Mogul Mum: Michelle Obama
She made history when she became America’s first lady, she has become a style icon and she is a true inspiration to every working mum on the planet! She may be used to tea in the White House, campaigning with her husband and a schedule that would make most of us run a mile but Michelle Obama is definitely one power mum who has it all under control.
As one of the most influential women in the world, she juggles sleepovers, school plays and packed lunches. But how does she do it?
Michelle’s four helpful hints:
Routine, Routine, Routine!
Some of our lives are far from organized. They’re much more along the lines of stressful, chaotic and frantic. However one way Michelle ensures she has a bit more control is by developing some sort of routine. “Routine is a must. Even if things don’t always go to plan, I know that after six is when I should be spending time with my girls and it helps me stick to my schedule and make things run more smoothly.” Not only does this make Michelle’s life easier but her daughters also benefit from it too. "We don't pull them out of their world. Our kids thrive on stability and consistency, and they like their routine. They go to bed roughly the same time every night which means they find it easy to get to sleep and are not restless.” So why not give it a go? Even if it’s knowing that at 5:30pm everyday you will spend an hour or two with your kids, not only are you more likely to stick to it but you may be surprised at how much easier having a routine makes your life.
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You DON’T have to sacrifice!
Who are the best working mum’s? That’s easy; they’re the ones that sacrifice everything for their kids, whether it is career, social life or personal life right? Not necessarily. Michelle learnt from her own mother that not sacrificing isn’t always bad. “My mother taught me what to do. She'd say being a good mother isn't all about sacrificing; it's really about investing and putting yourself higher on your priority list. You can be a good mom and still work out, get your rest, have a career - or not. She encouraged me to find that balance.” We all want to be the best mums we can be, but that doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams, hobbies and interests. It means being on top form! So don’t give yourself a hard time put yourself right on top of that list, chances are if you’re feeling in top form then you’re much more likely to be able to juggle everything else.
No Absolute No’s!
Our Mogul mum’s never stop going on about balance, but how do we actually achieve it? Well one way Michelle does this is by having No absolute No’s. “I’d be depressed if I told myself I can’t go out, I can’t let my hair down, or I can’t do the things I love. I don’t restrict myself I like to have fun. If I want a night out or a day relaxing I ask myself did I stay in yesterday? Did I do enough work over the weekend? If the answer is `Yes` then I’ll let my hair down. If the answer is `No` then I’ll catch up on work and go out the next night. It’s all about looking at your choices and then finding a balance”. Don’t restrict yourself if you want a day away from the kids, or a night where you don’t have to do work, think about your choices. Balance is about finding that half way mark between the things you do for fun and the things you have to do.
Try Play Dates
Michelle says their perfect for the days she has no work and needs to spend time with her kids and her friends. “I arrange play dates with all my friends and their kids they’re great for when I want to do something social and spend time with my girls. I get to relax and gossip and the kids get a chance to play. We go to the park, have picnics or just go round to someone’s house, we natter and catch up and the kids have fun!” Not only do you get to do something for you, but you also get to do something for your kids. So get creative arrange fun trips out, rainy days in or even picnics. That way you have enough time to catch up with all your friends and do something with your children.
So remember, set up a routine, you don’t always have to sacrifice, there are no absolute no’s and give play dates a go.
Michelle says "I'm always living with the guilt that if I'm spending too much time at work, then I'm not giving enough time to my girls and then if I'm with my girls, then I'm not doing enough for work. But I know that I’m doing the best I can, and that’s all I can really hope for.”
By Danielle Jawando
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