Episode 78: Work, Kids, and What We’re Not Doing
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In this conversation with my friend and neighbor, Lauren, we talk about something so many working moms wrestle with: the pressure to do it all. We get honest about what it looks like to set boundaries in your real life, how we decide what we’re not doing, how we protect our time, and how we lean on each other and our support systems to make work and family life sustainable.
If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, or like you’re carrying more than you actually want to be carrying, this episode is a reminder that you get to choose. You’re allowed to say no. And you’re allowed to create a life that has room for you in it.
Listen in for practical examples, real-world conversation, and permission to take something off your plate.
links & resources mentioned in this episode:
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You are listening to the Life Coach for Working Moms podcast, the show where we are talking about what it actually takes to make life work as a working mom. I'm your host, Katelyn Denning, a full time working mom of three and a certified life and executive coach. I'm so glad you're here and I hope you enjoy this week's episode. .
Hi, and welcome back to another episode of the podcast. This is episode 78, and you are in for such a treat. This is a conversation with one of my closest friends. She's also my neighbor. I can see her house every time I look out either my office or kitchen window. We have been friends.
For over 13 years
and I have learned so much from Lauren. I can't wait for her to share some of her wisdom with you as well
Lauren is the queen of boundaries of drawing healthy boundaries, and she shares what it looks like to make consistent time for herself each week, how she and her husband. Support each other in their own interests and needing breaks and having a life outside of parenthood. And she also shares the importance of talking about your work to your children and how she navigates that with her two young kids.
So not only is this conversation fun, like sitting down at a table with old friends, but it's also informative. I can't wait for you to listen. Please enjoy.
Hi Lauren. Welcome to the podcast.
Hi, Katelyn. It's nice to be with you.
So Lauren and I are good friends and neighbors. I can turn my head right here to the side of my home office and see her front, , door, which our joke is that I'm always watching. I know where she's going and what she's doing, and who's home and who's not.
, but today we're chatting via Zoom. And she's at her office. So I'll let you introduce yourself and then we can get into a little bit more of our history and some of the things that I am so excited to have you share with listeners today.
Yes. Well, thanks for that introduction, Katelyn. My name is Lauren Car and I am a Cincinnati native.
I grew up in Cincinnati, , lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for about six years in my twenties, but then moved back. And, almost immediately within a year of moving back, , met Katelyn. This is in 2013. , we lived on the same street and still do and became fast friends. I am a mother of two children, a son, , who is 10 years old, and a daughter who is seven years old, so that's fourth and first grade.
And I also have a husband, and I am a, , former educator. I taught for, , 10 years high school social studies. And then in 2021 I made a career shift and I now lead our education work, , at our local Holocaust museum . So happy to talk about. Any of those like verticals of my life. I'm sure that's what we're gonna dive into as we chat today.
There's so much to talk about. As you were describing your history. I was picturing scenes along the way of when we met of sharing that we were pregnant and having our first kid to when you made your big career change and looking at your resume and thinking through all of that with you. And we should probably also mention that our kids get along very well and , my oldest and Lauren's oldest are.
Best friends, , and often are just sliding into each other's front doors all the time.
I joke frequently with Katelyn, for those of you who watched Full House, that my son is constantly the Kimmy Gibber of, , the neighborhood and is just walking into her. Back door unannounced and uninvited. , and, , it's, you know, funny to think about.
I
love it. But I love it too. The other day. We had joint babysitters, two sisters babysitting, , one sister babysitting your kids and one mine. And I described your kids without really even thinking about it. , and saying that they were welcome to, join forces and come over to our house.
I said, they're like family to us, so they're welcome to come. Right. Yeah. And I mean that so, so true. I love you, Katelyn, and your family.
Same. Same. , okay. Let's start by, maybe just give us a snapshot and I know every day is different and there are so many variables at play. A snapshot of what a day in the life looks like for you.
I'm always curious in asking people about, you know, what time do you wake up and who's dropping your kids at school, and what are your work hours like, and who's doing after school and dinner and activity runs or bedtime, all of that. Tell everybody what that looks like for you.
Yeah. So I was joking. , prior to this call with Kaitlyn, I knew we were gonna talk about routines and potentially morning routines. And I was saying that . Unlike a, a previous guest who, , if you haven't listened to that episode, I think it was Katelyn's former manager who was on, who wakes up at 5:30 AM every day and is like working out and her kids are like, well-oiled machines getting ready for the day.
