“You are already doing SO MUCH.” Thank you. I just printed the sheet and documented the past 12 hours. I can’t believe how many different things I (and other moms) am doing even within a 15-minute block of time. Like, put away lunch and assign tasks to each child in exchange for a cookie (including wiping down the bathroom counter and sinks in hopes of achieving that clean bathroom!), and help with the vacuum, and redirect the toddler….
It’s so much. Thanks for sharing this. The 168hours link in this post didn’t work for me but I just went back to last week’s post.
Thank you so much for telling me the link did not work! I did fix it but I'm glad you had workaround.
YES, there is so much that happens within even one 15 minute block. I always think of the visual of spinning plates--it's no wonder that some things fall, sometimes I'm trying to spin 8 plates!
Meredith, just came to say that the $5 bento boxes I got at HEB and half an hour of chopping fruits and veggies once a week has changed the way I function for lunches and snacks! Each kid gets enough random fruits-veggies-carbs-proteins-fats-treats to fill the four spaces in their lunchbox and then I just put it in the fridge until they want it. On my best days, I do it the night before so it's ready to go when they ask. Because like you said, OH MY GOSH, the snacks and drinks and meals feel endless sometimes.
I have some of those bento boxes taking up space in the tupperware drawer!! MIND BLOWN. Amazing. Way to "batch the little things" 🙃🙃
(also "fruits veggies carbs proteins fats treats" is how I tell the kids to pack their lunches lol -- not "treat treat treat treat" which is their inclination) -- at some point i need to realize that all of us need the same exact lunch and I can just make an enormous one in the morning (or the night before)
I have the sheet printed, waiting for my Monday morning.
Maybe the power of observation will change my habits 🫠
Leaving the house costs so much time — we’re getting decently efficient, but something about what it does to my mental state should be factored in. We haven’t gone anywhere for two days and the baby finally napped and I might actually have a shot at being a person now!
The balancing act of not-home-so-much-that-everyone-gets-stir-crazy against not-out-so-much-that-the-baby's-sleep-suffers will take me until my death to master. omg.
Yes to the OTDH taking forever. The winter weather we're facing now (and a new baby) is killing me...going to be so grateful when summer rolls around and I don't need to be putting so many layers on each child before going out (and then taking them off b/c you forgot to have the 2 year old use the potty before leaving, and putting them on again)!
The winter coat/ car combo is such a struggle! Also I have one who only wants one particular coat, but he always leaves it in the car! It takes so long. If I don't have to be somewhere at an exact time, it can stretch out *forever.* Cheers to the sun coming back, and soon, in full force!
Ok... you're making me want to track my time. I have that time tracking form you linked last week still open on a tab on my computer, but has it been printed? No... (Blaming that on my husband being home for 3 days this week thanks to the snow--woohoo!) I am also about to exit 4th trimester (just hit 12 weeks, YAY) and ALSO wondering why the kids bathroom always feels dirty haha. And also starting to think about wanting to make more social things happen which means I need to figure out how to clean my house again.
I would love to hear how it goes for you if you do try it! Ugh today I found an enormous smear of toothpaste on the bathroom counter, which is just how it goes. That particular room doesn't just need cleaned, it needs noticed something like once every single day! I also use social events as motivation to clean... it generally works!
Love this post as well, Meredith! I also feel called out by my usage of time during the days XD One book I've been trying to keep in the back of my brain is "Hunt, Gather, Parent" by Michaeleen Doucleff, where she shares her journey to corralling her rambunctious 3yo into a helpful little person by following ancient cultures with ancient parenting practices (would love to hear your thoughts on it should you choose to read it!).
One of the things she shares is how helpful little kids want to be, even if they aren't super effective. I love that thought and it prompts me to try to have kids help me do the cleaning/cooking activities together with me. It ends up getting done, even if it takes forever and isn't *exactly* the way I would have wanted it to come together! But I also feel closer to my nieces, nephews, and my daughter when we spend time in that way. -Ashlynn
Ohhhh I do need to read "Hunt Gather Parent" -- a brother-in-law also once told me about what he called "Mayan Parenting," which I think is probably similar -- it was about descendants of Mayan cultures allowing their teeny tiny toddlers to help around the house in ways that a lot of American parents wouldn't think to (or have the patience for!) Kids do want to help. I've noticed, too, that when I let one of my children help me make dinner, it's a way to build the relationship!
