Because it is. Motherhood is the most important job that you'll ever have. And treating it with the same level of intention, systems, and boundaries you'd give to a serious career doesn't mean you'll lose the heart of it—it means you're protecting that sacred time.
As a former kindergarten teacher turned stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur, I've learned that motherhood is truly work. It’s meaningful, exhausting, creative, and unpredictable. And it deserves respect from others and from ourselves.
I used to have great systems as a teacher, from lesson plans to daily routines. But when I became a mom, all of that went out the window. I struggled with how to organize my life around a tiny human. The reality is, when you don't have systems, you are making a thousand small decisions all day long, and that can really burn you out.
Once I began treating motherhood like the most important job I'll ever do, I stopped waiting for free time to just happen. Instead, I started setting up processes, much like I would when running a business. While I am far from perfect and still deal with curveballs, having a system in place keeps me from feeling like I'm falling apart. This shift allows me to feel more productive and helps me find a place of peace instead of chaos.
My Daily Systems for Peace, Not Perfection
I focus on three key systems that keep me grounded daily, weekly, and monthly.
- The 15-Minute Daily Clean-Up For the longest time, I thought I needed an hour to clean, but with kids, that’s just not realistic. I learned from someone else that even 15 minutes a day goes a long way. I set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on one specific area or "level" of my house. When the timer goes off, I finish what's in my hands and leave the rest for next time. This prevents me from spiraling and keeps my house tidy without overwhelming me.
- Simple and Planned Meals Meal planning is the lifeblood of our home. I aim for at least four planned dinners a week, plus our standing pizza or takeout movie night. I keep pantry staples stocked so I'm never in a bind. A huge time-saver for us is that my kids eat what we eat—no separate meals. Taking 20 minutes a week to meal plan helps our life run so much smoother.
- Morning and Evening Routines My routines are simple and short right now. In the morning, I might grab coffee, do a devotional, or read, and if I have time, have a moment of silence or prayer before the boys wake up. My evenings are just as simple: washing my face, brushing my teeth, and reading a few pages of a book. These routines act as bookends to my day—they help me start fresh in the morning and signal to my brain that it's time for sleep.
Permission to Pull Back
Just like in a workplace, where you would pause smaller, non-essential tasks when a major project is on your plate, you need to do the same in motherhood. Recognizing your capacity is a part of treating motherhood like a job.
Sometimes, when life gets full, you have to let go of the reins a little. For me, that means pausing things like play dates, even though my kids enjoy them. They’ll be fine, and we’ll catch up with friends later.
I also try to never view myself as being behind, even though it can feel like I'm running an invisible race some days. When I let go of that pressure and just focus on the "next right thing," I feel calmer, more present, and more productive in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Motherhood isn't about perfection. It's about presence. Systems aren't meant to box you in; they're there to free you up to do the parts of motherhood only you can do. You have everything you need to show up as the mom you want to be.
Want more like this?
Come hang out on Instagram @whatautumndoes or listen to the full episode of The Motherhood Process wherever you get your podcasts.
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