I said, my morning routine is not aspirational. , and so, but maybe this gives some folks who are listening, comfort. In that, you know, we're all still surviving and thriving despite, , a, a, a well-oiled, , morning routine. I am a person who will sleep until the last possible second. , actually, I'm not even sleeping.
I'm like awake, but I will stay in bed until the last possible second. So that means that I am typically. Getting up around seven 40. I really should get up at seven 30, but it's typically seven 40, maybe 7 45, and I'm able to turn around, getting myself ready, packing a lunch, maybe helping with a breakfast or two.
My husband is there, tag teaming it with me. For our kids, my kids are at the age where they can obviously like get themselves dressed and brush their teeth and do all of that. , I'm able to turn that around in about a tight hour. So by 8 45, 8 50, I'm out the door and I'm lucky to only live 10 minutes away from my work.
And so, , I get into work around nine. I work. I would say a fairly typical nine to five, but as we might talk about, there are some caveats to that. My work does demand, , some after hours and some weekend events because we run all sorts of educational and public programs, , at our museum and so I am needed
to be there oftentimes, and I'm happy to do it. , and so there are times when we have events or I have a board meeting or, , I lead a teacher advisory board for our museum. All sorts of, stakeholders that we engage, right? , require some after hours, attention at times. So that being said, there are seasons of my life.
When we, I have a lot of that. So fall is a typically a pretty busy programming season for us at the museum. And so there are times when I'm at work earlier than nine. 'cause we have a morning program or workshop that we're leading. , and where I'm working, you know, I, I think last Tuesday we had an educator preview event for an exhibition that's here at the museum.
And I was at work until nine o'clock. So I'm in a position of leadership, , which means that, I'm not necessarily flexing my time. Part of my job is at times working more than 40 hours a week, and I'm fine with that. But like that morning that I knew I had to be here until nine, I worked from home and arranged my schedule to work from home until about noon, just so I'm not like.
In my work clothes for like 12 hours, right? Yeah. That gets like to be feeling like a long day.
Yeah.
So I am lucky that I do have, , despite, some after hours commitments and weekend commitments at times, I do have some flexibility over my calendar. , and I'm able to block my calendar if I know, you know, I'm gonna be here late, then , I'm not gonna schedule something really early that morning if I can help it and maybe work from home to start the day.
. Otherwise, my job is fairly nine to five. My husband, , works from home and so he walks our kids every morning and often sees Katelyn along that walk. Yep. And then, I'm have always been the pickup person. Mm-hmm. So I pick them up, my kids go to aftercare at our school, and so I pick them up around five 15.
Okay.
Um, and from there we're, we're off to the races with like, you know, dinner and evening and sometimes activities and all that.
You mentioned the fall as a very busy season professionally for you. I've seen it. Your
mm-hmm.
Car is gone many evening, it seems like over the last month or so. Mm-hmm. I remember you saying something as we were chatting, as we do about just anticipating the season.
It was like the end of summer. We were transitioning back to school, and you were looking ahead at your calendar and seeing all of this stuff piling up in your non-traditional hours, and you made a comment about. You know, what could I do? Or I'm thinking I might need a little bit of help, or my husband might need a little bit of help.
That's a lot for him because he is stepping up as he does. We love George. He does a great job of that. But there's that consideration, I guess maybe is the word that you had for You also recognize that that's a lot for not just you to do all this extra work, But also for him to. Solo parent in a lot of those Yeah.
Instances. I don't know , what can you share there about your approach and how that balances out?
Yeah, so major shout out to George. I tell him this all the time, but, , I could not do my work and I really do love my work. , and my job, I could not do it without his support. It would be challenging, , if I had a partner who every time I had an after hours event was like heavy sighing and rolling their eyes and just wasn't, didn't have the capacity to step up.
And so I try to, though at the same time recognizing that he is a great sport. He is also human. He also has his own life that he's trying to live. He, you know, his work, , schedule is very traditional. Doesn't have a lot of after hours or weekends or travel like I sometimes do. , but still like he needs some downtime and needs to be able to enjoy his life and do his thing.
