A Day in the Life of a Working Mom of Two Kids Under Three

Every day this month, I will be featuring an interview with a working mom just like you. It’s called A Day in the Life of a Working Mom.

We’ll learn about what she does for work, her family life, and….her tips/tricks for getting everything done.

Today’s featured Working Mom is Charnaie!

Tell us about your family (married, significant other, children’s ages, etc.).

My husband and I have been married for 11 years and together we have a 3 year-old daughter and 21-month old son.

Where do you live? 

We currently reside in Connecticut.

What do you do for a living?

I am a Computer Programmer with over 15 years of experience in the Information Technology field.

How do you fit blogging into the mix (if it’s not your “day job”)?

I have a goal to write at least 1-2 blog posts per week.  I’ve been blogging since February 2015 and so far I’ve managed to stick to my goal.  I manage to fit in blog posts either during the morning before work or at night when the kids go to bed.

What is your typical day like?

I’m up between 5am and 5:30am Monday through Friday.  I start off my day with the 3-minute retreat (it’s an app on my iPhone) followed by oil pulling with coconut or sesame oil (whichever I have on hand).  Then, I pop in my yoga DVD to get in at least 20 – 30-minutes of exercise.

Next, it’s time to get the kid’s lunches packed, get them fed and dressed in order to be out of the house by 7:50am so my daughter gets to school on time.

Finally, I drop my little man off at daycare and then go back home to begin my work day (I work from home).

After work is done, it’s time to pick the kids up, cook dinner and then start our bedtime routine which includes: bath time followed by story time.  Hubby and I like to have our quality time at night to connect and catch up with each other.

What’s the best thing about being a working mom? What’s the hardest thing?

Best thing: Being able to have a comfortable and steady paycheck in order to provide for our family.
Hardest thing:  Missing out on activities or events for my children due to work/travel.

Do you experience guilt associated with being a working mom?

Yes, sometimes.  There are times when I come across a really great children’s program or activities that I want to do with the kids, but they are usually scheduled during working hours.  Then there are other times when I have to travel for work which takes me away from my husband and kids.

How do you handle day to day responsibilities (meals, laundry, cleaning, chauffeuring kids, Dr. appointments, school meetings, etc.)?

I write down everything in my planner!  Yes, even my day to day responsibilities besides cooking.  To me, there is nothing like putting pen to paper and physically writing it down.  That tends to hold me accountable much better than scheduling things in my calendar on the phone.

Along with my planner I use 4 different highlighters for different activities/events.  I use a different color highlighter for each family member so it makes it easy to tell who the activity/event is for.  If you’re looking for an app that will do this for you check out Cozi – it’s free.

I really want to start doing more crock pot cooking, meal planning, and preparation.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

What are your top 3 – 5 tips for keeping everything together?

1. Use a planner or notebook to keep track of appointments/tasks/events

2. Start planning for each day the night before.  For example, lay out your clothes and the kid’s clothes, write out a list of your top 5 goals/tasks for the next day, etc.

3. If possible, wash and fold laundry every 2 days.  This helps me tremendously.

4. Pray often and give thanks…be grateful for what you have.

5. If you’re a parent, factor in transition time when you’re planning to attend events/activities and want to arrive on time.

Guilty pleasures?

Chocolate chip cookies and watching Scandal.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that you think would encourage other working moms?

First, you will learn to trust your hunches over time.  It’s ok to seek wisdom from others or read books, but trust your own mothering capability because God gave that child/those children to you.  Trust every decision you make is the best one for your family.

Second, don’t take things your kids do personally because it’s not about you.  When your two-year old is having a tantrum on the floor remember it’s not about you.  Sometimes, we tend to take those things personally and then we react in a negative way because we’re personally offended.

Where to find Charnaie online:
Website: Here Wee Read
Facebook
Instagram

What was helpful that you can apply to your work mom life?

Let me know in the comments below. If you have an extra moment, head over to give that working mom some love!

Subscribe to receive emails to be notified as the posts in the series are published. Read other posts in A Day in the Life of a Working Mom series.

If YOU would like to be featured, send an email to raki at outsidetheboxmom dot com. If all of the October spots have been filled, I will feature your interview in a continued series.