On principle, I’m no fan of multitasking. ? I find it distrating and frustrating at best, and research is starting to bear out its detrimental effect on our ability to focus and work through complex problems. ? Is this the real cause of “mommy brain”, simply that our attention is so consistently diverted away from what we are doing? ?

But surely, I thought, there must be a bright side to this fragmented way of working. ? Something positive must come from this split focus on (at the very? least) house and child. ? Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

• Sometimes you just need a break. ? (Hence the “15 minutes” advice.) ? When the laundry (or the exam) is getting the best of you, here’s a hungry baby to give you a wonderful excuse to shift gears and release relaxin.
• Sometimes this is a reminder to me to include Lucy in what I’m doing rather than trying to keep her? distracted with something else. ? Then she can reap the double benefit of mommy time and play time, while learning about how whatever I’m doing is done.
• Most (and I emphasise most, not all) of the housework can get done this way. ? Keeping track of it can be a challenge, but washing dishes doesn’t? really? require full attention to start with. ?

On the other hand, I am convinced that there is something important about being present in the moment. ? Even to the dishes. ? So I guess at this point, it’s just a matter of being present in each moment–briefly. ? And letting the laundry or the lawn go for a few minutes, rather than allowing it to distract from precious time with the people we love.