It’s 3 p.m., and I’ve just pulled into the carpool line to pick up my two older children from school when a client calls. We’re in the middle of negotiating a multi-six-figure deal, so I take the call.
We discuss the big picture of the project, mainly consisting of a new brand identity and website for their organization. As we’re going over the finer points, the school bell rings, and the kids start rushing out.
“Can we revisit this later, Jack?” I ask. “The kids are getting in the car.”
“No problem,” he says, “I’ll hit you up on Slack with my final comments, and you can get back to me later.”
He pops off the line as I kiss the kids and get the scoop on the day’s happenings in third grade and kindergarten.
On the way home, I call one of my team members, who I know focuses most of her working time in the afternoons, when the neighborhood babysitter comes over after school.
“Hey, Jill, can you run some quick edits on that contract? I have a lot of kid stuff going on this afternoon.”
“Sure thing,” she says. “I’m on now until 5 p.m. and then again after 8 p.m.”
After an active afternoon of piano lessons, running in the sprinkler, and a doctor’s visit for my 18-month-old with an ear infection, we sit down to family dinner, a nonnegotiable daily event in our house.
“Mom, what kind of website are you making now?” my 6-year-old
