Those who know me well, say that I always seem to be on the run. But I know I’m not the only one. Moms everywhere seem to be scrambling for time and we usually manage to juggle (sometimes, rather successfully) one too many balls in the air.

A glimpse of what we juggle every given day: Carpools, supermarket shopping, school activities, meals for the household, school supplies, our kids social lives, after-school activities, managing the home, setting time aside for our spouses… the list could go and on. And this is EXCLUDING any professional obligations you may have.

The important issue that we tend to forget about is not only the juggling, but the balancing. It’s very easy to let one aspect of your life take over the others. And with women, that usually means forgetting to take care of ourselves.

Don’t you forget about me…

Remember that Simple Minds song? OK, now that you know how old I am, I just want to share some simple tips to not lose yourself while juggling everything else during the adventures of motherhood.

• Don’t feel guilty about doing something for yourself. Nobody else will do it for you.  And look at it this way: it will allow you to release tension. A more relaxed mom, is a happier mom. A happier mom, is a better mom.
• Take care of yourself. Yes, that means taking your vitamins, getting enough rest, eating well.
• Treat your “me” time as an appointment. Sounds too planned? Well, the truth is, IT WORKS.
• Organization is key. Arrange with your spouse or partner or a trusted friend to watch over the little ones for a specific amount of time each week to give you a breather.
• Choose something you’d like to do, not something you need to do: a manicure, coffee with friends, reading a book, even shopping.

When work overwhelms you

Regardless of where you work at, the juggling act seems to throw in more and more balls in the air and if you really pause to think, it can overwhelm you. In these cases, learn to prioritize what’s urgent from what’s not. If everything’s urgent, then something’s really wrong, because something has to be most important in your to do list.

In this era of hyperconnectivity, it can be hard to set limits and boundaries. But just like you need them when raising your kids, you need them to keep your sanity while working and trying to balance your life a bit better. And believe it or not, you are the person that needs to respect those boundaries the most.

For some, it means no smart phones even near the kitchen or dinner table. For others, not taking calls or answering emails in the evening. And I’m assuming you already know that texting and driving don’t mix well. You need to find what works for you. Then, stick to your resolutions.

When family responsibilities drain you

Sometimes it’s the chores and everyday routines that sap out your energy, Again, a little organization and planning goes a long way.

• Decide what really has to be done and don’t get sucked into the non essential stuff.
• Make a schedule for your kids. For younger ones, take pictures of the daily tasks they must do (for example: eat breakfast, brush their teeth, take a bath, got to bed) and decorate together a poster they can look at. For older kids, make a schedule on the computer and print it out for them.
• Buy gifts for birthday parties in advance. If you are always pressed for time, use gift bags and tissue paper instead of wrapping every gift individually. You can even buy in bulk online and save.
• Do a master shopping list on your computer, print several and have them in the kitchen. Check off items as soon as you are running low and that way you’ll avoid multiple trips to the supermarket during the same week.
• Learn to say no. Sometimes that means scheduling less after-school activities, organizing less play dates or not hosting all the family dinners.
• Ask for help. Wonder Woman only exists in a comic book.

Personally, I dream about having my groceries delivered, but have to accept the reality that none of the supermarkets close to my home offer that service. So, I shop once a week and go at odd times when not so many people do their grocery shopping. Sometimes that means right after dropping the kids off for school, other times it’s late in the evening while my husband takes over parenting duties.

You’re in this for the long haul

The juggling act of motherhood is not a one hit wonder. You’re in this adventure for the long haul, and will have better days and not so great days.  Sometimes one of the balls will fall to the floor, or you might get hit on the head by a curve ball. It’s not the end of the world, and those around you will follow your lead on how to react.

So next time something doesn’t work out the way you had planned, try laughing or smiling instead of getting angry or even wanting to cry. A sense of humor works wonders and aside from making you feel a bit better, comic relief is underrated when dealing with your children. So then, aside from juggler extraordinaire, you will tune into the comedian inside of you. After all, there are moments in life that are so utterly absurd, all you can do is laugh if you want to find the strength to keep on going!

Happy Friday! I hope you have had a productive and fun week. For me, it’s been a good mix of the two, which is great because that’s how I define balance.

I’ve been busy working on a couple of Blogher 2010 Room of Your Own sessions as well as a new blog. So, today, I want to share my new projects with you.

BlogHer 2010

BlogHer has Room of Your Own sessions that you can submit a proposal for, then people can vote on whether or not they’d attend such a session, and hopefully your room is accepted and added to the conference agenda. It’s a way to get different topics on the agenda that may not have made it to the main track sessions. This year, I am excited to be a part of two sessions with some great friends.

Cross Cultural Encounters of the Virtual Kind: Achieving Understanding, Tolerance and Maybe Even World Peace Through Blogging

This session will focus on how in addition to multiculturalism, the blogging community also creates and sustains “cross culturalism” through blogging. I was approached by the lovely Faiqa of Native Born to speak with her in this panel. It’s great because there’s diversity between her and I – from our cultural background, our lives, and even our blogs. It’s sure to be a great conversation…if it gets accepted.

Latinas in Social Media: Are we out there? Let’s start the conversación!

Focusing on Latinas as a group and how we are using social media to develop relationships and promote our businesses with a distinct flavor, this session will feature a great group of Latinas:

• Dr. Daisy Sutherland (@DrMommy) of Dr. Mommy Helps Moms
• Monica Vila (@theonlinemom) of The Online Mom Network
• Jeannette Kaplun (@jeannettekaplun) of Todobebé
• Silvia Martinez (@mamalatina) of Mama Latina Tips
• Lexi (@laprimera) of La Primera Blog
• And…me!

How can you help?

If these session topics sound interesting to you, then click on the titles of each session above, login to the BlogHer site (free, easy registration if you don’t already have an account), and click on the link at the top that says “I would attend this session.” That will count as your vote for the session and will help it have a better chance of being accepted to the conference agenda.

New Blog

Ahhh…yes. My new baby. I’ve started a new blog and am launching it today! It’s a great topic, and I’m already having tons of fun with it. I hope you’ll join me in the fun and become a reader. I’d love to have you!

Want to know what it’s about? Well, you’ll just have to click on over to find out!

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Have a comment? Let’s hear your thoughts on these BlogHer sessions or share with us any fun and exciting projects you have going on. Just add your comments below!

And don’t forget to visit my new blog!