Multi-tasking

For working mothers, there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish what we want to accomplish. So we try to find a way to sneak stuff in when we are doing other stuff. Working on a knitting project while you are waiting at the Dr.'s office would be an example. But too much multi-taking takes us away from being present in the moment. Watching TV while you are eating, especially if you are eating with family, is not a good idea. The conversations you are able to have with your kids and partner are an important part of reconnecting after being away from each other all day. Another part of the equation is what tasks can we just let go so that we don't have to multi-task? I don't balance my checkbook and I haven't for a long time. That's another discussion. I try to exercise when my family is sleeping - not really multi-tasking, but I don't like to take away any more hours from them than I need to. I pay bills at work during breaks because I am at the computer all day. What are your ideas on multi-tasking? What works and what haven't you figured out? I am still a work in progress. Some balls just get dropped. As I have said before, people have asked me how I do it all? The answer is I don't.

Introduction

Hi all, I spend most of my day in front of a computer for work. It is also the place where I make connections, find out about all sorts of topics, do much of my shopping, etc. I have had in the back of my head an idea for a blog and thought what have I done and what do I do that I can help others with? I became a working mom 2 1/2 years ago and at that time also did a whole bunch of things concurrently - I moved from Kansas to Kentucky with 2 of my children while living in a graduate student apartment. I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation. I homeschooled my kids. I went house hunting without my husband (although he did a lot of research online) and found our house without him. I coordinated a move of the rest of our household including my middle child, my mom, our pets, our household belongings, and my husband. I defended my dissertation. I did a lot of things that most people do if they are not working - most graduate students are paid by their advisor while they are writing their dissertation, at least in chemistry, which my degree is in. All they do is write. Not homeschool. And have a full-time job which is not in dissertation writing. I personally try to read everything I can on that work-life balance; how do working mothers do it all (or not), and so on. I thought I would offer my insights and start a discussion on how do you work and have a life? We have recently started working towards more sustainable food - starting a garden, started raising chickens and ducks. Let me tell you - these things are also tasks that take more than part-time effort! SO I would love to hear from others your thoughts on working and living. What do you do? What do you not do? Peace, CEM