Approximately 9 months ago I was hired as an attorney in the government sector. They threw me in head first and the initial weeks were a struggle. But luckily, some semblance of normalcy crept back into my life.
Then, cut to two months ago, I was “promoted” to a different area of the office. I was enthusiastic for the change because it was in the particular specialization I wanted to be in, but… I was not looking forward to the extra work and hours that came with it. But now, with a little bit of juggling and a whole lot of help, I have managed to “manage” my work and home life in a way that makes me feels comfortable. I am comfortable in knowing that when I am at work I am doing my job to the best of my ability. I am also comfortable knowing that when I am at home, I am home. Period.
My days aren’t a struggle, but here is my daily juggle.
5:00 a.m. Wake Up
I don’t need an alarm clock anymore. Not because my body has accustomed itself to being an early riser. Nope. My dogs feel the need to jump on me and scratch the hell out of my arms until I wake up and let them out to pee and to bark at the birds that like to hang out on our fence. So, I am up.
6:00 a.m. Showered and Caffeinate
I would like to say that I have spent my initial hour doing things that “every successful person does in the morning.” Nope. I have not surprisingly wasted it on social media, news, and bill pay.
6:45-ish a.m. Little Bit is Up and at ‘Em
She transitioned to a new room with a “big girl bed” shortly before her second birthday. To my surprise, we put her in there the first night and not once has she ever gotten out of her bed without someone being in there with her. Parenting Win!
But, it’s pretty weird too. I’ll look at the monitor and see her sitting at the edge of her bed, staring at the door, waiting. I go in and rescue her at this point.
Also, in between 6:30 and 6:45, I have managed to slap a little make-up on.
7:15 a.m. Baggin’ It All Up
Little Bit either sits with me while I finish my hair and make-up or Mr. Mister is up and making us all breakfast. It varies from day-to-day, but I am pretty much ready to go by 7:15 a.m.
I spend these last fifteen minutes getting my various bags together and making a lunch for me and/or Little Bit if I was too lazy to do it the night before. I try to do it ahead of time otherwise Little Bit wants to “help” and I lose a good fifteen minutes on my commute time.
Also, I carry four bags, which I transport from my house, to my car, to my office, back to my car, and back into my house. This takes some time to get them all situated and ready to go.
-Purse, file bag, gym bag, lunch bag
I am quite a sight in the morning.
7:30 a.m. Fight the Traffic
Mr. Mister has a slightly more flexible morning schedule than I do in the so he takes Little Bit to her school. I like this because she gets her time in the morning to enjoy her breakfast and to get showered. I hated feeling that I would rush her on the morning when I would take her to school because my schedule dictated when and where I needed to be.
I take the same road every day to work, but you never know what’s going to happen. Sometimes the thirty-minute commute turns into an hour if traffic is at it’s worst. Sometimes, it a straight shot and I have time to stop for a third cup of coffee (because the one I drank at home and the one I drank while driving to work sometimes just aren’t enough).
8:00-8:30 a.m. Let the Games Begin
Depending on any hearings I have, I need to be in court by 8:15 a.m. When I have no hearings (which is rare), I can get in by 8:30 a.m. But, as a professional, I prefer to be in my office by 8:00 a.m. absent any craziness.
I feel that this sets an example of me as a professional and I just hate being late as it truly sets the tone for the rest of my day.
10:30 a.m. Makin’ Calls
I am normally back in my office for the rest of the day by 10:30 a.m. and can start returning phone calls, responding to emails that needed more than a quick response, and scheduling meeting, interviews, and depositions.
I am not a big fan of being in the courtroom, so the “behind the scenes,” office-type work that I get to do is my favorite!
11:45 a.m. Movin’ and Groovin’
In my last position, I was walking all over the place. My steps would total close to 20,000 each weekday. In my new position, I am sitting a majority of the day. Since my office provides a very accessible gym in our building, I take advantage of it during my lunch hour.
