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"I completely agree. I use the 15 min rule and all my clocks are 10 min fast. Unfortunately I cannot do the tag-team. But I do make sure I spend every spare min with baba, even if I do lack a bit of sleep. I even manage to fit the gym in before work. I adopted the " get eveything ready the night before" Pretty quickly and now I get extra time in the morning to have a cuddle and chat." -- ALEXUS1989 - 7/29/2011 4:00:49 PM "It's all about the routine/schedule! Even for all of you "wind-in-the-hair" types! We have time milestones throughout the morning and evening to stay on track. And I didn't know how complicated it was until I had to spell it out for my DH and Mom who took care of my kids when I traveled out of town recently. Night before/especially Mondays: Put loaded daycare bags in car with diapers, bedding, extra clothes, etc. Assemble a snack bag with semi-nutritious snacks for after school. Put any mom bags in the car in advance, if possible. Lay out clothes for everyone, including myself. 6:00 Mom gets up and showers/dresses 6:45 Mom in kitchen to open yogurts, get spoons, assemble milks and sippy cups 6:50 Wake up kids, dress baby, encourage toddler to pee 6:55 Begin eating breakfast 7:25 Encourage (HA!) Toddler to get himself dressed 7:45 Load baby in car, load toddler, stuffed animals, sippy cups, additional breakfast in snack cups in car, load mom's juice/breakfast in car, etc. 8:00 Unload stroller, daycare bags, stuffed animals, sippy cups and children out of the car. Baby first, toddler second (toddlers get run over if they're first!) 8:05 Drop stuffed animals and 1 daycare bag in one room, drop toddler off in galley and sign him in 8:10 Take off shoes. Drop baby's daycare bag in another room. Sign him in. Tell them about eating, sleeping or illnesses. 8:15 Tell school nurse about any illnesses/meds, and fill out one paper per med! 8:20 Load empty stroller in car and go to work. Whew! THen the coming home routine involves daycare pickup, ensuring we get all the stuffed animals, meds and sippys back home. Feeding children leftovers ASAP because baby "melts" before 6pm. Try and bathe baby before he passes out or loses it (may involve a sink bath). Put toddler in front of TV while I get baby in bed. Finish cooking dinner for adults and maybe eat. DH may or may not help with bath, dishes, stories. Bathe toddler, teeth, meds, 4 stories, prayers, count to 20 (relaxation technique) and he's out! FINALLY time to clean the house and prepare for the next day. Oh and I'm pregnant and exhausted and interviewing nannies once i get the kids in bed. This is FUN!!!!" -- BECCABEE - 7/15/2011 10:51:33 AM "Thank you so much for this article! Baby #2 is due in January, I will be back to work in March with about the same age gap as you are describing...lots of good tips here since we already struggle to get out the door in time with just one!" -- MOM2CPANDSH - 7/15/2011 5:14:36 AM "I am the mom of five and have been scouring the web for articles about working mother routines. This will be my first time back to work in 10 years!! THanks for the article, it is the best one I've yet found..." -- CASSAROLY - 11/21/2010 2:36:59 PM "I'm on baby #1, and it's hard to imagine being that coordinated! *laughs* This article gives me hope, if a working mom can do it with two! Thanks!" -- PEARLKITTY - 7/31/2010 2:56:40 PM "great article,i love it. Thanks." -- JANDAVMINE - 7/29/2010 10:26:40 AM "What a fantastic article, I am three months pregnant with my 2nd child and constantly worried about managing the morning routines with two young children and a husband who works long hours, but even the hints and tips here are managable for us as a busy, working family, thanks!" -- MCBLYON - 7/29/2010 4:33:34 AM "This article was very helpful, As a pregnant working mother of a 4yr old toddler boy. I am a little nervous about the return to work after the maternity leave. I know it will be challenging but I am up for the challenge. I do realize it is possible with a little scheduling. Thank to all the Mommies that left their comments it was really Helpful to read them." -- UB20819 - 4/22/2010 6:11:15 PM "Mom's, you can do it. It takes some adjusting, but what doesn't? I was more nervous about baby number two than 1,3, or 4. That's right...4. I am home now (it doesn't make sense to work if I have to pay daycare for two and after-school care for 2). But I have worked with babies 1,2, and 3. I congratulate you for making the effort, and being concerned about spending enough time with your children, and that they are getting decent nutrition. It may be a struggle, but it means you love your children enough to want the best for them." -- BNAAMOM - 4/15/2010 10:51:31 AM "Its so nice to hear that it can all work out smoothly! I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old and going back to work this time has been a struggle! My husband is getting better at helping in the evenings, but although he says he'll help in the mornings - I've learned I can't count on him getting out of bed and actually doing anything. So from the time I get out of bed to the time I get to work it takes me about 2.5 hours! Nursing the baby (45 minutes), getting everyone dressed, car loaded, kids in carseats, and then a good 45 minutes to drop off at daycare and drive to work! Prepping the night before has saved me a lot though - before baby#2 I didn't layout clothes the night before or pack my lunch in advance let alone gather everything into one place!" -- KAECHTE - 4/15/2010 9:34:36 AM "I guess I will be the first to say that I'm nervous about not knowing how life is going to change when my husband and I welcome our second baby girl into the world. I will be returning to work shortly after I have her and I"m terrified about how the mornings are going to work out. I guess I will stay positive. After all god doesn't put more on you than you can bear. But I think I'm going to have to wake up 2 hours before work to have the girls ready so I won't feel so bad. :-(" -- DENA1986 - 4/15/2010 8:31:40 AM Report Inappropriate Comment