Productive Parenting 2: Daycare, Healthy Habits, and More with Tessa Sanders [BEST OF]
Feb 6, 2025
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Tessa Sanders, co-parent of two young children and Jeff Sanders' wife, shares her insights on the chaos of parenting in the modern world. They discuss the challenges of juggling work and childcare amidst a pandemic, including the struggle for reliable daycare. Tessa reflects on adapting family dynamics with the arrival of their second daughter and the bittersweet moments of watching their kids grow. Both emphasize the importance of balance, self-care, and maintaining routine amidst the unpredictable whirlwind of family life.
Navigating the challenges of finding suitable daycare amidst the pandemic has significantly disrupted the family's routine and productivity.
Prioritizing healthy habits like nutrition and exercise is crucial for the parents to maintain their well-being while managing the demands of parenting.
Deep dives
Navigating Childcare Challenges
The transition to finding suitable childcare has been a significant challenge for the family, particularly as the pandemic has exacerbated existing issues. Living in a growing suburb of Nashville limited the availability of daycare spots, resulting in stress and disorganization during the initial months after the birth of the second child. While the family managed through the assistance of relatives, the inability to secure daycare left them feeling overwhelmed and unproductive. Ultimately, finding a daycare 25 miles away provided some relief, but also presented new logistical hurdles that needed to be navigated daily.
The Impact of Commutes on Daily Life
The daily commute has influenced the family's sense of normalcy and productivity, forcing them to adjust their schedules significantly. Both parents share the responsibility of dropping off their children at daycare, leading to a time-consuming routine that can feel unproductive. As each partner drives to various locations, the emotional weight of needing to ensure the children’s well-being adds layers of complexity to their previously more structured days. This new reality often leads to feelings of frustration over lost time, as they grapple with balancing family needs with personal ambitions.
Evolving Morning Routines
The family's morning routines have shifted dramatically, as the unpredictability of children's sleep has altered the structured habits that once defined their early hours. Previously, the parents operated with intentionality in their morning productivity, but the current demands of parenting require flexibility and adaptability. For instance, mornings now often begin with the urgency of dressing, packing, and driving children to daycare instead of personal time for reflection or exercise. Accepting this phase, they are learning to appreciate the moments they can reclaim throughout the day, though adaptations to their past routines remain ongoing.
Maintaining Healthy Habits Amid Chaos
Despite the challenges presented by parenting young children, the necessity of maintaining healthy habits has emerged as a priority for both parents. They actively integrate healthy practices into their daily routines, recognizing that doing so enhances their ability to care for their family effectively. This includes establishing routines around nutrition, exercise, and emotional well-being, which contribute positively to their overall family dynamics. With intent, they have crafted small yet impactful strategies, like incorporating smoothies into their diet, to reinforce the importance of health amidst the busy schedules and responsibilities of parenting.