The concept of having it all, is in my opinion a strange one. It’s the idea that the woman, the Mother should strive to have an excellent career and a contented family life and that these things should exist in harmonious balance with one another. It’s the idea that this is what all women want or at least should want, because its now (apparently) all available to us.
Ugh. How patronising.
Sounds like I’ve got it sorted doesn’t it? Well some days I do, some days we get up, we get ready, I’ve made lunches the night before and everyone has clean underwear. Some days the toddler fully co-operates, he actually brushes his teeth and he lets us dress him without kicking Daddy in the balls. He’s excited to see his Nanny or his friend Lily at nursery and he’s bowling out the door with a huge grin on his face. On these days I’ve straightened my hair, I’m on time, I’m wearing that dress with the little brown belt and there are no ladders in my tights. These are the days that I, by definition look like I ‘have it all’.
I think to ‘have it all’, whether you are the Mother or Father, the man or the woman you need to be, on the whole satisfied with your work, life balance. Whether that means you work full or part time or you stay at home with your children. You’ve got to ask yourself, am I lucky? Am I doing ok? Are my kids alright, is my family unit generally content and happy?
And if you can answer yes to those questions, then my dear, you already have everything you need. You already have it all.