It's the idea that they can be busy cooking supper but writing a kick-ass editorial at the same time; they can clean the loo while negotiating some huge business deal; they can be remembering all the things while simultaneously being fully present for whoever it is needs them most. You get the picture.
These things are technically possible, but the end result will be inconsistent to say the least. Have you ever tried to explain away a flushing noise in the background while maintaining a professional and in-control air?
Only this week my attendance on an international conference call was seamlessly synchronised with burning a couple of pizzas. An efficiency triumph only just eclipsing an earlier moment when I realised that, in fact, I'd spent hours at work at work with a stray Rice Krispie on my shoulder. This sartorial success was a result of trying to get ready for the office at the same time as being a present and loving mother. See?
The reality is that multi-tasking isn't the solution it's cracked up to be. Sometimes, occasionally it's possible - desirable even. However, it's also the reason for driving the wrong way for miles, forgetting the important thing, putting milk in your orange juice, and learning that forgetting to rinse the conditioner makes your head itchy.
But, but? I hear you cry. What are we supposed to do? We want satisfying and rewarding careers, our children and husbands need u,s and our homes turn into hovels before you can say 'where's the Febreze?' if you don't attend to them regularly.
Indeed, there's too damn much to do - and that's the fact of it. If we do manage to claw our way to within hammering distance of the glass ceiling, we'd surely find that someone had forgotten to clean it and that it's our job too.
The answer is Mum Magic - or in other words as many sneaky time and energy saving tricks as you can possibly turn. That way there's a possibility that you might, just, have time to do all the important things you need to.
Here are my favourites:
- Don't make stuff by hand when you can buy it - pastry, mayonnaise, fancy dress costumes and Christmas decorations fall into this category. Home baking for the school fetes falls into this category too.
- Buy non-iron clothing wherever possible. And invest in a tumble dryer. Nine times out of ten if you hang stuff up while it's still warm it'll be flat enough.
- Indelible marker is just as good as sewn-on name tapes. Better even.
- Don't sweat potty training - if it's wearing you out, pack it in for a couple of months. Know that the nappies will be gone by school age whatever you do.
- Don't bother with Christmas cards, sales calls, sieving flour or leg shaving - you'll save yourself so much time. And no one will notice.
- Minimise mess in the first place. Make kids eat sticky stuff in the bath or, if that's a bit impractical, collect the drips.
Here Boy Three is brandishing a lolly, but the drips will be caught by the paper cake case
around the stick - clever
- Make the admin as painless as possible. I don't know about you, but that whole palaver of pressing phone buttons to get to the right bit of the customer service center where you will be tested on a password you set up years ago gives me nightmares. I hate it and I've got better things to do - such as taking a close-up photo of breakfast cereal (see above). So you need to set things up on automatic direct debit wherever possible and get other people to call you if you can.
This post is in conjunction with BritMums for their #MumsMagicTricks Challenge with NatWest.
