I would like to think that I am on stage 2 of being a mother. I passed stage 1 with flying colors! Yippeee! Uhmm maybe.. OK I indulged a bit on toys.

Stage 1, for me, starts with the moment I found I am pregnant and it goes on until today. I realized, mt kids are are all grown up, uhmm that I no longer have a toddler in the house. Sati will be 6 this year and by next year, she’ll be in elementary! sniff..sniff.. sniff.

And during those times, I bought so many educational toys aka bricks. I had a fixation with Mega Bloks.. because their biggest size, which they call Maxi is very appropriate for toddlers. I hoard! OK that’s an understatement, this is how much Mega Bloks bricks we have:

That’s just the bricks.. not to mention other Mega Bloks toys such as castle, cars, people, tracks, little cars.. etc.. etc..

I know I can’t bring all those to our new house, specially that the kids have no use for it anymore… as I have said, were now in Stage 2 of parenting. Which for me, means more expensive toys but less bulky toys. They’re now asking for Nerf and Lego bricks while Sati loves anything Barbie. See the transition from Stage 1 to Stage 2?

The burning question: What to do with these toys?!?

It would be easier to just dispose them by handing them to the garbage collector no? BUT IT’S NOT THAT EASY! THESE ARE MY TOYS! Imagine me trying to hand a black garbage bag to a garbage collector and suddenly screams I JUST CAN’T and runs away with the toys. What a sight no?

Letting go is really really HARD! I just don’t what to regret this move 20 years or more from now. Haaaaaays

Selling is not part of the menu.. it’s either I donate it or try to squeeze it in our new house…

I CAN’T BREATHE… I NEED MORE TIME.

Achieving a better work/life balance has long been a common goal for working women of all ages and levels of success. Having said this, for some, it can be an extremely difficult balance to accomplish given these modern times of constant connectivity and increased competition that we live in.

While working hard to become successful is commendable, it’s important to realize that there is a tipping point when work related endeavors can become less productive and more of a frustration. If you’re a mom who finds it challenging to juggle life at home with the kids and your work life, the following are five practical tips that may help you to achieve the perfect work/life balanc. Let’s start with the importance of ‘me’ time…

1. Always Schedule some ‘me’ Time

Me’ time can mean different things to different people; for some it may be time spent with family and for others it may mean moments of solitude. Whichever way you prefer to spend your down time, always making sure to set some time aside for non business related tasks provides a lot of benefits. From getting some much needed rest and recharging your batteries to spending some quality time with friends and loved ones, ‘me’ time can actually help you to become more productive while working.

2. Use Technology to work Smarter, not Harder

One of the biggest causes of an upset to work/life balance is technology. Smart devices and cloud computing mean you can take your work anywhere with you, providing a constant reminder of the stresses of your job. In the same way that you can access work related emails and tasks from anywhere, technology can make it easier to shut everything off and get away from the stresses of work. Scheduling tasks on autopilot and monitoring staff via HR software are just two of the ways that you can use technology to work smarter, and not harder.

3. Leave Work Stuff where it Belongs

The two tips above can only truly be achieved once you conquer the urge to take work home or ‘’just quickly check something.’’ Leaving work at work is important not only so as to not invade your personal space and home life, but also because you’re most probably going to be more productive when you’re in your work environment anyway.

4. No one is Perfect

Be it at home or at work, being able to delegate tasks and responsibilities is an important trait, as is accepting that others may not necessarily do things as well as you. Learn to let those who are part of your team at home and at work get on with certain tasks so that you can find time to rest, disconnect, or concentrate on other elements of your home or business life.

5. Just Say No

Whether you are a self-employed entrepreneur, or you have a very demanding boss, it is important to be able to just say “no” to work sometimes. Being sensible and only taking on what you can will prevent your work from completely taking over your life and commanding all other aspects of it.

The issue of having a perfect work/life balance is one that millions of working moms all over the world wrestle with on a daily basis. If, like millions of other moms, you’re looking to achieve a healthy balance that will lead to a happier and more fulfilled you, the five aforementioned tips are something that you should give some serious consideration to.