I think the honest answer to this is that you can’t always stay 100% balanced when you have children, but the following are a few tips I’ve put together that hopefully will help a bit:

1. Stay in your own lane – As I talked about the other day it’s really easy to compare yourself to other parents, those who seem perfect, definitely aren’t’, and it isn’t a competition, we re all just being the best we can be.

2. Ask for advice, but don’t always take it – Find your own way as a parent, what works for someone else won’t necessarily be what works for you. Whilst it’s good to get the thoughts of others, your family is unique.

3. Accept help – If someone offers to look after your kids for an hour, or help you tidy up, or make you dinner, I’d say literally bite their hand off, needing help doesn’t make you a failure, a support system is vital.

4. Self-care – Looking after yourself is really important in reducing stress and staying balanced.

5. Set your boundaries – Being able to say no, is an important skill, not just to your children, but when you are being stretched too thin and you need to push back.

6. Laugh – Sometimes some of the things you end up doing as a parent are so ridiculous, that it’s important to remember to laugh.

Please add anything that’s helped you in the comments…