I know maybe people out there work full-time and handle family duties and more.
However, I don’t know how you do it.
I am starting week 2 of my full time assignment, and I can tell you, I am exhausted! Maybe my system is in shock, but I just cannot find enough hours in the day to get all tasks in my life complete. Keep in mind, my husband and kids do help quite a bit. However, I am amazed at how much I need a few hours during the day to get everything taken care of.
A Glimpse Into My Day
Here is an example of one of my days last week:
6:30-8:00: Get up, help get kids ready. Shower, drink a cup of coffee, and comment on a few blogs.
8:00-4:30: Drive to and work in the office.
4:30-5:30: Pick up youngest son, feed him something, and take him to soccer practice. Thank God someone can drive him home.
5:30-7:45: Drive to and watch daughter’s soccer game. Freeze to death in the process because it is 40 degrees, windy, and rainy.
7:45-8:30: Take daughter to Starbucks to help her defrost as she had been wearing just shorts and a short-sleeve soccer jersey the entire game.
8:30-9:30: Grocery shop.
9:30-10:00: Make smoothies for kiddos and prepare tuna for lunches the next day.
10:00: Write a little, but not much. Brain is melting.
11:00: Go to bed. Lay awake for literally 2 hours because mind is just racing. Getting a little nervous as to how everything is going to get done.
(Repeat similar cycle each day of the week except Thursday, where inclimate weather cancelled games.)
Here We Go Again, But Hopefully With A Little More Success and Sleep
I am a little nervous because the schedule for this upcoming week is going to be even worse than the last. However, I am hoping things will go a little better. Why? Because I have already spent some time today carefully planning each day of the upcoming week. Of course, the dishes might never get done and we might have to rely on pizza for dinner, but I have to let go of being a perfectionist and just accept I can only get so much done. I also plan on reading a good book before bed instead of looking at the computer in hopes that I am not as restless at night.
So, there are no tips in this post, just thoughts. Oh, and also some words of admiration for all of you out there that manage to pull off working full-time and successfully managing the house and family. You are super human people, and I have realized I am anything but super. Maybe with practice I could be, but for now, I am just tired and ordinary!
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Seems like a normal day. I like not having the boys in soccer anymore. We did the coaching/practice/games thing for years, and seems like there was never enough time. Sleep is what frequently gets short-changed.
101 – I do try to go to bed at a decent time every night, but I often have a hard time going to sleep. If I actually fell asleep when I went to bed, my mental status would be much more stable! 🙂
I worked full time last year and it was exhausting getting into it after not working for so long. With all the things that need to be done, it really felt impossible sometimes. If my job hadn’t been temporary, I would have looked into getting a house cleaner. It did get easier once there was a routine was in place, but a huge weight was lifted once the job was over. I wish you luck.
Niki, thanks for the kind words! Fortunately, this hectic-ness will not last much longer. I do like that it made realize how hard some people have it though, so I am grateful for the experience.
If your oldest kid has a drivers license, ze can start picking up some of those additional chores. The closest grocery store to us growing up was actually in walking distance, so I did shopping for necessities pretty young. (Reward: going to the drugstore next door and picking out candy.)
By the time I was 9, I was getting ready on my own in the morning and sometimes helping my sister. DC4 can do just about everything ze needs to do in the morning at this point except get his cup out for cereal. By 12 I was making my own lunch and my sister’s lunch. I also alternated cooking dinner with my parents. Usually my father did the bulk of the cooking (with my sister and me as sous chefs) but as I got older I took over more of it. These are wonderful skills to have as an adult, and if you’ve got a high school student it is time for him or her to master them. I can’t tell you how many people in college I taught how to grocery shop, cook, even do laundry!
When I was younger, my mother hired a college student to chauffeur in the morning when it conflicted with her teaching schedule. We also did a lot of carpooling.
In terms of sleep: look up “progressive muscle relaxation”… that stuff knocks me out. It’s supposed to just relax you, but it makes me fall asleep. Either way, it’s worth a try.
Nicole, my oldest does have a driver’s license, but he is as busy as I am (varsity baseball, finals next week and studying for the ACT). All 3 of the kids do a lot around the house and are pretty self sufficient, but it seems that something always needs my assistance in the morning. Part of the problem is, we are just not at home until pretty late most nights because Spring is just crazy when the kids play sports.
I will have to look into the muscle relaxation. That would help me in many ways. Thanks for the info!
Geez, I think I am going to lay awake tonight thinking about your schedule! I’m sure you will all find a new ‘groove’ and things will become easier. (I think you are fairly super, by the way.) And yes, taking short-cuts and letting go of a few things will help. Also, school will be over soon – no lunches to pack or driving kids to school! Hang in there! 🙂
Dianna, I cannot wait for school to be over. Summer is a wonderful thing. (I am sure you are excited for the end of the school year too.)
