In this day and age, us parents are expected to juggle a multitude of duties at once. Carpooling on a conference call, breastfeeding while blogging, clipping coupons as we grocery shop, addressing baby shower invitations at soccer practice…we’ve all been there.
But when should we be concerned?
Recently I have become aware of some safety neglect on my part when it comes to multitasking. Take the bathroom for instance. I have learned the hard way that one should never EVER do anything else (like pick up a bathroom towel from the floor and clean the shower glass) while a Q-tip is inside of the ear. Very bad and painful things can happen.
Why just this morning I was reading my OK! mag in the loo and soon found myself organizing my make up tray, clipping my toenails and emptying the trash can…all mid-business! Yes, I’m worried too.
Society has burned it into our brain that we can, we need, we must do more than one thing at a time. There shall not be a singular focus. Ladies, you can do more! Be more!
Do you feel the fractured pull?
I’m looking at it as a message from God herself:
Keep it simple, stupid, and no one will get hurt.
Your turn: Are you constantly multitasking?
Tell me about your maximum multitasking moment.
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Singletasking is hard enough, let alone anything else.
No. Not a multi-tasker unless breathing + sleeping/eating/walking = mutli-tasking. I have a hard enough time doing just one thing well. But I really admire those who can.
I have done the q-tip ear poke. Ouch. While I do tend to multi-task, I have never multi-tasked in quite the way you described. You have a gift.
I broke my hand last winter trying to play a game with the girls while I was playing dinner. I’m sure it also had something to do with all the caffeine I downed that day, too, but, let’s blame it on multi-tasking.
OK I will tell you about my ultimate multi-tasking moment…. but I must warn you it’s not overly pleasant.
I work as a 911 dispatcher for an ambulance company. Up until fairly recently this company only staffed one dispatcher on the weekends. Since I stay home with the kids most of the week, this was usually me. Multi-tasking is ALWAYS a huge part of my job. I need to remember where 30 ambulances are, take all incoming calls, monitor 4 different radio frequencies, and connect incoming ambulances with the hospital all at the same time.
This “skill” was put to the test one afternoon when we got a call for a 7 year old boy that had been crushed by a stone that fell off a stone wall. I had to talk to the police department, dispatch the ambulance, give them directions, and give the poor mother CPR instructions for her son. It was THE most tense 5 minutes of my life….
When I get frazzled with the house or the kids, I try to remember what I do every day at work….. at least at home no one’s life depends on my next split second decision (most of the time anyway )
Was Raehan playing Mommy Mommy Pants on Fire when she broke her hand?
New to your blog but wanted to share a mom multitaking moment – I had to exclusively pump for my baby during the first 8 weeks of his life and I learned quickly how to simultaneously hold the bottle with my left hand and feed him in his carseat on the kitchen table while bracing the double Medela pump with my knees pressed up against the table, eat my morning bagel and one-handed type email replies with my right hand. I did that for 8 weeks until my baby learned to latch on and have never pumped since!
I am constantly multi-tasking while teaching so I guess while I am at home I only can do one thing at a time. I can barely switch radio stations while driving or toast bread while talking on the phone. Work burns me out.
I hear ya too and I dislike it. I always try to stay on one project or job!
I end up getting things done, but I prefer to do one project or job at a time. It becomes pure mania if not and What the heck am I doing clipping my toenails in the middle of house cleaning???????!!!!
Funny – I wrote about my multi-tasking day:
http://hotfessional.blogspot.com/2007/07/well-duh.html
Ree –
The Hotfessional
Multitasking is my way of life.
Ah, the bathroom multitask… yes, I am guilty. Reading, cleaning the floor, the wall or the sink; reloading the TP, and picking stuff out of the rug all while sitting there….
You just love Real Simple because they gave you that cute bag when you crashed their party!
:rofl: I’ve been getting shit all week for blogging mid bizness. I’m glad I’m not the only one keeping busy on the commode!