WORKING MOM SERIES: A DAY IN THE LIFE
Contributing author from WiLab, Timna Molberger
When I got pregnant with my first, L (just turned 2 years old), people asked me if I would go back to work. Without hesitation, my answer was a resounding “definitely!”
For me, going to work is a necessity.
It is my sanity. I feel that I am a better mom for it. When I come home, I have more patience for my kids (not always) and I am eager to spend time with them. My time with them is precious, not daunting (although at times still difficult and constantly testing my patience). However, finding the balance between work and home is not easy. I find that I need to be extremely organized yet very flexible (not an easy balance to find or maintain). Over the past two years I have developed an ideal schedule for me that makes the balance between the two manageable.
My ideal day as a working mom of 2 (L is 2yrs old and M is 6 months)
6:30am – 7:30am – Wake up, shower, get everyone dressed and fed, grab lunches/bottles (made the night before), and out the door
7:45am – Daycare drop off (divide and conquer with my husband)
8:05am – On the train to work
8:30am – Arrive at work – emails, meetings, projects, etc
Midday – Look at pictures/videos of kids because I miss them
5:00pm – Leave work for pick up
5:30pm – Daycare pick up (divide and conquer with my husband)
5:30pm – Playground (summer), indoor play (winter)
6:15pm – Family dinner prepared the night before
6:45pm – Bath time
7:00pm – Getting ready for bed, quiet play, bottle for M
7:30pm – Kids’ Bedtime (hopefully asleep by 8)
8:00pm – Prep for tomorrow – lunches, bottles, clothes, dinner, laundry
8:45/9:00pm – Work, relax, work out, get together with friends (depending on the day)
11pm – Bedtime
Sounds pretty nice, huh?
- These ideal days do happen, but often at least one of the following shakes things up a bit (on bad days, MANY of the following happen):
- Tantrum about getting dressed or eating breakfast
- Tantrum at dinner, bath time or bedtime
- Before 5am wake up
- Didn’t prep lunches/bottles the night before so we end up running late
- Didn’t prep dinner the night before so no family dinner and L eats whatever we can find
- Midday call from daycare because one of the kids is sick and needs to be picked up
- Doctor’s appointments
- Sick days (your kid and then most likely you)
- Too much work to do anything else after bedtime
- Too exhausted after bedtime to function
- Middle of the night wake up
- And the list continues
At the end of the day…
The things that have to get done get done. You may not have as much time as you once had, to get your nails done, or relax on the couch, or even get enough sleep, but somehow you make it work, because you want it to work. The key is be flexible and don’t beat yourself up about the little things. Easier said then done, I know. We are harder on ourselves than anyone else is, and remember, your children will love you just the same if you cook them a gourmet dinner or scrambled eggs (they probably would prefer the scrambled eggs!).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Timna Molberger is the Director of Analytics at Visible Measures. As a working mom of 2, Timna squeezes in as much time as she can with her husband and two children and when she has a spare moment or needs a break you will find her rock climbing, hanging out with friends, or just relaxing. Timna holds a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from Connecticut College.
Location: Boston, MA
Contact Timna: info@womensilab.com
Read More from Timna: Timna‘s WiLab Profile
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