I’ve also read her book and done this experiment and it just confirmed I’m truly doing the best I can. I have put some things in place to stop doomscrolling but what else can I do to fix the fact that at least a third of my 15 min slots was “driving” or “getting ready to be driving.”
I had no idea how much time "getting ready to go" "driving" "doing errand" "driving again" "unpacking everything" takes! I always used to tell my husband "an errand takes 40 minutes," but if I count the whole thing--not just car and store time--its at least twice that. No matter what! It's crzy.
This was a big blessing today! I needed the reminder to reset with my shifting seasons- weaned the baby, waiting on #7, and then once things settle down in the fall, I expect it will be necessary again! Thank you!
I am so grateful that it was a blessing for you! I am just barely out of postpartum with the sixth -- well, maybe the whole year is going to be postpartum -- and this was so helpful. Just to realize how many different ways I need to pivot... it was like, "of course I'm not getting all of this done!"
I’ve time tracked before and had a similar experience to you! I did talk to my kids about how we need a better time block schedule as we homeschool and have lots on the family plate. I’m going to be working on it this afternoon and praying it will create a bit more consistency in our daily habits.
“Efficiency is not the end-all, be-all characteristic of a wife and a mother (or anybody else). Perseverance and courage are both more important.” So good! Taking this with me today. Day 8 of our household having a stomach bug AND cold at various intervals? How is this possible? And our whole town frozen over with ice/snow that seems to be canceling school for ever. Perseverance and courage are what I need (and long to trust that God will provide). Thank you, as always, for your writing!
The stomach bug/ cold combo is so brutal! I hope you all are on the mend. Eight days... bahhhh... you are so welcome. Thank you for reading it! Prayers for courage and perseverance for you today!
I do something similar but not so labor intensive as this tracker, but it's a good idea. I really pay attention to the rhythm of the house with my six kids when things go array. I note the quiet times, the busy times and access what can help or change in those times. And what times of the day, I'm more busy or quiet. I think this tool you shared is a great way to notice our days and align them.
“You are already doing SO MUCH.” Thank you. I just printed the sheet and documented the past 12 hours. I can’t believe how many different things I (and other moms) am doing even within a 15-minute block of time. Like, put away lunch and assign tasks to each child in exchange for a cookie (including wiping down the bathroom counter and sinks in hopes of achieving that clean bathroom!), and help with the vacuum, and redirect the toddler….
It’s so much. Thanks for sharing this. The 168hours link in this post didn’t work for me but I just went back to last week’s post.
Thank you so much for telling me the link did not work! I did fix it but I'm glad you had workaround.
YES, there is so much that happens within even one 15 minute block. I always think of the visual of spinning plates--it's no wonder that some things fall, sometimes I'm trying to spin 8 plates!
Meredith, just came to say that the $5 bento boxes I got at HEB and half an hour of chopping fruits and veggies once a week has changed the way I function for lunches and snacks! Each kid gets enough random fruits-veggies-carbs-proteins-fats-treats to fill the four spaces in their lunchbox and then I just put it in the fridge until they want it. On my best days, I do it the night before so it's ready to go when they ask. Because like you said, OH MY GOSH, the snacks and drinks and meals feel endless sometimes.
SARA what a genius lil' trick.
I have some of those bento boxes taking up space in the tupperware drawer!! MIND BLOWN. Amazing. Way to "batch the little things" 🙃🙃
(also "fruits veggies carbs proteins fats treats" is how I tell the kids to pack their lunches lol -- not "treat treat treat treat" which is their inclination) -- at some point i need to realize that all of us need the same exact lunch and I can just make an enormous one in the morning (or the night before)
Borrowing this idea
I have the sheet printed, waiting for my Monday morning.
Maybe the power of observation will change my habits 🫠
Leaving the house costs so much time — we’re getting decently efficient, but something about what it does to my mental state should be factored in. We haven’t gone anywhere for two days and the baby finally napped and I might actually have a shot at being a person now!
The balancing act of not-home-so-much-that-everyone-gets-stir-crazy against not-out-so-much-that-the-baby's-sleep-suffers will take me until my death to master. omg.
Yes to the OTDH taking forever. The winter weather we're facing now (and a new baby) is killing me...going to be so grateful when summer rolls around and I don't need to be putting so many layers on each child before going out (and then taking them off b/c you forgot to have the 2 year old use the potty before leaving, and putting them on again)!
