A Mom's Work-At-Home Mamafesto

Let the crazy begin.

A little more than a year ago, I longed for a flexible career that would allow me to help change the world, contribute to my family -- and allow me to fully and completely raise my daughters without any childcare.

Last year, during summer vacation I hadn't been with my daughters for a summer in nearly five years. I longed to show them the true love of a slow summer vacation.

And we truly enjoyed every second.

Just a year later, we're ready to do it all over again.

The lack of schedule will be nourishing to us all. No more lunches to pack. No more bus to catch. No more homework frustrations.

And a lot more time together, which means a lot less time for me to think clearly and produce new work.

In anticipation of this great summer vacation event, I began to do what many solo-preneurs would do... I started planning and working ahead about two months ago.

But then two weeks ago, I hit the wall. Tired of planning. Tired of doing. Tired of thinking. Tired of spending every minute thinking about the next three months.

And not nearly enough was done, either.

Tormented by this eagerness to get ahead and my stubbornness to live in the moment, I pulled out my journal and began writing.

A single prompt set me over the edge with a change in heart on how I had been viewing summer this year.

"What do I want from this time with my children?"

And things suddenly became so clear.

Visions of slow summer days started taking over my mind, yes, but also confidence poured through me. I've done this before. I've juggled many things. I've worked a job and ran a blog at night. I survived a half dozen snow days this past winter and still managed to get everything done -- on time.

I can do this, I thought. And I will do it without losing my ever-loving mind. And I will do it without losing a precious second with my daughters.

This summer, all I need to do is what I already do, but I'll do it by the swimming pool, in the backyard, at the park, overlooking the ocean, watching a sunrise and while watching my daughters ride their bikes around and around.

Let's face it, I will have time. I will be able to do it all. I will work smarter. In other words, the work will get done -- on my time and in an Abundant Mama way -- peaceful, present and playful.

It's easy for work-at-home moms to feel frustrated when our children are sick or home for a holiday or a vacation because we're so focused on how the schedule changes affects us negatively. And yet the real motivation to be a mom who works from home is to be with our children, to be able to be here for them.

And so I offer this Work-at-Home Mamafesto, a gentle reminder for those days when things are turned upside down. This Mamafesto is for any mom who works or stays home, who has a project they are trying to tackle with children underfoot. Or even a dream they are trying to manifest.

A Mom's Work-at-Home Mamafesto:

1. No matter what, I have chosen to be here, to do this meaningful work of raising children as an Abundant Mama. I will put my children's needs at the top of my to-do list every single day. I will be a magic-maker of their one and only childhood. And, above all, this is my time to rejuvenate and reinvigorate my own mothering soul. I will embrace today as it is.