Most days I find that life is so hectic that I can barely think. It seems as though there is always a ringing phone, a diaper to change, a sibling squabble to settle or some laundry to fold andI just can't finish a single thought. At night I am too fried to do anything more than monitor homework and read bedtime stories. However, this parenting gig requires quite a bit of planning and organization so an inability to think can be rather debilitating.

My solution is to take a shower. Now that my youngest son is 26 months-old and his older siblings can watch him, I can slip off to the shower and have some alone time. My children don't usually bother me in the shower and it leaves me with about 20 minutes to focus on life and what not. This is the time where I decide what needs to be done for the day, which bills are due, who needs their soccer uniform cleaned, etc. I leave my Day Timer on the counter to record notes for that day. It is a system that works for me. My children leave me alone and I get to shave my legs and wash my hair.

Do you have a special time or place where you can focus without small hands tugging at your pant leg?