GAH! The timing and scheduling beast of parenthood..
- Erica McIlquham
- Mar 28, 2017
- 3 min read
Hi friends!
Welcome back to The #YGK Mom!
Everyone tells you that time will go VERY quickly once you have kids and this couldn't be more true, but I now know that you really do not understand this until you are in it. Time has been FLYING and I am starting to get really emotional about it! I SO didn't expect this. I am an emotional person but for some reason I had never seen myself getting emotional about my daughter getting older and hitting certain milestones. I do not know why, but I did not.
I've done some thinking about the difference in time pre-baby and post-baby and I think I've figured it out.
Pre-baby I was a planner/organizer - to-do lists, evenings and weekends full of plans, my at work calendar was organized perfectly - I liked to know what was coming and be prepared for it all. This hasn't changed but my time has. Prior to babe we would have to-do lists for our weekends and we would tackle it in no specific order most of the time, we'd eat when we were hungry and if we felt like it- we'd crack a beer at noon.
Now having a baby we have a schedule. Wake Time- Play Time- Activity Time- Nap Time- Bed Time. TIME. There it is ladies and gentlemen. The truth to why TIME goes so fast once kids show up. Prior to having a baby you don't really have to schedule your showers, am -I-right?! Now it's.. okay, what are we going to do today, what NEEDS to get done when Nora goes down for her nap, what errands need to be run before she goes to sleep at the end of the night (can't just leave her alone in the house), etc. etc. Almost every minute of your day becomes planned sort of naturally. Don't get me wrong I am not sitting here planning out when she will be playing with certain toys or when exactly she will be eating her snacks, but you end up kind of naturally creating a schedule for yourself dependent on when some of these critical items need to happen.
So NOW, post-baby, my to-do lists are LONG but they are kind of bundled into two sections. What do I need to do when she sleeps and what are we doing together when she's awake (activities, play dates, etc.). It's a lot. You can see how time slips away.
Any given day this is what it looks like:
Wake-Diaper-Change-Breakfast-Play-COFFEE- Play with Dog-Clean House-Nap-Blog-Catch up with friends-COFFEE- Work on new ideas- Wake-Diaper-Feed-Change-Get Dressed-Swimming-Errands-Snack-Play-Lunch-Play-Nap-Pay Bills-Plan Dinner-Tidy House-Do Laundry-Call My Mom-Do Farm Chores-Record in Nora's Baby Book-Tidy House- Wake-Feed- Play-Feed Dog- Gear up for going back to work- Try new recipes- Catch up with Hubby- Do Exercise-Feed- Walk Dog- Bath Time- Feed- Play Time- BEDTIME - THEN.. shower, clean up, reply to emails, hang out with husband, watch TV, catch up on social media, message friends, blog, tidy up, maybe do a face mask, edit photos, plan the upcoming weekend, etc. etc.
Get it?!
Life with kids is definitely different - no matter what anyone tells you- and it's totally not a bad thing but it WILL force you to get organized. I went through a period of not being organized and I definitely began wishing that time back once I started to play my days to get the most out of my bonding with Nora and building a life in Kingston for myself. It was important for me to ensure I was fulfilling her days and also doing something fulfilling for myself beyond being her mom. So my advice to all of you starting your journey in parenthood- think about this early on. Make the most out of your time at home (this will look different for everyone) time will still go fast, but make sure it's on your terms.
What's it going to be like when I go back to work!? Oh, boy!
xo
Erica, The #YGK Mom
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