We're rolling off the long, Memorial Day Weekend, and I find myself thinking about balance--how I have none, how I probably need more. For me, it's a dilemma.
The mom’s dilemma. The entrepreneur’s dilemma. The teacher’s dilemma. If you spend time on social media, you’ve likely seen memes tied to roles and occupations. They range from the image-laden “this is what I actually do vs. this is what others think I do” model to the more interactive: pick three of five life priorities, no take-backs. Sleep, work, family, friends, or fitness… two of them have got to go.
Sometimes I laugh at these—after all, I’m a mom, and I’ve spent the greater majority of my life as a teacher, a writer, and a student. But there’s something amiss with these choices, and I think I have it figured out.
I’ve searched far and wide, and I still haven’t found a meme that covers the dilemma I know best. For lack of a better term, I’m calling the Military Spouse’s Dilemma (formal title negotiable).
The rules are simple. Seven categories total, you get three. Choose from the following:
-A clean house and compliant yard
-Your work (or what you want your work to be)
-Your spouse’s work**
-Family (immediate and extended)
-Friends (in person and long distance)
-Sleep
-Exercise
**Failure to choose your spouse’s work is not an option.
The mom’s dilemma. The entrepreneur’s dilemma. The teacher’s dilemma. If you spend time on social media, you’ve likely seen memes tied to roles and occupations. They range from the image-laden “this is what I actually do vs. this is what others think I do” model to the more interactive: pick three of five life priorities, no take-backs. Sleep, work, family, friends, or fitness… two of them have got to go.
Sometimes I laugh at these—after all, I’m a mom, and I’ve spent the greater majority of my life as a teacher, a writer, and a student. But there’s something amiss with these choices, and I think I have it figured out.
I’ve searched far and wide, and I still haven’t found a meme that covers the dilemma I know best. For lack of a better term, I’m calling the Military Spouse’s Dilemma (formal title negotiable).
The rules are simple. Seven categories total, you get three. Choose from the following:
-A clean house and compliant yard
-Your work (or what you want your work to be)
-Your spouse’s work**
-Family (immediate and extended)
-Friends (in person and long distance)
-Sleep
-Exercise
**Failure to choose your spouse’s work is not an option.
I'll be expanding on this topic in our August MSEJ. (I know--so far away, but don't worry: The May MSEJ only just came out.) But for now, I want to know: How do you deal with the Military Spouse Dilemma? What does balance look like for you?
Head on over to our Facebook page and let us know your experience with the Military Spouse Dilemma?
Story by Jamie Boyle
Head on over to our Facebook page and let us know your experience with the Military Spouse Dilemma?
Story by Jamie Boyle
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