Time Bulking
Every so often, as time permits, I get into the kitchen for a 4-hour production. This production entails cooking multiple meals at the same time. I typically try and identify a meal that can be made into mass quantities by crock pot (i.e. soups, etc) or by stove (casseroles), etc. all to be divided into smaller portions and frozen for busy weeknight meals. I like to cook, so while this process may seem dauting for some, I find it enjoyable. I put my favorite music on and begin the process. Sometimes I get out in under 2 hours, it just depends on the time you have. Here are some of my favorite meals that I like to make in bulk.

• Pasta Casseroles: Baked Penne, Baked Ziti, Lasagna, Rigatoni, Chicken Tetrazzini (defrost, throw in oven after busy workday and move onto something else)
• Soups: These are easy to make and pair nicely with a quick grilled cheese sandwich, quesadilla or tortilla, if it’s tortilla soup. Lentils get paired with rice. (defrost, warm in oven)
• Chicken Casseroles: Chicken Broccoli paired with rice, chicken zucchini (defrost, warm in oven)
• Pre-marinated meats: fajita chicken, pork, beef (defrost, throw on grill and pair with salad or fast sides)
• Pre-chopped vegetables: if I plan to do a stir fry, or want to cook a 15 min meal, I will spend the prep and chop time ahead (store in fridge, cook when you’re ready that week, no prep work)

This  Greek Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe is nice if you are looking for a healthy all-in-one dish meal.

Here is a picture of what some of this process looks like. On this date, I was maximizing my time by running the Instant Pot, Slow Cooker and Stove at the same time. Bon appetite! Save the time for whatever downtime you can squeeze.

Apparently I’m not the only one who finds value in bulk cooking. Check out this video!

It’s Juggling, Not Multitasking

When someone says that I multitask, it is an underestimate. However, there are so many articles suggesting that multitasking is not a good idea, that mistakes can happen and it’s down right not healthy.   I agree with that assessment. I guess in a sense, I don’t multitask…but rather, juggle multiple balls in the air at one time. Think about it, a juggler only holds one ball at a time. It is the illusion of the motion that makes you think they are moving all the balls at the exact same time. This is not the case. In fact, the best jugglers have a rhythm to their balancing act. For working moms, a rhythm is found with organization. I found this article on Good Housekeeping’s Website titled “11 Scheduling Secrets of Busy Moms” and found some of the tips insightful for organizing the chaos that is our day-to-day.  I enjoyed some of the tips on here, not all of course. Some were similar to my pillars talked about in my last blog, i.e. outsourcing, buddy system or soliciting help. I still need to work on some of these, like that whole morning thing. LOL. I must be honest, we have a shared family calendar on the iCloud and without it I literally would be lost. Okay, maybe not lost but rather in the wrong place.

Okay, so this blog is not going to be about existential discussions on what type of mom I consider myself to be or society opinion discussions about working women. Fact = I’m a working mom. End of story, and my philosophy (and my closest friends can attest to this…) is “You Do You!.”

This recent interview on ThriveGlobal.com resonated with me. The writer interviewed Beatrice Purdy, President of Park Avenue Apparel, Inc. “As president, Beatrice is responsible for branding, merchandising, marketing, eCommerce sales, operations, and consumer insights for Measure & Made and the Little Black Pant.” (Thrive Global). The article goes on to discuss Purdy’s perspective on work-life balance. The quote that stuck with me was, “I don’t want to get bogged down in things that aren’t going to move the needle because more time wasted is less time with my family.”

My overall philosophy, or perhaps more of a survival mantra, are the following pillars. All are focused around my priority bottom line, “Time.”

 MY 5 PILLARS of TIME

1) Help is ok. If someone else can do it, let them.  Even if it’s not going to be done your way, or it may mean allowing someone else to direct traffic sometimes.

2) Outsource. If you can, identify what you can outsource. Takeout, housekeeping, lawncare, and my recent favorite-groceries.  Maybe the nice teenager down the street could benefit, is the gas station car wash good enough or do you really need to go outside with the Armor All? And why not the Chick-fil-A, the mall or a nearby park, instead of the house-that I’d have to clean after a birthday? I respect that some of this can also be an escape for some moms, and a sanctuary to hear your own thoughts. Again, “You Do You!” This is me, this is my style.

3) Necessities First. Accept not everything will be done, but what does your family NEED? (food, clean clothes, bath time, etc.) Maybe you can’t finish that baby photo album RIGHT NOW, but, so what!? Put it on the list, and know the list has priorities based on time…and fun.

4) Organize, Pre-Crastinate I organize my spice rack.  Not because I care if something is alphabetical, but because it saves me time from sifting through bottles to find the Oregano.  Likewise, I pack days ahead when I know we are going on a trip with the kids so that I don’t scramble at the last minute.  If something can be written down, make a list. I believe it is a waste of energy to try and memorize things.  The grocery list, the mom homework that the kids bring home from school, the gift you need to get for that birthday party, the permission slip you need to complete. Write it down! I have lists for lists. Packing lunches? That’s right, there is a list of the basics that are typically packed in lunches on my fridge.

5) Cheaper by the Dozen. Is it wrong to shove both of your kids in the bathtub for a quick bath on a busy weeknight after dance class and daycare? If so, I have wronged! I also believe in buying my time in “bulk.” My clock is a store, I prefer to think of it as a Costco or Sam’s… how can I squeeze more out for the same cost? If I need to run an errand, I usually bring my kids because it’s all part of family time.

TIME BULKING
Once a month, typically on a weekend, I make large vats of my family’s favorites. This is my homemade, homecooked version of prepared meals. These are my signature dishes, but frozen. I make a bunch of food in a span of 3 hours, divide equally, freeze and distribute as needed into our family’s weeknight meal rotations.

Make Ahead Meals to Save Time

It’s nice when you get home after work and can tackle bath time while your dinner warms in the oven. If I do cook on weeknights, all ingredients are meal prepped, i.e. veggies are already chopped and stored in the fridge or the meat was pre-marinated. Just throw and go. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore cooking. It is one of my favorite hobbies, but it is not realistic to stand in the kitchen for an hour each weeknight to get food on the table. If it requires 20 mins or less of my time to prepare, then it makes the weeknight menu.

I know this approach may seem intense to some folks, but again, this blog addresses the logistics of the working mom gig. These strategies allow for the flexibility to …. wait for it…. actually allow some ME TIME!!!!