Nailed It

Yesterday was a good day. I got to the end of the day with a sense of genuine contentment.

What is this feeling??

During the pandemic, so many days are full of juggling, moments of joy – yes, but a cloud of anxiety and concern. Is everyone I love healthy? Are we collectively happy? Or at least, happy enough, given the circumstances? The last few weeks have been more stressful for me than most – juggling a lot professionally and personally. And, on a desperate hunt for childcare for my youngest.

But yesterday – I nailed it. I love that feeling. I haven’t had enough of those moments in the last six months of quarantine.

One challenge with working from home is that my mind doesn’t get the chance to check in/check out. I have realized going to an office is so healthy for me. When I’m at home, I focus on being a mom and a wife. When I go to the office, I am very focused on work. There has always been some overlap – scheduling appointments at work and leaving early for various kid commitments; and catching up on work email at home. But, I could largely focus on the key priority at hand.

Now, my attention is constantly split between work calls and endless meetings. And the ever-growing pile of email. At the same time, I am only a hall way from my sweet children – and their needs. In some ways, it creates a really special dynamic. I can watch my son’s basketball practice on the sport court out my window during a work call. I can wake my oldest daughter up in the morning and have our best chats of the day while I lay in her bed during a break in meetings. I can check in on my youngest and smile as I listen to her giggle through-out the day.

But for focus? Phew. Tough.

So anyway. Yesterday! I made great progress on my nanny hunt. I did a final interview with a candidate, spoke to references, ran a background check, updated a contract and sent her an offer. Put forth my best selling skills – choose our family! We are awesome! I pray to anything holy that she accepts.

And I did some good work professionally. The kind of work that makes me proud. As I’ve gotten more mature, I don’t even need anyone to tell me “good job.” Or “thank you.” Although, of course, it is nice to hear at times. I have built enough confidence and expertise to know when I have delivered good work. And I did yesterday.

So, as my big kids were enjoying the end of summer with their close group of friends, my youngest was deep asleep, and my husband and I finished yet another episode of “Queen of the South”, I felt that awesome sense of contentment.

We had made the most of a really bizarre summer. It was unexpectedly hard in ways. Unexpectedly joyful and special in others. I am proud of how I have shown up for my family. I hope I have modeled resilience, positivity, and the willingness to take risks even when the world is uncertain.

I love the feeling of nailing it. For one day at least:)