I’m convinced that the idea of ‘having it all‘ is impossible. I gave up trying a year into being a (foster) momma when I realized that I was either crushing it work or home, but found that winning at both was impossible. I work full time, traveling internationally for days or weeks at a time with anywhere from two to five kiddos (and one saintly hubby) at home. Leaving on a a trip is typically a monthly occurrence, so here is a typical day-before-travel:
6:00 a.m. My Fitbit vibrates to wake me up. I smack it and fall asleep for 20 more minutes. Then peel myself out of bed to wake up the two Littles (9 and 7) so that they can get themselves ready for school (a grand achievement after 2 years of coaching) and get myself dressed in my finest athleasure gear.
7:00 a.m. Make sure Mariposa[1] (15) is awake. Walk the Littles to their school. I embrace these walks when we look for cardinals, recite spelling words, and race to the same landmarks every morning. I also embrace the silent mile walk back home.
7:30 a.m. Back at home, I make my breakfast (an egg on toast and hot water with lemon) and eat it listening to NPR’s Up First Podcast, then wash my face and brush my teeth.
8:00 a.m. I walk Mariposa to her high school and then walk myself to work (listening to NYT’s The Daily podcast). Logging over 7,000 steps before 8:30am feels really good.
Inner thought: I hope Mariposa (or any of the kids) never gets sick of me walking them to school
8:30 a.m. Arrive to work with an inbox full and long to-do list for the day:
- Respond to all urgent emails (work & personal)
- Pack work equipment
- Pack personal items (separate packing list for this)
- Print travel documents
- Set away message on work & personal email
- Make meals & freeze
1:00 p.m. Walk home with suitcase full of work equipment in tow, eat something out of the fridge, and change into something business casual.
2:30 p.m. Roll up to the Little’s Family Support Team meeting in St. Charles, grateful that I’m actually in town this time. The foster parents all give updates on how the kiddos are doing, the adoption specialist gives an update on what progress they have (but mostly haven’t) made and then we go into the list of challenges: permanency, citizenship, emotional issues, resources, sibling visits, etc.
Inner thought: One hour is not long enough to discuss everything for seven children.
4:00 p.m. Arrive back at home, ditch the car and walk to the grocery store with my very specific list. Before I leave on trips I try to make at least four meals and freeze them to lighten the burden on hubby.
4:30 p.m. Start cooking! Oh! And text sitter to pick up littles on her way here – almost forgot!
6:00 p.m. Everyone is home. I heat up something easy for dinner (i.e. left over chicken and beans to add to quesadillas) and the kids are finishing up their homework.
6:30 p.m. Bed time for the Littles, yes, you heard me right. PJs, brush teeth, reading, and a good-night kiss – they’re out by 7!
7:15 p.m. Hubby and I sneak out for a quick date-night at a local restaurant, opting for Japanese this time. And yes, we walk, and I am going on 15,000 steps.
9:00 p.m. We arrive home, the sitter leaves, and hubby helps Mariposa with her homework. I finish making the meals to freeze, writing instructions for each one and taping them to the containers.
Inner thought: Do you think they’re going to notice I accidentally swapped the recipes on two of the dinners so the chili has way too much tomato sauce and the lasagna has close to none?
10:30 p.m. Run (literally) to the store, buy more tomato sauce, pour over half-frozen lasagna and call it good. Then move on to the packing, which is much easier. My suitcase is always half-packed.
11:30 p.m. Re-pack purse with travel essentials (passport, foreign currency leftover from previous trip, headphones, eye mask, compression socks), take shower, and set alarm for 3:00 a.m. {facepalm}
Inner thought: Today was a win at home day – the next two weeks will be winning at work. It’s always a trade-off.
[1] Giving our kiddos nicknames helps keep their identity confidential
