In a recent lunchtime chat with my colleagues, I found myself utterly silent as they discussed their favorite books and TV shows. I had nothing to contribute—absolutely nothing. You might wonder, don’t I indulge in literature or unwind with some screen time? The truth is, I can’t even recall the last time I truly binge-watched a series or enjoyed a few hours of uninterrupted reading. My closet is filled with unfinished knitting projects, and the list of home tasks is endless.
As a lawyer, I often track my time meticulously. Here’s a glimpse into my typical day working from home with three kids amid the pandemic.
5:45 a.m.
I rise early, exchange a brief hello and goodbye with my husband, who is headed out to teach high school, before I dash off to the gym. At 6:00 a.m., I read a text from my mom asking for Christmas gift ideas for the kids.
6:15 a.m.
I work out, checking emails while warming up on the treadmill. I’m thrilled to set a personal record for my deadlift at 185 pounds!
7:25 a.m.
Back home, I check emails and make sure my 16-year-old daughter has packed her lunch before sending her off to school at 7:40 a.m. I pop a pre-planned dinner into the crockpot and receive another text from my mom about gift ideas.
7:50 a.m.
I urge my 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son to eat breakfast while I sneak in a quick shower.
8:30 a.m.
I remember to mail a birthday card to a friend and finally make that coveted cup of coffee. I settle down to work at the dining room table, where I must convince my 9-year-old to stay focused while I assist my 13-year-old with her Zoom classes. The interruptions from my son are relentless—“Mom, look at this! Mom, what does this mean?” Breathe, breathe. I manage to revise a lease amendment.
9:50 a.m.
My 13-year-old is now doing gym class warm-ups in the living room, and the dog is barking to be let out. After some debate with the kids about who will take the dog out, I remind my 9-year-old to do his asynchronous gym class exercises. He insists on doing it with a friend, so I text the friend’s mom to arrange a socially-distanced soccer drill in the backyard.
9:55 a.m.
I continue revising a purchase agreement and send client comments on another agreement while starting to review a zoning ordinance for an upcoming project.
10:55 a.m.
I realize the laundry I set to run overnight finished ages ago. I toss it in the dryer and start lunch with a frozen pizza.
11:00 a.m.
More emails and a call about a title issue take up my time.
11:20 a.m.
I remind the kids to eat lunch.
12:28 p.m.
I bid goodbye to my younger kids as they head out for their hybrid school start times.
12:30 p.m.
Finally, some peace! I walk into the kitchen for tea, but the sink is overflowing with dishes. I unload and reload the dishwasher before grabbing a quick lunch while catching up on emails.
12:45 p.m.
Back to work.
12:49 p.m.
A call from my son’s school nurse interrupts me—I forgot to submit the daily Covid self-certification form. I quickly submit the necessary forms for my younger kids.
12:50 – 2:45 p.m.
I finally get nearly two hours of uninterrupted work, filled with calls, drafting, and emails.
2:45 p.m.
My 16-year-old returns from school, breaking the silence. We chat about her day and the latest election news.
3:00 p.m.
I sit back down to work, only to receive another text from my mom about Christmas gifts.
3:40 p.m.
My 9-year-old is back, bringing noise with him.
3:50 p.m.
Soon after, my 13-year-old arrives home. I remind my 16-year-old about her sports class and encourage the younger kids to go to the park to enjoy the sunny November day, but they opt for video games instead.
4:05 p.m.
I make another cup of coffee, wishing I had more time for it. I retreat to my upstairs office, thankful for my own space.
5:05 p.m.
My husband comes home, and we share a brief moment discussing our kids’ schedules before I return to work.
7:00 p.m.
I take a dinner break with my 16-year-old and 9-year-old—thank goodness for the crockpot! After cleaning up, I get back to work while the kids resume their activities.
8:30 p.m.
My husband and 13-year-old arrive home from basketball practice, and I help them find dinner. I remind my 9-year-old to take a shower, and after several reminders, he finally does.
9:25 p.m.
When he’s out, we read a chapter of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I tuck him in, kiss him goodnight, and return to work with my 16-year-old.
11:30 p.m.
I’m fighting to stay awake while “doing homework” with my daughter. We head upstairs when we finish, and I realize I forgot to reply to my mom’s text about gifts. I finally send her a response before collapsing into bed, my mind racing.
Today’s time sheet:
- 1.5 hours cooking
- 0.5 hour walking the dog
- 0.75 hour on household chores
- 0.5 hour talking with family
- 1.5 hours at the gym and working out
- 0.75 hour getting ready
- 2 hours of interruptions
- And of course, all those billable hours.
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Summary:
This article depicts the daily life of a mom juggling her career as a lawyer while managing three children at home during the pandemic. Her schedule is packed with early morning workouts, work-related tasks, and constant interruptions from her children. Despite the chaos, she finds moments of quiet and gratitude for the little things, such as her crockpot and her upstairs office.
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