So, , I do try to, , respect his time as much as I can. I try to give him ample heads up. So at the very beginning of the fall, like, listen, this is x, y, z is unfolding this fall for us, at the museum. And as a result, I'm gonna have , just like kind of a big picture. Like this is over the next three months, there's gonna be these like pockets, these bursts of events where I'm gonna be, you know, three or four nights in one week, I'm gonna be out and then I won't have anything for three weeks.
Right? And then it's gonna ramp up again. So. , I try to be really communicative both verbally and of course, as I'm sure everyone does, we have a family Google calendar. , that kind of is like, if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't exist. So I make sure to put all of that in there and then when I can sense that, like, I, I think that, that both George and I are pretty good at , raising our hand if we're feeling tapped.
Mm.
Neither of us. , We at least try not to be like martyrs of parenthood, right? Like you have to take care of yourself. And so, , if I can sense that he's starting to fray or he raises his hand, I do try to call in. Some extra help. So that might mean, you know, my parents live pretty close.
They are not health wise in a place where they can be like picking up my kids and shuttling 'em around or any of that. But they definitely are in a place where they can , welcome my kids over at their house for a few hours and they love hanging out with them and,
yeah,
and, and can fill in, when needed.
. This summer, this past summer, I went to Poland for work for nine nights, and in advance of that, I set up two sleepovers for my kids. , with family members just because, like I knew George one night had an FC Cincinnati, , game, our local MMLS soccer team, and I wanted him, of course, to be able to go to that.
And then another night just 'cause I was like, by, by night seven you're probably gonna wanna breather, so I'm gonna like preemptively set this up for you. He didn't ask me to, but, so I try to. , yeah, to respect his time and his need to like be an adult and do his own thing. And when I can preemptively set up some other support.
So it's not always falling on him. But I don't wanna say that's not all. I mean, he does a lot.
Yeah.
He helps me out a lot. And so in addition to all that, I think just simply recognizing. Partner and just, I try to say thank you a lot. I try to say I appreciate you a lot. Like all of those things I think goes a long way.
Yeah. Yeah. I love what you said about both of you being good about raising your hands when you feel tapped out, , and that you're human if I were to think about doing bedtime and dinner and all of the things for nine nights in a row, that is a lot, lot. And that is exhausting. And there are parents that do that.
Right? Single parents out there.
Mm-hmm.
And, and also it's a lot for everybody. And, and so to also recognize that. And that where we can make it easier or ask for some help or do a swap or whatever that looks like given your situation that it can make a big difference.
Makes a big difference. I think prior to becoming a parent, I would've described myself as a people pleaser her
and.
Someone who maybe wasn't as good at drawing boundaries or having a firm boundary. Like I just, like if someone asked me to go to some event or something and I would feel like, oh, I should go right.
And so I would go even if I didn't want to. . And I think since becoming a parent, I've been a parent now for 10 years, I have gotten better and better. At drawing some firm boundaries as far as, I
think
you're the queen of drawing boundaries.
I know like when you said,
I used to like not have strong boundaries, I'm like, wow, I don't know that I knew you then.
Yeah, you didn't. I know, and I think, I think really becoming a parent really cemented that for me, that like for me to thrive as a parent, as a mom, I just knew that I could not. Throw myself into the, in front of like, the proverbial bus of motherhood and just get like, run over again and again, like I have to fill my own cup.
And so in order to do that, I'm gonna have to say no to some stuff.
Yeah.
I have a small example of that that, my coworkers will jokingly make fun of me for and say , oh my gosh, you're like, , not being fun or you're not being a fun mom or something like, and all in good fun, all in like, just joking with me.
But, , everybody that I work with knows that, when my kids were in preschool or like younger elementary, when they would get the birth date invite. Where it's like the entire class is invited.
Yeah.
I'm like, if I've never heard of this kid and my kid has never said their name, I'm recycling the, like I am not at run, jump and play on a Saturday 45 minutes away from my house.
I'm just not doing it. I'm not right. And so my coworkers will laugh , and for some people they are like, great. That's something that gives us something to do. Yeah, like I, I'm glad to have run, jump and play to go to for little Jimmy that I've never even met, but like, I don't care for me though. I was like, I just don't wanna do that.