We are both super! 🙂
Sounds like one of my typical days. Life is busy, that’s for sure!
This is why vacations and alone time or couple time are so important.
Did my husband tell you to leave that comment? 🙂
I was scrapping by, but now I’m worried because I signed up to by my daughter’s team soccer coach. The weather has gotten in the way of us having any practices (for the past month) and we were only able to make 2 games so far. But once the weather clears up, I’ll be a much busier guy…
The sad thing is I’ve already dropped my tempo a bit. Somedays it seems like magic if I even get a post done.
MR- I totally know what you mean about how hard it can be to find time to write. I am struggling with having an attention span long enough to write more than 100 words.
For what it is worth, once spring is over, it will get easier. Just be ready though, because each spring will bring you a lot of commitments as those kiddos get older.
I don’t see how working mom’s can consistently do it either. It’s hard work for sure!
Pls don’t burn out! Just remember that if something online gets done, the world still moves on, so don’t sweat it!
Sam
Hi Sam. Thanks for the words of encouragement. It just feels like sometimes I get spread so thin that I am not doing anything right!
It’s gotta be hard with so many kids and sports to coordinate. I only have 1 kid in T-ball and I couldn’t even manage to get him there on time last week when they switched the practice from 6pm to 5.
You get used to the schedule and have to be okay at being mediocre at some things all of the time. Even though I enjoy cooking, I definitely spend more than I should on eating out and it’s almost always midweek. When people say they’d be rich if their spouse worked, they don’t always account for the extra convenience spending that happens. It’s just hard to cook from scratch all the time when you’re running around all day.
First Gen- it is the cooking I really miss actually! Usually when I have an evening game, I like to prepare some food during the day and bring a cooler of food to eat during and afterward. That way, I don’t have to eat out. I am really missing my cooler dinners right now!
Transitioning back to a traditional office job is hard! Beyond the hours, the change in routine alone is stressful. Give yourself a month or two to settle in and go easy on yourself.
No Debt- Working in the office is a short term thing, so I just have to muddle through this week. However, this short term work arrangement has really opened my eyes as to how difficult it must be to work full time and be a parent.
That seems unsustainable to me! Can you carpool or share some of those responsibilities?
Krantcents, I do carpool some for soccer, and my oldest son drives. Spring brings a lot of sporting and school events, and it is hard to cover everything. Often, all 3 of my kids will have something going on at the same time. I hate that because I don’t like to miss anything.
I work full time but don’t have a family. I don’t know how parent’s do it!
Jenna, I don’t know how people work full time and manage it all either. I am guessing that some things have to go on the backburner though, and I just haven’t figured out what to burn. Fortunately, life will return somewhat to normal real soon!
Oh wow, that sounds crazy. Is that what I have to look forward to? 🙁
We’re done with one kid though so hopefully that will cut down on all the activities.
RB40- Spring is a crazy busy time of year. Having 3 teens who are very active certainly makes me a busy mom. Wouldn’t trade it for anything though.
Yes, you do have this to look forward to! Thankfully, my work will settle down next week and I can focus more on other things.
I totally agree with you. Life just seems to get busier and busier. We are working on trying to find a better balance with things so we don’t feel so much pressure. That kind of pressure isn’t good for anything; health, relationships, etc.
Miss T., I agree- life is getting out of control. I can’t believe how much people can cram in to one day. However, in my case, I found something had to give, and that was home cooked meals. I am so excited to have a nice Memorial Day barbecue!
Seriously, there are so many days where I am doing nothing but working from 6AM to 11 PM. And even though I work full time, I’m actually spoiled in that I get to finish my work day at 3:00. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to work until 5:00.
You’re not alone. It’s rough.
Lindy, it is very rough. Today was my last day of working full time and in an office. I was practically skipping to my car I was so happy.
The one good thing is I really maximized every spare moment I had.
Gosh I don’t know how you do it! And so many other parents that have similar schedules, may hat goes off to you. I always thought I was the busy one, but you defintely beat me! 🙂
FSfY- fortunately, that schedule was just short term. Today was my last day in the office and I am so happy my schedule can go back to normal tomorrow!
Welcome to my world, Kris. LOL 😉
All the best,
Len
Len Penzo dot Com
Your world is too tiring Len!
The hours on the sidelines are over and my work is flexible so I am incredibly lucky. Or, maybe in a better time in my life! You cannot be a perfectionist and survive!
Barb, you are so right about the perfectionist thing. I tend to be a perfectionist, and I would rather not do something than to not to it entirely ‘right’. However, as life gets busier, I am realizing that things are not getting done and I need to relax my standards a bit.
I know exactly how you feel. My daily time table was similar to yours when i was studying my university. It was hard to balance a part-time job, studies and family life. It was an exhusting three years. When i look back, i cant belive i did it though
I am sure all the work was worth it, but it sure can take a toll on you. It feels so good whenever it is over and something is accomplished!
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