a beautiful, messy, and all-consuming journey. It is filled with laughter, love, and those tiny moments that make our hearts melt. But If I am completely honest, it’s also filled with sleepless nights, self-doubt, and the constant struggle to find a balance between the needs of my children, my business or career, and, somewhere at the bottom of the list, my own personal aspirations.

For me, that balance is still a work in progress. I don’t like it when people talk about “finding balance” as if it is something we stumble upon, it is not. Balance is something we consciously create.

Between running Baby on the Move, raising three kids, and managing the endless to-do list that comes with life, finding time for myself often feels like a very difficult task. But over the years, I have learned (and am still learning!) that making space for my own passions is not only a luxury, but a necessity.

We moms are incredible multitaskers, but one thing we tend to neglect is ourselves. And yet, how can we pour from an empty cup?

It took a long time before I no longer felt guilty when I took a break from my responsibilities at home or at work to do something for myself. For me, that something is ballet. I don’t just wait to see if I have extra time or energy, which I never do. No, I plan my classes and make them a priority. When I am there, I reconnect with a part of myself that existed long before I became a mom, before I built up a business, before life became so full of things. That hour of movement, music, and focus on my own mind and body resets me like nothing else can.

Whatever your passion is: painting, running, yoga, writing, or just curling up with a book, make time for it. Schedule it so that it becomes a priority. Personally, it helps me and my family when I plan it in my calendar, I take it more seriously and my family respects that time. It matters.

Motherhood (and parenthood in general) can be isolating, especially in the early years. Between school runs, prepping meals, work commitments, and endless responsibilities, social life often falls by the wayside. But we need our friends. We need those coffee dates, those spontaneous drinks, those deep conversations that remind us who we are outside of being a mom, or that other moms go through the same phases and struggles.

Personally, I make a point of planning lunches or coffee breaks with friends whenever I can, even if it means I have to reschedule things a little.  Each time, I feel lighter, recharged and more myself, which makes me a more patient and relaxed mother and entrepreneur.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned? We don’t have to do it all alone. Asking for help does not mean we have failed, it means we are smart enough to recognize that we are human.

To all the  moms and all parents out there: find your support system, your village. Whether it’s family, friends, a babysitter, nanny or a partner, lean on them. You deserve the space to grow, to create, to be yourself. Don’t forget that your children watch how you deal with life, so think about what you want them to learn for adulthood 😉

When we take care of ourselves, when we support other moms in doing the same, we create a ripple effect. We show our daughters and sons that women can be dedicated mothers and ambitious dreamers at the same time. That we can also nurture our families and our passions. Is it going to be easy? Of course not. But is it possible? Absolutely.

So, dear mom, this is your reminder:

Make time for yourself. Prioritize your passions. Ask for help. And never feel guilty about doing so.

Lots of love,

Sarah