That sounds not relaxing to me. I have a myriad of other things. I'm gonna have to skip my exercise class. Like I just don't wanna do that. And so, on paper, that might seem like a little harsh, like denying my kid the opportunity to go to a birthday party. But if it's not for someone who's like, I know is like a really core friend for them, I just make those calls where I'm like, we're just not gonna do it.
Yeah.
, and you know, and I think it has helped me maintain some sanity over the years. I love, you're right, I do love a good boundary.
I have learned. So much from you. So there are so many things that I do that you probably don't even know that I do because I've seen you do them. I'll share, just this weekend, Lauren and another friend invited me to go out for a drink on a Sunday afternoon.
I just had my birthday and. I just wasn't feeling it.
Mm-hmm. Yeah. You were
out. You know, I have had a lot going on right now. My social battery is completely drained, and I don't know if I thought of it in the moment, but I knew that if anyone would understand it would be you. And I just owned it. It, there wasn't, I didn't have to come up with an excuse.
It wasn't like, oh, I have other things to do. It was just like, I, this is not what I need right now. Maybe another time. And, and, you know, and you, that's just one. Yeah, you didn't. I'm like,
yep, totally.
Get it. Good for you. You're like, another time. Time. And that's a personal example for me.
But like you said, things, , where I decline for the kids or it just doesn't make sense or I just don't feel like doing it. I think that is a practice. If you're not used to doing that, it can feel uncomfortable. It can feel new. It can feel awkward. And the more you do it, not only the easier it becomes, but I think the better you become at deciphering what is the thing that you do wanna do and you are ready to rally for, or you do want to rearrange your schedule to make it fit.
And what are the things that just. Aren't gonna bring you joy, are not gonna be that fun or are not gonna be worth the logistical Tetris game that you're going to have to play to fit them in. And you can just say no as a complete sentence.
Yes.
So,
amen.
Thank you. Thank you for,
thank you for that reinforcement.
Yeah.
Yeah. I think , the other thing that I'd love to have you share just briefly about, because this is another example, , that I feel like I have learned from you. I remember early on in my business I shared this story and I don't, I didn't name you, I don't know if you ever would've heard it, but I talked to a lot of women who will look at.
Peers or friends or other moms and see them doing something and be like, oh, well wouldn't that be nice? Mm-hmm. Right. Wouldn't that be nice? Look at her, go out for drinks with friends, or look at her, go on a weekend away with her husband or look at her go to dance class.
Mm-hmm.
And our kids were young and.
While I feel like I do a pretty good job of taking care of myself, I will often choose the thing that I can do in the nooks and crannies of my day, like reading my romance and fantasy novels, right? Mm-hmm. I can pick up a book and do that in five or 10 minutes here without having to really step away, and you have.
I mean, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but you have pretty much always stuck to or committed to doing things like your dance class or mm-hmm. Hanging out with your friends that you have from college or whatever, that take you out of the house and where George, you know, steps in, steps up.
Yep, yep.
And I remember having that thought, like, wouldn't it be nice to go to dance class every Saturday morning?
Mm-hmm. And then I was like, oh. Maybe I could do that. And probably there's a part of me that really wants that because I think we often judge what we actually desire. Sure. And so that was really eye-opening for me and an opportunity for me to really challenge myself and be like, is that something that I really do want?
And if so, why can't I do that?
Absolutely. , I think that those examples that you gave of how you and I kind of choose to spend, like if we have some downtime, are kind of indicative also of our overall personalities and that you are naturally more of an introvert, right? And I am naturally an extrovert.
And so if I have an hour plus of time that I'm gonna carve out for myself. I'm typically gonna do it in a place where I am with people, because that gives me energy, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
And so that, that's a choice that I'll make and that typically then will bring me out of the house. So you are right. I go to, I have, since before I became a parent, I go to the dance class .
I try to go twice a week. Again, not perfect like I, the last couple weeks I just mentioned, I've come off of a big work. Event season. And so I have to make choices. And again, out of respect for my partner, if I had two work events that week on Tuesday and Thursday, well, I normally go to dance class on Wednesday.
I'm not gonna be like, oh, by the way, I'm also piecing out to go to dance. Like, like that's just like, and I wanna see my family and be at home and all of those things. Right? But like in normal times, I do really try to carve out, Time to go to the dance class. It is not only good for me physically, but it's very good for my mental health.
