Time Management

Everyone's trying to manage their time better these days. "Work smarter, not harder." And Locke and Lola seem to be getting in on the act too. They're now transitioning from two naps a day to one. I guess they thought they'd be able to accomplish more in their busy schedule if they reserved time only once a day for sleeping.

The problem with this efficiency strategy they're promoting is that, although Lola and Locke seem to need less sleep these days, they still sometimes need more rest than one nap provides. So, in the past month or so we've been living in the guessing game of life with twins and no schedule. Most families with one baby or toddler probably live like this all the time. But, with twins, the schedule has been the next best thing to a nanny. So, on most days they take one afternoon nap, with a double nap day thrown in here and there to get them caught up.

The repercussions of this new schedule fall mostly on the positive side. One nap a day means we have more time to do things we want to do: go to the zoo, take long walks around town, run errands, visit the museums, etc. But one nap also means that I only have one break during the day to really get things done: clean house, exercise, shower, blog, etc. So my posting has been even less frequent, but I should have more to post about. Hmmm, a truly double-edged sword.

Another big change in our schedule is that Locke and Lola have begun a Mom's Day Out program one day a week. So now I have five whole hours to do whatever I want to do wherever I want to do it. The first week, I had these romantic notions of dropping them off, then finding a quiet bookstore and reading for a while before making my way to a salon to have a much-needed pedicure. On the way home I'd stop by Target and the grocery store. Once home I'd eat lunch, clean up a bit, exercise, and write a post on the blog. Then it would be time to go pick up Lola and Locke.

The truth is, you can tackle exactly three things on your list in five hours. Any three. Including lunch. I've tried several combinations now. I've gone running, grocery shopped and eaten lunch. I've gotten a pedicure, cleaned house and eaten lunch. I've shopped at Target and the grocery store, and then written a post. But I had to leave to pick up L+L before eating lunch that day. This week I spent most of my "Mom's Day Out" at the dentist. Woo hoo!

But, once again, this change affords more posting material. In fact, there's already been a love interest at school. Lola seems to be the object of desire of one of her classmates named Scout. Scout follows Lola around, talking sweetly to her and petting her. Lola seems to ignore the advances for the most part. Once when I was picking them up, Scout was hovering around Lola and calling her "baby." As I was answering, "Yes, Lola is a baby," Scout leaned in for a kiss right on Lola's lips. It was very cute. I'm flattered to know that there are others that find my little Lola adorable too. Even if it is another little girl. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

So, the fact is our little babies are growing up. They'll be a year and a half this month and it really shows. They're saying more words, they're learning more and more each day, and they're such their own little people. I'm glad we have more awake time now. Even if it means less "me" time. I had plenty of "me" time before Lola and Locke. Now it's all about them.