"If only I knew then what I know now…" is a familiar refrain and one which was brought up on the Wall Street Journal’s "Juggle" blog today. Sara Schaefer Muñoz writes :
"Would different choices earlier have made your juggle easier?
We’ve gotten a lot of comments from childless readers who say that the issues brought up here make them balk at having a family. One 25-year-old reader emailed us this (edited) note:
As if I wasn’t worried enough about the future, paying for a home, having a children and bringing them up well, this blog has alerted me to so many challenges that I never even thought about.”
So our young reader asks for some advice:
“If a Juggler knew then (i.e. back at my age and stage in life) what they know now… is there anything they’d do differently: Save money? Have children at a different time? Move to a different area? Do things differently at work?”
Or, she asks, is juggling work and family just hard no matter what? Dear readers, please advise."
* * * * * *
Ohhh, if only I had known then what I know now, I would have…
1. Changed careers BEFORE my child was born.
2. Started a little earlier.
3. Been more relaxed about the whole thing so I could have enjoyed her more when she was a baby.
Do I think the juggle is hard no matter what? Yes, but THE most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
-Susan Martin, mom, and work life balance coach.