It's high energy, it's fun, it brings like levity , and these like, kind of like hard times, , that we are going through in the world. And so, , I dance through the pandemic, we danced outside. Like it has just been with me right through, , all the ups and downs of the last 12 years since I've been doing it.
And then to that point, my. , as far as like, you know, , you mentioned going out with my friends from college or getting dinner or doing something to that effect, my relationships are very important to me. I think, outside of my familial relationships or it's, are obviously very important to me, but my, , relationships with my friends, , with, . Our neighbors I like being in community with people. And so I have really tried since becoming a parent to not let those friendships, , fall away, you know, and it's challenging. It's, it's hard, but I, I like to. I have these like kind of different pockets of friends and I like to think about like when I see them, when we get together, it's like, okay, well what are we looking forward to?
And , let's go ahead and put something on the calendar now. And it might not be for another quarter with my good friend Megan that I've known since I was 15 years old. We do quarterly fun. We, we talk about, we just did fall fun. We take our fam and we do this with our families too. We take our families to the pumpkin patch.
We just did that last week. Then we'll do something in the winter, something in the spring. So it's just, it's quarterly, you know, it's, we don't have the capacity to hang out every weekend like we used to when we were teenagers. But it's about , being intentional. And if that's something that fills you up and those relationships you wanna hold onto, then when you hang out before we leave, let's put our next hangout on the calendar, right?
Yeah. And . I feel like , my friends are pretty aligned in that are always up for having something to look forward to and putting that next thing on the calendar, right?
Yeah. Quarterly is a great example and again, another permission slip. I coach with so many women who are. Not spending time with their partner or not investing in their friendships.
And so our tendency is to wanna go from nothing to, I need to make up for lost time and I need to pack it all in. Yeah. And so I need to do a weekly date night, or I need to see my friends every month. And. Maybe that is a long-term goal, but it's also still counts to do a quarterly meetup with a friend or to do a monthly day date, or date night.
Mm-hmm. Or just connection time. It can look different ways in different seasons, and it doesn't have to be all the time for it to still matter or be worth putting on the calendar. And so it looks all different ways.
Yeah. Yeah.
So one thing that I don't think we've talked about a lot in just our conversations is how we talk about our work to our kids.
And I'm curious about this for you in particular because for everybody that doesn't know Lauren. She's very articulate. As you can tell, I learn so much from you, not just about going to dance class or investing in friendships, but also I learn actual history lessons. Every time we have a deep conversation or our husbands wanna debate something and you're like, hold the phone, let's back up to, remember in the 1960s when this happened and I'm like, wow, I must have not been paying attention in government class when we went over that.
I learn so much from you. You have this wealth of knowledge from your education days, from everything that you're learning and doing at the museum, , around Holocaust education. So not just about the topics that you work. With, but also just your work in general and the impact in what you do. I'm curious how much of that comes up at home?
What do your kids know, , and how important is that for you? Yeah. To share with them?
I, that's a great question, and it's something that has come up more and more in the last year as my kids. Especially , my daughter is really has become very interested in my work. Like what exactly I'm doing.
Yeah.
She wants to know.
And so my kids know that I used to teach history. My son was studying for a test last night and it was on geology, it was rocks. And I was like, full disclosure, I don't know anything about these rocks, but like I can read a study guide and I'm happy to quiz you. . And he said something like, yeah, I mean I know if it was like history, you know, because he is also been reading this book about the American Revolution and I'm like chiming in about that.
He's like, I know if it was history, you would really be able to help. Right? So like my kids do have some context that I used to be a high school social studies teacher. They know I used to teach older kids and they know that now. I educate in a different context.
Hmm.
, and so obviously because of the content that I am immersed in here at the Holocaust and Humanity Center, I'm not always sharing the nuts and bolts of , the content because.
Holocaust is not age appropriate yet, but they know that I work in a museum and that I lead a team that does work, , with teachers and with students. We do a lot more than that actually, but like as far as my kids know, they know that kids come here on field trips. And that, that's like part of my, in, in my sphere of influence.
And they know that kids come here, , to do youth programming and leadership stuff and they know that I specifically one part, as I've grown in leadership, of course I now oversee, , various people on my team doing a lot of great work, but one vertical of our work that I still really do and am really involved in as far as .
