Too busy. Where's the balance?

The past few weeks have been filled with busyness for us. I took on an accompanying job with a local high school. It wasn't a lot in terms of hours, just four hours a day for two days a week along with an evening performance and then the festival itself which is an all-day event. The girls spent the time with their grandma and cousins. It seems so perfect on paper, but it kind of wreaked havoc on us. 

I've been trying to figure out exactly what it is that has turned us upside down and what I've come up with is that I've been missing their main awake time. With them being gone from 9-1, they would get home but immediately need to nap. After naps, they would have a teeny bit of free play time before dinner, then a little time with Daddy, then straight to bed. We lost that special time where it was just Mommy and the kiddos. Then, on top of that, we filled in the other days with our usual activities, like play groups and errands. 

The interesting part is that the girls did okay with being out and about. I generally didn't notice a huge change in behavior when we were busy running those errands or visiting friends. It was the worst when we were trying to leave our house (picture me turning into drill sergeant mom and the girls both taking turns screaming about anything and everything) or if we had more time at home. I hate that! I don't want our time at home to be stressful and full of arguing. 

The pendulum sure does swing, doesn't it? A few months ago, I was really feeling pressure from various people and groups to be more active, to live for Christ in the community more and not just be a homebody. While I believe the intentions were good, this kind of pressure definitely didn't help our family. We got busier. I joined a Mom's group and went to most of the events the last few months. They were fun and the girls are getting to know the other kids pretty well. I started accompanying while the girls went to grandma's. Those two things were huge time takers the last few months. 

I didn't even realize how huge until I felt trapped - how do I juggle all of this with these little ladies that are acting up like crazy? Their behavior has been all over the place. Part of it is just being two and three, but I know these girls and I know that when they act like this, especially at the same time, that something has to change.

Now we take a step back. Josie is not going to be in dance class next semester. With a baby coming and no alternate transportation for her, I foresee that being a huge stressor. Oh, and then there's the part where she still really doesn't enjoy it. She clings to me (so unlike her) when we get there and doesn't seem much happier after class is done til she's sure we are leaving. I don't blame the studio or teacher. She tries hard and keeps me in the loop with what she is doing to help Josie enjoy it. It's just not for Jo, not right now. 

I won't be accompanying anymore this year. I will still give piano lessons one afternoon a week, but I don't think that will be too overwhelming.

We will be cutting back on all of the extra events going on during the week. I think it'd be really good to be home 3 of the 5 weekdays, the whole day or at least the morning. I want us to have a healthy home environment and having that routine is the main way to get it. I want this atmosphere in place before the baby gets here in a mere 8ish weeks. 

Whew! This has been on my heart a lot the last few weeks. So tell me, what do you do to keep the routine and atmosphere pleasant? Have you found yourself in my shoes? 

(I can't say that Christmas season has much to do with this. We do our celebrating mostly at home or the evening with Daddy so that isn't too different than the rest of the year.)