A Day in the Life of a Working Mom of Two

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 Latoya!

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

I am married with two kiddos: a ten year old and a ten month old… yes, I don’t know what I was thinking either.

Where do you live?

Middle, TN.

What do you do for a living?

I am a therapist by day and a relationship/life coach on the side.

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

It is very difficult. There are many late nights. I have to set a schedule and when I blog I create more than one post at a time.

What is your typical day like?

There is never a typical day in my life. Something is ALWAYS happening no seriously it looks like this. Wake up, shower and dress, make sure the 10 year old gets up, breakfast, dressed appropriately and out the door.

Then I get the baby ready and he gets to daycare I head to work for my 8 hours, then the fun begins.

It’s school work, soccer practice, dinner, baths, packing lunches and bags for the next day (all mixed in with gym time, an occasional tantrum or store run, or doctor’s visit).

My 10 year old goes to bed at 10, but before she does… on days when she doesn’t have soccer, she is a combination of an FBI agent (what she wants to be when she grows up), a dancing doll, and a stylist. There is so much laundry at my house because she changes about six times per day.

My baby goes to bed whenever he wants – he refuses to be on a set schedule. Once he is dow,n I give the HUBS some attention, get him in bed, and some nights I blog and some nights hubby wants all my attention.

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

Being able to provide my kids with “extras.” Being away from them is hard. It is hard to put my son in daycare, but I know we need the income.

Do you experience guilt associated with being a working mom?

YES, all the time. I often feel like when I am not at work I HAVE to give them all my attention, and that’s not necessarily healthy either because self-care is very important, as well. It is definitely a balancing act.

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

I plan ahead as best I can. There is a time for everything.

I have certain days for laundry, I have a clean-up schedule, we meal plan (not like you think – only like 3 days ahead of time).

My husband and I check in and make sure things haven’t changed with who is picking up which child.

Lots of communication and planning and even then things happen.

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

1. Wake up before the children by at least 30 minutes.

2. Communicate with your spouse (or whomever is helping you with the children).

3. Use some form of planner/agenda/app on your phone, something where you know what your day will look like.

Guilty pleasures?

Trash TV and wine. I love all the Love & Hip Hop shows and watching it requires no brain power.

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

Your children have never had another mom, so they have no one to compare you to. Therefore you shouldn’t compare yourself with other moms. You have to do what works best in your house and that looks different for every home. As long as you are are giving it your best everyday, it is all good.

Where to find Latoya online:

Website
Instagram
Twitter

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.