Being on the ground leading it is our teacher professional development.
Yeah.
So anytime , my daughter's teacher is out for a teacher PD day, she'll always ask me, mom, was Miss Amanda , at your, or you Is she, are you teaching her today? Right? Yeah. And I'm like, no, no, I, I haven't seen Miss Amanda yet, but maybe I will someday.
. Yeah. So they do have some context and my daughter has been very interested lately, you know, she'll say at dinner . How was your day? Which is great. I love when my kids are getting to the point where they're asking me Yes, like how, you know, where they're asking you a question about yourself.
I'm like, wow, this is kind of nice. Like thanks for asking. My day was good. Well, how was work? Work was good. You know, a busy day. Well, what did you do exactly? Mm-hmm. And she wants me to like, she's like, did you give any tours today? Because she knows sometimes I'll give a tour. Right. Did you teach any teachers today?
Like what? Exactly, and and fortunately, a lot of times it's kind of a letdown. 'cause I'm like, well, I was in like four back to back meetings. She's like, what about what? And I'm. Impact measurement. Like,
like I sent a lot of emails today of
like, I'm like the budget, like , the new fiscal year. Like, , so, you know, I don't know that you want me to go into that with you, but, , it is interesting and it is important to me, you know, we wanna be recognized in our full humanity, right?
With the people in our life. So I want my kids to see me as their mother and know that that is like one of the most important things that I do and one of the most important roles that I could ever have. But I also want them to see me. In my full humanity, which means that I'm like a person who also has friends that I've known since first grade and also has a work life and all of these people that I get to, all these amazing people that I get to work with every day and that I've grown in my profession a lot over the last five years.
And I want them to know that I get meaning from my work. .
Hmm.
, and that while work is not the most important thing in life at all, . That you can find meaning and purpose there and that all of those things are important. And I've also actually, Katelyn to this point, like started to highlight for my daughter what my friends do.
Yeah.
So we, , my daughter and I listened to a segment of your podcast.
Mm-hmm.
Because she got a big, I'm like, Katelyn is a life coach, you know, and I'm telling, I'm trying to explain, you know, it's not quite a therapist, but explain. It's very hard to explain
to
kids. Actually. I still
struggle.
Yeah. And I'm like, and she has this podcast, and so we were listening to it and I'm like, you know, and my friend Emily is a professor.
, I think it's like really important for them. Mm-hmm. , not just my daughter, but my son too, to recognize that the adults in their life, it's not just, you're not just like Henry's mom, you. Kaitlin Denning who's built a business and has done all these incredible things and are like changing, you know, hearts and minds out there.
And I want them to know that about you too, right? Like Yeah, I think, I think because I think it opens up avenues for them. It gives them something , well, who knows what the workforce will look like when, who knows they graduate. But like it gives them something to think about. Like, oh, well maybe I could do that one day.
Right.
I love that. I. I think about that too. I guess maybe not directly, but I also talk a lot about what other people do. Because I remember when I grew up, my parents were both music teachers, both of them. Mm-hmm. And then they remarried each of them, and one of them married another teacher, and then my stepdad worked in labor relations .
Right. So I had very little exposure and we didn't really. I don't remember, or it didn't have an impact on me talking about what the other adults, I have no idea what a lot of my friends Yeah. Parents did for work. And so I remember when I graduated and was like, well, what do I wanna go study? Or what do I wanna go to college for?
I chose music because I really didn't know what else there was.
Right.
I'm glad for the degree that I have, I do love music and it wasn't until I got to college that I started to even really understand. The breadth of all of the opportunities that there are out there and also that you can change.
Right. We also grew up with a generation of parents who stayed with the same career or the same job for their entire Yeah. Working lives. And so I also love that I can talk about you being a teacher and now you work in a museum and I used to. Work in a nonprofit. Mm-hmm. And then I work in marketing and then I worked in sales and now I have a business and all of these iterations as well that it's totally fine and will be probably so acceptable to them that
Yes,
absolutely.
All of this is changeable too.
Yeah. Yeah. I love it.
Could we wrap up with just a couple of minutes of some rapid fire questions, things that I don't think I've ever asked you though I probably should have over the years, like I wanna know. Okay. You mentioned a shared Google calendar that you have as a family, obviously, of your work calendar that , that's how we scheduled this time, right?