Not only I am trying to lose the last 13 pounds of baby weight, but also I need to break up my day by getting out of my office. Seriously, sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing I forget to eat. AND I LOVE TO EAT!
So, I take about 45 minutes to get in a quick but good workout, shower, and head back to the office.
1:00 p.m. Lunch!
No explanation needed other than this is at my desk while I am working.
Side note: I can’t find the exact article, but I once read that you should take your lunch outside of your office. Even if you pack it. Something about getting fresh air, impacting your brain, and making you live longer. Although I appreciated it at the time, I would rather work out then head outside during my lunch break.
My options are to work out during lunch or after Little Bit goes to sleep. When I would exercise in the evenings, I would lose that time with my husband. So, I am literally sacrificing my life for him!
1:00 – 4:45 p.m. Doin’ Work
For the rest of the day I am just handling my caseload and doing what I love. It’s easy and I am enjoying my new position.
4:45 p.m. Fight the Traffic – Part 2
Little Bits school is about 45 minutes from my office. I need to be there by 5:30 p.m. because I don’t want her to be the last kid there. So, I leave about 4:45 p.m. and make it just in time. The traffic is always the same because I take the freeway there. I love it. There are never any surprises. Even an accident on the freeway doesn’t hold up traffic in a significant way.
P.S. Little Bit loves her school and so do we! We are so glad we found it despite all the “Are you on the waitlist? No? Sorry, we’re full” that we received when trying to get her into a school. Hmmm… there’s something no one tells you about having a kid. Pre-preschool waitlists!
5:30 p.m. Dinner
By the time we get home, Mr. Mister is already there tying up any lose ends from his day. The day of the week determines who cooks dinner. Thursdays are Mr. Mister since I have to take Little Bit to gymnastics right afterwards. Friday is normally take-out. So, all the other days it’s me! Sometimes Little Bit helps or Mr. Mister grills. But I want to make sure Little Bit experiences dinnertime as a family and we eat as many home-prepared meals as we can. At least, that is my goal.
6:30-7:30 p.m. Game Time
Little Bit and I normally play some type of game while Mr. Mister cleans up the kitchen. I know a lot of you have this same rule: I cook, you clean.
These days, Little Bit loves to practice her gymnastics, color, dance, play with her doctor “tools,” or bake me a pretend dessert in her play kitchen. Mr. Mister normally joins us for some additional silliness. The dogs too. They have a safe spot, curled up on her bed, out of the way of any flying objects.
Two years old is an amazing time for her little brain. She learns so much, so quickly and I am amazed everyday.
The nighttime routine is PJs, brushed teeth, two books, and three songs. SHE COUNTS THE SONGS! She use to pick the same two books every night: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (two good ones). But lately, she picks two different books every night so even I am staying interested in the material.
Our last song always has to be the ABC’s, in English and Spanish. It’s just now dawning on me that she is sneaking a fourth song out of me every night!
7:45 p.m. The End is Near
Not one time from when I leave work to when I put her to bed have I checked my work phone or thought about work. My time with Little Bit is so precious that I hate to waste any of it. My job affords me the luxury of not having any emergencies that can’t wait a few hours or until the following morning. I may not become a millionaire at this job, but having the flexibility and work-life balance has so much more worth to me.
At this point, I take a quick look at my work phone. Handle anything that can be done with a quick response, and start a load of laundry. I try to do one load a night otherwise my weekend is shot.
Then, it’s time for my PJs, face wash, and either a book or a show. I knocked out three books last month and I am currently looking for new recommendations.
My husband prefers TV shows, but our interests don’t exactly align. So our night normally progresses with him on the couch watching a show, and me on the couch, head on his lap, with a book. Sometimes desserts are had. Mostly ridiculous comments are made about the writing or acting in a particularly bad show. Either way, the time together is fun and necessary.
9:00 p.m. Bed!
Seriously. If it were socially accepted to go to sleep at 7:30 when Little Bit does, I totally would! 9 o’clock feels so late for me.
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