I hear you and I second your emotions COMPLETELY. We have one child and our second is on the way, and have been working very hard to keep on track with our budget for this year and to hit our big financial goals. It looks like we’ll only hit 2 of the 3, but as I discussed with my husband, hitting those 2 out 3 in light of all the unanticipated things this year brought us is really something we should be proud of.

I too wish we could just “slow down” and have it a little easier for a bit. Speaking personally, we are in the midst of a very tough phase of life right now in terms of time and financial resources. We have one child and our second is on the way. We have some close family weddings coming up, we’re in the midst of a medical situation in our immediate family, and we were just displaced (briefly) by this most recent hurricane. When the medical situation arose, my husband and I sat down and tried to prioritize what we really needed in our lives right now, what obligations we had to fulfill, and what we wanted. Personally, I think that we’ve gotten so wrapped up in working hard on our financial situation and keeping house and home together that we’ve (unintentionally) expended less effort on some of the most important things.

It’s only been two weeks since we started this, but we dropped a couple of things that (probably) didn’t need to be on our calendars, and we gave each other pep talks for getting through our upcoming obligations. Finally, we chose to prioritize our family time, and mark it on our calendar. The plan is that once we choose some time for us — be it family time or husband-wife time — it’s sacred. We’ll see how this works out!!!! )

I’m also trying to come up with some creative ways to have family time. For instance, my husband gets together every now and then with some friends for pick-up volleyball. My son and I started going along for part of the time, so he can watch Daddy play. We bring a ball and he and I play on the sidelines so he can be like Daddy. (I know, it’s easier with only 1 child!!)

Knowing that I don’t know the ins and outs of your situation, might I suggest definitely celebrating all that you and your husband have financially accomplished for your family? I’m sure that you’ve accomplished much, and perhaps even more than it looks like on the surface. You note above that you’ve made progress, and then you add the dreaded “but …” Goals are great motivation, but remember that you’ve come so far and if you don’t stop to celebrate the progress made for it’s own sake (not necessarily in light of the distance to the end goal), discouragement is not far off.

In the meantime, be patient with yourself. Keep working, by all means, but remember that it’s okay to cut yourself some slack now and then and be kind. Without some slack, we get so tense and tight we may snap.

I wish you all the best and will say prayers tonight for all you have going on (at the moment, I can’t even imagine 3 children with #4 on the way!!). Hang in there! I’m sure you can do it!!!

I was so encouraged to read your post regarding this series. I can really appreciate where you are right now as I think it identifies where so many of us find ourselves – trying to get it all done ~ being so close~ and so tired at the same time.
I know it’s a dime a dozen – but if I could just encourage you somehow.. Spending time with your husband and kids – you can’t buy that. If you can – make that your first priority even if it delays your mortgage a year or two (or three or four)…And as someone who used to work with money managers -it’s always hard to say that – but it’s true. Now that I’m a bit older – I look back and realize that- just for me – balance was an elusive lofty goal. It seems it is ideal when you have one priority. But when you’re a wife and a mom – You’re priorities are changing daily – sometimes hourly! Balance can then seem unapologetic – setting us up then for disappointment…for me at least. I finally learned (ok….I’m trying to learn) contentment is a much more obtainable or at least peaceful goal for me. I don’t mean content to stay where I am financially or otherwise….but contentment in the moment….
Of course we do need those plans and goals – I really appreciated the blog and how setting the weekly goal pressed more creative thinking to meet that goal. That is huge!
Don’t mean to be too melancholy – but it encouraged me to see that you have a desire to spend more time with your husband. How cool is that! And your kids- Foster that today because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

But to explain more (as I’ll be sharing more in the next few weeks), the end result will allow you to work less and make more. For a season, you will definitely have to put in a lot of effort. There’s no such thing as “get rich quick” but there are many principles that will allow you to have a much greater return on your investment of time.