Mm-hmm. What fit in your day? What other tools do you use? Are you like a notebook person? How do you keep track of, I mean, like me, you have a so many school forms and things that have to happen, and what are you using?
Yeah. So I know that you are the queen of the planner. The note taking tools.
Here it comes.
And I, I am not really, like, I have a pretty bare bone system frankly. I mean, I have the Google calendar, I have my work calendar. Sometimes I'm putting my work events or obviously on my work calendar, but then I put them on my home, Google Calendar too. At work. I have gone through, I feel like, a variety of different ways to keep track of my to-do list.
For a long time it was just in a notebook. Yeah. , but then I would think of something, you know, when I'm, out at Target, something would dawn on me that I need to do for work. And then it's like you don't have the notebook with you, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
So then , we use Microsoft at. The museum. So I use OneNote now.
I have a to-do list for a notebook if people are familiar for myself, and then for each person on my team mm-hmm. If I think of something that I need to tell them, they have their own like sub page and I can just input it in there. So that's on my phone. I have the app and then obviously my computer.
That has been super helpful for me work-wise. Just having a digital space to put that in. Yeah. And I've kind of abandoned , the paper and pencil to-do list. In a notebook.
Yeah.
For my home life, , it's, it's squishier than that. Like it's the Google calendar. If I'm entering into a weekend where I have a myriad of things that I kind of wanna get done, I'll make a hard copy list and have that on the counter.
I also use my notes on my phone on and off. . Which, to varying degrees of success. So, and yeah, I mean, just like all of us, I'm just out there like swimming in the school forms and trying to keep track of the Girl Scout meetings and yeah. , and, and doing my best at, at keeping up with all that.
It's not a perfect system.
Yeah. Yeah. I, I. That actually tracks. Maybe that is sort of what I was expecting. And also from the outside, I don't know what it feels like to you, but from the outside you are getting things done.
Everything is working out. I mean, for the most part, people are where they need to be.
Yeah.
You know, I haven't missed a major deadline. There are times like, I can't remember. There was something recently that . , I can't put my finger on it, but that like I didn't sign or I forgot to do or whatever and my son kind of got a little sassy with me about it and I said, well, look here buddy.
I'm holding a lot in my head, right? Like I got a lot going on. You know that , and you're also in fourth grade and this is actually like your thing. I wish I could remember exactly what it was now. Yeah. But like it's on you to remember too. And so I'm starting to put some of that on my kids as much as you can responsibly.
Obviously they're still children. Sure. But like you can remember to pack your own water bottle or whatever it was. Right?
Yeah. Yeah. I have talked with your husband, George about that on many a walk to school on the. Look, sometimes we have to let go of things and if they're late or they forget their water or they forget this, that that's how you learn.
And it is really hard to do as parents to not want so hard swoop in and save them. Mm-hmm. I did that last week. , my daughter was upset about something that she had forgotten at home and I could have gone back and gotten it and I chose not to. And Wow. It was not fun for me. Yeah. For either of us.
It was not fun.
Yeah, sure.
But, , she hasn't forgotten it since.
There you go.
Knock on wood. We'll see. Yeah. Okay. That's helpful. , I love hearing that. It's squishy and it works.
It's squishy. Yeah, it's fine.
Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing. There's so much more, but we can't go on for forever.
I can always talk to you.
For hours. Katelyn, there's
so many things to talk about always. There's never the well never runs dry.
Good thing our houses look directly at each other. So I'll probably talk to you later on today when I see you outside
probably. , but thank you for, , everything that you have modeled for me, the permissions that you have given me for the ways that you operate that have influenced me that you probably don't even know.
But, . I loved chatting with you here.
Well, the feeling's mutual. I always learn a lot from you. You know, I'm a podcast fan. I'm an, I'm an og, , mother Nurture fan. Right? Yeah. Watched you basically start that business with a second baby in your arm. And so I'm so proud of what you built.
Hmm. Thank you.
Thank you for listening and as always, for being a part of this working mom community. You can find everything related to this episode in the show notes at themothernurture.com/podcast,
you can also find information about how I support working moms just like you through one-on-one, and group coaching, as well as access a number of resources and articles all on my website at themothernurture.com.
I will see you again next week for another episode of the podcast.
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