So…one thing about me is that I have HORRIBLE time management skills. I manage to get things done, but am usually more than a little bit rushed when it comes to meeting deadlines. You can imagine how difficult it must be, then, to manage everything that I have to do during the day/week. In case you haven’t read my other posts I:
1. Am a single mom to a 20 month old son. He is VERY active, inquisitive and (let’s face it) a mama’s boy. I’m not quite sure HOW he came to be so spoiled, but there ya have it. He demands my attention all the time. All. The. Time. Yeah.
2. Am a “fulltime” grad student. Meaning I take at least one class each quarter towards my M.S. in Counseling psychology. I began the program at the end of 2009. I started off taking two classes, but switched to one when I started my 3rd trimester. Then I took a semester off when I had Christian. So, almost 3 years later, here I am slowly plugging away at these classes. Technically I only need one more class and my final project as far as coursework. However, I also have to fit in two residencies before I can graduate. But it’s kind of hard to get childcare for Christian for 2 weeks (not to mention airfare and lodging costs) soooooo….here we are. Still in school. But, to be honest, my focus is on being a mom and at this point finishing grad school is more about actually accomplishing that goal than it is about actually finishing it for a purpose. I don’t plan on giving up my SAHM (stay at home mom for those of you not in the know) status for a while. If, however, I can acquire a teaching position at an online school, I would take it.
3. Run a couple of businesses that allow me to pay the bills and stay at home. I am a Pure Romance consultant (this has traditionally provided the larger chunk of income, although now that summer has arrived, it has been lagging tremendously), a Beachbody coach, and a freeance writer (I ghostwrite for a website). I am also working on a couple of other passive/residual streams of income.
4. Am a budding homeschooling mom. Although most of my curriculum focuses on learning through play, I am actively working on several themes with Christian (letters, numbers, colors, shapes, foreign language, and body parts).
It’s a lot to juggle. And sometimes I drop a ball. Or two. Or three. It’s not easy. By any means. So…this is me trying to hold myself accountable. Starting tomorrow, the following will be our schedule:
7am: Wake up, pray, mentally prepare self for onslaught of the day, hope that Christian stay asleep for a bit longer. Exercise for at least 30 minutes.
8am: shower and have breakfast (usually Shakeology), hope that Christian stays asleep for a bit more while scarf down breakfast. Cook Christian’s breakfast (or pour directly from box into bowl, depending on how feeling). Check Facebook and email.
8:30/8:45- wake Christian and feed him breakfast
9am: Throw Christian into first thing hands touch (maybe have to change it after stepping outside. On second thought, try to check the weather night before and set out clothes ahead of time)
9:08 (in case he fights/runs/poops diaper directly after I change him, shoes mysteriously disappear, etc.)- playtime. Activity depends largely on Christian’s mood. Potential activities: banging on keyboard; building with blocks; throwing blocks; reading books; listening to Christian try to tell me what is happening a book — backwards; keeping Christian from destroying books; arts and crafts, keeping Christian from creating art on doors, walls, my pants leg; trying to identify body parts, alphabet, numbers, animals, colors, etc.; spend 5 minutes pointing around the room calling everything the word of the day; dancing around the house with mad abandon to random music; screaming at the top of our lungs; crying for no apparent reason; going to library/park, etc
11am: Go through the cabinets/fridge to figure out what to make for lunch. Decide on the easiest thing. Hope that Christian eats it and doesn’t yell out No! and pitch it across the room with a skill that makes me sure that if he can get over the clumsy genes he apparently inherited from me he will make a great pitcher or quarterback. Feel triumphant when he gives his stamp of approval with a prolonged “mmmmmm”.
11:30- Begin our daily fight: naptime and fervently hope that Christian does not win; Scarf down my own lunch.
12pm: Attend to business and school. Probably in that order. Make phone calls. Send out emails. Update blogs. Check and reply to emails. Compose and post classroom discussions. Compose articles for ghostwriting gig. Listen to business development cds/webinars/teleconferences. Be distracted by Facebook several times — stopping to respond to any pertinent newsfeed happenings. Be productive! Be Be productive!
3pm: Resume play with Christian; Probably put on a dvd at some point (Meet the Robinsons; Your Baby Can Read; Language Development, etc) so that may finish up anything that was not finished during naptime.
5pm: Prepare simplest dinner possible (except on occasions when am feeling particularly Betty Crockerish)
6pm: Family chill time- usually movie and dessert. Sometimes another visit to game room but do not want to get Christian riled up so try to avoid that.
8:30pm: Begin bedtime routine (bath, story, fight until he passes out)
9pm: If Christian is actually asleep, check Facebook and email one last time. Do any work that was not finished earlier. Catch up on fave shows on Netflix.
11pm: Bedtime!
Of course, I get all the way to the end before I realize that I have not factored in any household chores. Oh well, I’ll save that CHAOS for another day.
Well, apparently Christian has something to say before we head to bed. Take it away kiddo!
plolplplplplplplplplplplplplplplplpno p
loln
Alright. Good night all!
