by Tara Pringle Jefferson
Since I got laid off late last year, things have been kind of hectic at my house. We’re trying to adjust to a new routine, a decrease in income, the start-up of my freelancing business and new career aspirations. I’ve felt incredibly unorganized, scrambling to make sense of every new day, and my husband has been drowning in work as well.
Last week, I finally looked up from my piles of paper, the kids running around crazy and told my husband, “We need to have a meeting.”
So on Friday, we’re planning to sit down and discuss all the areas of our lives to see where we are currently, where we would like to go, and what steps we need to take to get there. I’ve written up an agenda and everything – I even plan to take notes and type them up later.
I am thrilled about the outcome of this meeting, but I can sense my husband is a little less excited. Who can really blame him, though? A meeting? At home? Most people don’t like meetings at work and that’s when they’re PAID to be there. I can see why he might not be doing backflips about spending his Friday night having a three-hour discussion.
But we’re both happy to gain some order and direction to our lives. I’m someone who thrives on having a set path to follow, or mutual goals that we’ve put down in writing. My husband thrives when his wife isn’t running around like a chicken with her head cut off. This is a win-win.
I’m curious to see if anyone else has regular meetings to assess their progress and how it’s working for them. Anyone have any tips to share? Think it’s a great idea? A bad one? Let us know!
Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer, blogger and PR professional living in Ohio with her husband and two kids. She’s managing editor of BlackAndMarriedWithKids.com. She’s also the author of Make It Happen: The Young Mommy Guide To Creating The Career You Crave. Follow her on Twitter or check out her blog for her insights on what it means to be a mom, wife, student, writer, and about three other labels she’s too tired to remember.