Mushed clementines and determination

The headline may first appear to not be in relation to one another but I can assure you they indeed relate.  Today being a Friday means that as a business owner this is the day I am either planning logistics/setting up for a weekend event OR I am in my home office for a half day working on marketing, account followup and planning strategically for the week ahead.  The other half of the day being summer is focused on our seven and five year old kiddos.  Being a mom, wife, daughter and sister is always #1 on my priority list and being a determined for success business owner-- working both IN and ON my business is #2.  So this morning...smashed clementines are my reality. 

As any mom reading this knows...five year olds are a very unique variety of the child kind.  They are both independent and still very much needing every minute of our attention.  On a typical summer day I am up between 5-6:15am to squeeze a few hours of candy production in before my husband sneaks off to work.  So, I am home by 8am and am mom until 10am when my assistant arrives to help with the house, kids and other tasks I need to delegate so I can continue a tight balance of business owner and mom (I am beyond thankful for her!  She is truly a life saver!).  This morning though...I decided I needed to sleep in until closer to 7:30am since I went back to the shop last night to work on orders after the kids went to bed.  That being said, it meant that our five year old who is an early riser was out the door ready to play with our neighbor kids by 8:30am. After having a 'lazy for me' morning...I walked into our five year old smashing clementines into my juicing pitcher to make orangeade for him and his friends.  I kept my calm in front of his friends while I was ready to burst on the inside.  On a mission to get some office work done I had to stop and wash my perfectly pressed tablecloth, clean the clementine mess and have a calm chat with him on why that's not a good idea.  You know...the life of a mom!  As much as we can try to stay on a schedule, something always causes a pause.  I had to find the silver lining this morning... when life gives you lemons (clementines)...you should make lemonade.  

Determination... while our five year old was determined to give his friends a refreshing drink on a warm morning... I am determined to be the best mom and business owner I can while finding balance between both.  But, is there a true balance? For me, balance may not be perfect everyday.  Some days go smoother than others...some weeks are just flat difficult.  HOWEVER, I am determined to grow our company so I can be a better mom.  I believe THAT is truly possible.  I am naturally a bit ADD, OCD, and obsessively determined to reach goals for our family and businesses.  It's honestly a really bad combination most of the time.  I've had to learn over the years how to channel those 'faults' to work together (especially in combination of my ultimate goal of being the best mom and wife possible).  If you're a mom struggling to find balance between work/business and family I want you to know that you're not alone.  Smashed clementines aren't always a bad thing--sometimes it takes smashed clementines to remind yourself that when life hands you lemons, you should make lemonade.  We are blessed as women to wear many hats.  Today I remain transparently determined.   Off to make orangeade!

My current determination list:
-have fun with our kids this summer
-build deeper relationships with our company's followers
-work on PR opportunities
-marketing strategy for our corporate gifting program
-plan a relaxing stay-cation for my husband and I without our kids
-finish a few home improvements by the end of July (I am embarrassed to admit I'm a landscape designer by trade with the way my flower beds look right now--I fail at this part of balance right now)
-work on bids for packaging options with 2 Oklahoma companies on our radar
-find a consistent source for Oklahoma grown dry roasted peanuts

What is your current determination list???


XO,
Melissa


​Note: Don't judge my writing skills or appearing to have the lack of-- in my blog posts I prefer to just ramble and get my thoughts out quickly...I mean isn't that the point of blogging??  hehe