Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Pour Your Heart Out: Balance




Today, I'm linking up with Shell over at Things I Can't Say, again. I've done this one quite a few times in the past and today happens to be the one year anniversary of PYHO. Check it out, it's like group therapy. :)


I am self employed. I am the only employee of my studio. I have 2 adults (hi mom!) that voluntarily teach a couple hours each week, because they love kids and dance. I have 3 high school girls who teach a class each week for community service hours. My parents clean on Saturday mornings for me because I don't have time to do it anymore. But I do everything else. EVERYTHING else. All the bookwork, budgeting, computer work, papers, handouts, website management, music finding and editing, recital planning, costume ordering, taxes, everything else. It's actually really enjoyable.

When I have time to get it done.

Right now, there is a HUGE pile of tuition waiting to be entered into the computer, competition entries ready to submit, warm ups to be ordered and jewelry sets to be tallied and filled. My taxes need finished and submitted. The April newsletter needs done, the website needs updated for the recital, recital handbooks need typed, printed and assembled, recital shirts need designed and a price quote, the set needs designed, cardboard needs ordered, a projector needs to be found. I need to call a real estate agent and I need to spend a whole lot of time in prayer about a big, huge, awesomely exciting opportunity I have for next year.

Let's not forget the competition team's trip to Disney next year.

Right now, as all this work is piling up, my son is crying, Rory is telling me she needs to pee-pee on potty and I have a sinus infection.

Running a business is never easy. Not for one second is it easy. It also doesn't make me a ton of money, contrary to popular belief. (ahem) It comes with lots of self defense, because people loooove to talk smack about me. It comes with more stress than you can imagine. It comes with times of absolutely NO income because the studio needed all the money that month. I haven't raised my prices since 2007, because of this craptastic economy. I mean, if people have to cut back, dance class is high on the list to cut. It's definitely a want, not a need.

I am struggling to find balance in this new life of business owning mom of 2. With Rory, I fell in to a rhythm pretty easily. It wasn't all that much different, I just worked during her naps and stayed up a little later. This time around, I feel like I am running on ice. I'm moving my feet as fast as I can and I'm not getting anywhere.

I want to balance my business and my family so that each gets the time they deserve. Obviously, family comes before business. That would be why my work is so backed up. I'd much rather play with Rory and rock Trace to sleep than work on my Schedule-C. I mean, who wouldn't?! But there comes a time where I have to say STOP. Daddy needs to help me out, I have to be a business owner now.

And you know what? It's not going to get any easier. My kids will always need me in different ways that will "interfere" with my studio. I will miss Trace's soccer or basketball or whatever games at times because I just have to work. I won't be there for homework time most nights. (Scary thought!) My kids will just have to adjust and that's okay. It has to be okay.

It is what it is. And it will be fine.

7 comments:

Jenna said...

thank you for your honesty, for letting us into your head as you think through reality and overwhelm and planning for the immediate and distant future with finding balance with work and your family. Glad to read you as I linked up with PYHO today.

Shell said...

It is what it is, but it's still hard! It sounds like you are doing a fabulous job, though.

Can you ask a parent to do the monthly newsletter for you?

Rachel said...

It is so hard to find balance - I can only imagine how crazy busy it is to have a business to run!

Neely said...

You are awesome Kate...just remember that!

MamaRobinJ said...

Wow, that's a lot to deal with! I could never be a business owner - for all the reasons you describe. I'm just not sure I could do it. But it sounds like you've got what it takes to handle it!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Nice to meet you!

Kmama said...

I remember being in college and taking "entrepreneurship" classes was the hot thing. I kept telling everyone "no way. No way do I want to own my own business." It's just way too much responsibility for me.

But even though you are overwhelmed, it sounds like you do a good job!!

Unknown said...

Balance is hard no matter what you do! I always find it refreshing to step back and take a look at things from the "outside". Crossing something off my list always feels good. There's always ONE thing I don't really need to do. I hope you find some calm in the chaos. :) Stopped by from Shell's link.