I work from home. I’ve done this for the entirety of my adult life, pretty much. I write, mostly. This means I need time to concentrate. Anyone with a baby knows, this is next to impossible. At least while your little one is around or awake. So, I need time away from my precious girl to get work done. You know, to pay bills and stuff. And to keep my clients happy. But that’s easier said than done.

At the moment, I have a babysitter twice a week. So, for four hours on Wednesday and Thursday, I dash off to Starbucks and get my write on. I type so fast, my finger joints stiffen the moment they get near my laptop. “Noo! Be kind to us!” They scream. Alas, I am ruthless and put them to work despite their protests.

My in-laws take my girl sometimes, too. That gives me more time to work. But the rest of the time? I squeeze in a full-time work load during her naps and after she’s gone to bed. It’s not easy. It’s definitely not fun. And sometimes it makes me resentful. I don’t like that emotion.

And yet when I’m away from her, I can’t wait to be back with her. It’s crazy-making being in my head.

Motherhood has been one great big lesson in flexibility. And I’m SO inflexible.

While keeping her on a schedule is vital, my schedule changes from day to day. Lately, when I don’t have a babysitter, it looks like this:

• 7:15 – Wake up
• 7:30: Get ready for the day/make breakfast.
• 8: Eat breakfast with September
• 8:30-9:30 Clean up, playtime
• 9:30: Put her down for a nap
• Work like crazy!
• 11: She wakes up/Play time
• 12: Lunch
• 12:30: Play time!
• 3: Put her down for another nap
• Work like crazy!
• 4:30: She wakes up
• 5:30: Dinner
• 6: Play time/snack/bathtime/more play
• 8: Read a book then put her down for bed
• 8:30: Work like crazy! Take a shower. Sit. Stare. I can’t stay on the computer right up until I go to bed because it’ll keep me awake and I have trouble with insomnia so my workday HAS to end an hour before I go to sleep.
• 11: Sleep. Sweet beautiful sleep.

It’s a full day. I get a lot done but never enough. I try to enjoy every moment and get caught up in what I need to get done once she’s asleep instead of just enjoying her. I hate that.

Whether you work from home like me, work outside the home, or stay at home (which is work enough!) what does your schedule look like?