The winter coat/ car combo is such a struggle! Also I have one who only wants one particular coat, but he always leaves it in the car! It takes so long. If I don't have to be somewhere at an exact time, it can stretch out *forever.* Cheers to the sun coming back, and soon, in full force!
Ok... you're making me want to track my time. I have that time tracking form you linked last week still open on a tab on my computer, but has it been printed? No... (Blaming that on my husband being home for 3 days this week thanks to the snow--woohoo!) I am also about to exit 4th trimester (just hit 12 weeks, YAY) and ALSO wondering why the kids bathroom always feels dirty haha. And also starting to think about wanting to make more social things happen which means I need to figure out how to clean my house again.
Thanks for your reflections on this!
I would love to hear how it goes for you if you do try it! Ugh today I found an enormous smear of toothpaste on the bathroom counter, which is just how it goes. That particular room doesn't just need cleaned, it needs noticed something like once every single day! I also use social events as motivation to clean... it generally works!
Excited to try this tomorrow
Love this post as well, Meredith! I also feel called out by my usage of time during the days XD One book I've been trying to keep in the back of my brain is "Hunt, Gather, Parent" by Michaeleen Doucleff, where she shares her journey to corralling her rambunctious 3yo into a helpful little person by following ancient cultures with ancient parenting practices (would love to hear your thoughts on it should you choose to read it!).
One of the things she shares is how helpful little kids want to be, even if they aren't super effective. I love that thought and it prompts me to try to have kids help me do the cleaning/cooking activities together with me. It ends up getting done, even if it takes forever and isn't *exactly* the way I would have wanted it to come together! But I also feel closer to my nieces, nephews, and my daughter when we spend time in that way. -Ashlynn
Ohhhh I do need to read "Hunt Gather Parent" -- a brother-in-law also once told me about what he called "Mayan Parenting," which I think is probably similar -- it was about descendants of Mayan cultures allowing their teeny tiny toddlers to help around the house in ways that a lot of American parents wouldn't think to (or have the patience for!) Kids do want to help. I've noticed, too, that when I let one of my children help me make dinner, it's a way to build the relationship!
I’ve also read her book and done this experiment and it just confirmed I’m truly doing the best I can. I have put some things in place to stop doomscrolling but what else can I do to fix the fact that at least a third of my 15 min slots was “driving” or “getting ready to be driving.”
I had no idea how much time "getting ready to go" "driving" "doing errand" "driving again" "unpacking everything" takes! I always used to tell my husband "an errand takes 40 minutes," but if I count the whole thing--not just car and store time--its at least twice that. No matter what! It's crzy.
This is wonderful! Also, is that a fountain pen I see? 👀
YES! I love that pen! I love feeling kinda fancy when I use it and I especially love not throwing it away!
This was a big blessing today! I needed the reminder to reset with my shifting seasons- weaned the baby, waiting on #7, and then once things settle down in the fall, I expect it will be necessary again! Thank you!
I am so grateful that it was a blessing for you! I am just barely out of postpartum with the sixth -- well, maybe the whole year is going to be postpartum -- and this was so helpful. Just to realize how many different ways I need to pivot... it was like, "of course I'm not getting all of this done!"
I’ve time tracked before and had a similar experience to you! I did talk to my kids about how we need a better time block schedule as we homeschool and have lots on the family plate. I’m going to be working on it this afternoon and praying it will create a bit more consistency in our daily habits.
“Efficiency is not the end-all, be-all characteristic of a wife and a mother (or anybody else). Perseverance and courage are both more important.” So good! Taking this with me today. Day 8 of our household having a stomach bug AND cold at various intervals? How is this possible? And our whole town frozen over with ice/snow that seems to be canceling school for ever. Perseverance and courage are what I need (and long to trust that God will provide). Thank you, as always, for your writing!
The stomach bug/ cold combo is so brutal! I hope you all are on the mend. Eight days... bahhhh... you are so welcome. Thank you for reading it! Prayers for courage and perseverance for you today!
Love delegation
We're doing our best!
I do something similar but not so labor intensive as this tracker, but it's a good idea. I really pay attention to the rhythm of the house with my six kids when things go array. I note the quiet times, the busy times and access what can help or change in those times. And what times of the day, I'm more busy or quiet. I think this tool you shared is a great way to notice our days and align them.
Thanks Jennifer! I like the idea of naming certain times as "quiet" and "busy." That seems doable!