But let me assure you, there is no "having it all". Not in this house!
What I have is a halfway decent sense of timing and an excellent knack for prioritizing.
I only run errands two days a week. Saturday or Sunday is when I go grocery shopping for everything I need to make meals for the week, and I choose one week day to visit the library. When I run errands, my day revolves around that task. I focus on getting dressed and preparing a detailed shopping list, then making sure the baby is clean, dry, and fed. I also try to take her out during one of her nap times.
I'm fortunate she sleeps quite well and is almost in a regular routine. She sleeps all night with a 1-hour wake-up for feeding and changing, and I'm helping her get into the habit of taking two naps during the day: one before lunch and one before dinner.
Multitasking is a big one for me. Breastfeeding makes this incredibly easy, as I just snuggle her up to me, latch her on, and work over her. I'm fine with her taking her naps in my lap or my arms. In fact, I think I hold her for roughly 20 hours a day.
The only times I'm not holding her are when I use the bathroom, take a shower, take something out of the oven, take out the trash or the recycling, when she's in her car seat, or if she's napping quite comfortably in her rocker or swing. Other than that, if I'm not holding her, I'm wearing her in a carrier of some sort. Have baby will travel!
Trust me, I also have plenty of slow times during my day. I enjoy my breaks for Rowan's playtime, sharing a game or movie (just as long as it's not "Madagascar 3"... UGH!) with Gavin, and reading a book.
The family comes first, the house comes second, and work comes third.
The only thing I do is make each moment work for me.
Copyright (c) 2013 Wendy L. Callahan
I think time management is something that eludes a ton of people. I'm constantly told that I seem like I have it all together, but I think it's just because I can manage my time well. You do the same. It's a lovely knack to have and fools everyone! ;)
ReplyDeleteThursdays are my one errand day. Saturdays for family fun and travel.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had Tuna, I held her almost 24 hours a day. I wore her around the house. She was always in my arms or on my lap, and she slept with us. She almost never cried. It was so peaceful.
I think a lot of people are not truly as busy as they would lead us, and themselves, to believe. I think it's a self-imposed, societal need to feel busy, important, and on the go. I don't feel that need, myself, and love downtime. I know a lot of people who make themselves feel busier than need be. Me? I like slow life.
Your priorities are in order and I love that you asy you make each moment work for you. That's all we can do, isn't it?
You said it... organization. I am still working on it here. Not working outside the home is WONDERFUL! If I can mange it, I will never work outside again.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the driving in the snow thing is um, yeah, not so much!
I wore my babies. They really are all the fashion these days :)