Working Mom Wednesday

1.What do you do and what kind of hours do you work?
I'm a toy designer and my official title is Director of Product Development. I manage a really small team in the US and my day is spent making corrections & new art packages on Disney licensed toys and some Nickelodeon and Dreamworks characters to break it up. Our team is so small that we ship our own boxes, order our own supplies and generally wear many hats.

We send our art/corrections to Asia R&D teams in Hong Kong & Vietnam and they work on our samples and send photos at the end of their day for our critique.

My hours are 10-6pm with an hour in the evening spent with Asia R&D teams to discuss any questions or issues.

I used to travel to Asia 3 times a year but fortunately I've managed the same Asia teams for so long that I haven't had to go as often since I started a family. In fact, I've only gone once! I love the travel portion but since starting a family I am so grateful for the flexibility my boss has offered.

2. What's a typical day like for you?
6:30 - prayer followed by yoga, in other words I express thankfulness for my wonderful life and then streatch to get rid of all the aches and pains of pregnancy that set in over night.

7:15 - go for 2 mile walk

The above is BEST CASE SCENARIO and represents my perfect morning which is occasionally interrupted with earlier waking baby, or helping husband with baby when bottles are not washed, changing a diaper, all things which throw me off schedule which just means I do less of the workout.

During the 2 mile walk husband and baby join for a round or two. This makes the walk go for 45 to an hour where as I could do 2 miles in 30 minutes. I love walking with them, it's really the best part of my morning. Sometimes baby is in a bad mood but we do our best to cheer her up and I enjoy seeing all the wild birds around the lake and talking with my husband.

8 - 9:45 - eat breakfast and get ready for work

10-6pm - work

6:15 - Again, best case scenario, many times I leave well after 7 :(
Come home to rescue stay at home husband from the ravages of baby wrath as he gets dinner ready. Spend time with her until 8pm bedtime

8-10 - My time with husband and/or me time

3. Do you have any hobbies? What do you do for "me" time?
Read books, blogs and blogging sorry that's all I got, I probably waste most evenings of me time watching TV or movies in a brain-dead stupor while eating dessert.

4. How do you fit blogging into your schedule?
After baby goes to bed at 8pm

5. What's your best working mommy tip?
Don't nag stay at home husband. He's my best friend, my partner, friend not foe (or food if you're watching Finding Nemo - sorry bad joke). If I come home to a disaster, no dinner made and happy or wound up baby I just know he's had a tough day and I don't bitch about it. I also make myself eat a snack every day at 5pm before coming home so I don't fly in the door like a witch. They haven't seen me all day, it's important to come home and be cheerful, I do my best.