How do you coordinate your life? (X-Posted in Birth Professionals)

[phathui5]

The title says it. How do you make working, particularly if you have a job without a traditional schedule, work with your life?

I'm sitting here, trying to coordinate my next two weeks and this is what I need to fit in so far:

- speech therapy for 5yo ds M/W/F 9:30-10am, have to take him to local school, wait around, then come home

- Tuesday 9/14 7pm Panel discussion at library about Birth Plans

- Wednesday 9/15 9am Planning Meeting with Breastfeeding Professionals group (conflicts w/speech) 6pm Doula group meeting (dh will be home)

- Thursday 9/16 11am Meeting with Potential Client

I also need to work in a home visit for a client who's struggling a little bit and a prenatal visit for someone who's due in November. These don't have to be this week, it can be the week coming up.

For childcare, I have people who come to my house, but with speech at the school I'm not sure what to do. No one has a car big enough to get ds to the school for speech. Until this year, he'd been in Early Intervention and a speech therapist was coming to the house, so I didn't have to deal with this as much.

I also need to take care of the house, homeschool my 9yo and 7yo, do the normal parent errand-running, prepare for the events our doula group has coming up and promote my doula business.

How do I make this work?

[cakemama579]

I understand how frustrating it is to try to fit various aspects of your life in, especially when they don't always fit in some 9-5 working block. Couple things:

Is it possible to find a new speech therapist that is willing to come to your house, or is that over now because he isn't in early intervention anymore? It sounds like DS might be in a wheelchair and it can't be accomodated? Have you thought about asking other mamas on the special needs board? They might have some innovative ideas for you that would make transportation easier.

Also, rely heavily on a calendar and make sure you stay organized. Give everyone involved (DH, babysitters, etc.) the same calendar so that they know exactly what is going on, and who needs to be there and when.

Good luck.

[phathui5]

He's not in a wheelchair; I just don't have a babysitter who can fit all of my kids and their carseats safely in their vehicle (4 kids).

I wish we could get someone to come to the house for speech. Now that he's five, they won't come to us anymore, we have to go to the school.

[cchrissyy]

Originally Posted by phathui5

How do I make this work?

get a sitter!