We are two full-time working parents raising two little girls while juggling daycare drop-offs, work calls, sick days, and everything in between. It’s not always graceful, but it works. Here’s how we’ve found our rhythm.
Our Week at a Glance
Monday through Friday is for work and daycare. Weekends are our family recharge time. We’re both committed to showing up fully for our jobs and for our kids—but we’re also realistic about how much can fit into a day.
One of our non-negotiables? A Saturday “Parent Huddle”—we sit down for 30–60 minutes every weekend to review the week ahead, make adjustments, and divide responsibilities. This simple routine is the glue that keeps us aligned.
Mornings: A Structured Cute Mess
Our day starts around 6:30am. I get myself ready first, then wake up our older daughter, Chloe, and get her started on breakfast while I finish up. Claire, our youngest, gets up last—about 10–20 minutes before we need to head out the door.
We’ve set up our entryway as a launch zone: gloves, shoes, jackets—everything has a place by the door. It keeps things calm and efficient. Mornings feel upbeat, not chaotic—just a little bit of “go” energy because it’s a school/work day.
Our Workday Flow
Michael and I both work full time, but our schedules have some flexibility. I have Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off for admin time, and a virtual morning once a week—so I usually handle daycare drop offs, kid’s doctor appointments etc. Michael does the daycare pickups.
After work, he heats up dinner while I do bathtime and bedtime. Then he tackles the dishes. Sometimes we’ll watch a show together—but honestly, we usually just do our own thing to wind down.
When the Kids Get Sick
Sick days are hard. We triage the schedule—who has meetings, who’s more flexible, who can take a shift. Michael tends to have a bit more flexibility, but my partial days off give us wiggle room. Still, our backup babysitters are essential. We keep at least one or two people on speed dial for moments like these.
Systems That Keep Us Sane
- Shared Google Calendar = critical
- Saturday Planning Huddle = absolutely essential
- Divide by Preference: Michael handles dishes; I do bathtime. It’s not 50/50 every day, but it balances out over the week.
- Monthly Cleaning Service: worth every penny.
- Grocery Shop as a Family: every Saturday.
- New House Manager: helps with laundry. Game changer.
We try to simplify wherever we can. I don’t always do the Pinterest-perfect daycare projects but we are there for every daycare event. That’s okay. Sanity first.
Final Thoughts
It’s not about perfection. It’s about rhythm, teamwork, and systems that flex with life’s curveballs. Every couple will have their own flow—but if you’re figuring it out like we are, we hope this gives you a little permission to do what works for your family.