I used to be very much a Type A personality but have learned to be more spontaneous from my husband (and I can’t thank him enough for it). I too, get lost on the way to the mailbox these days as well, and you know what, I kinda like it. :)

Trent, your schedule is impressive & obviously productive but I hope you take at least a couple days out of a month and toss the scheudle out the window to see what life brings you. Some of the best memories come out of unplanned events.

Rather than living a stressed out life working long days every day you have chosen to make a temporary change so that soon you can work less and spend more time with your childred.

Good for you and keep up the great work.

Thanks for giving us a peek into your daily schedule. For the last few weeks, I’ve been trying really hard to get up earlier. I’m currently able to wake up at 6 am for the last few weeks without having to struggle too much, but when it comes to waking up before 6, my body isn’t able to do it.

I’ve read a slew of resources on waking up earlier to become more productive, but I think I’m putting too much pressure on myself. I think I’ll stick to 6 am for another month or so and then gradually ease into 5:45 am until I hit the ideal 5 am time of waking up.

It’s interesting that you add in meditation/prayer as well. I find that once every so often, when I feel I have some problems on my mind, I lock myself up in solitude and sit in complete quiet for about half an hour and let my thoughts move freely. Usually I have the best and most effective answer as a result :)

Finally, I feel that all of this flack and criticism you’re getting is unwarranted.

Thanks again, Trent!

And how can you wake up without feeling like a glue in your eyes at 4.30am?

Lastly, great post! your schedule is my inspiration.

Learning the side effects of a medication I cannot be without and the reality of having to cope with a high pressure job (that I happen to love) was the kick in the pants that made me realize this it is essential that my daily “wind down” time must be limited. If I sit still for too long, I find I don’t have the energy to get up again and my contribution to my family decreases exponentially.

Also, having raised two children and having two children still at home, I can tell you one thing: you have to do what works for you and your wife, no one else.

Being in daycare doesn’t hurt children. What hurts children is a lack of quality time (not quantity time) with their parents.

Quality time can be something as simple as the drive home from school. I pick up my kids almost every from school and it is that 30-45 minutes together that is their and my highest quality time of the day. They have my undivided attention and it gives THEM the chance to tell me things I might never hear otherwise. It gives me the chance to respond appropriately because it is one time during the day when I am not trying to juggle 100 other things.

Good luck to you. I don’t sleep a lot normally and I find your schedule daunting! It has definitely encouraged me to make better use of my existing time.

Michelle

My reaction was exactly that of a few other posters: Please thank your wife for making this schedule possible!

In terms of the comments about sending your kids to daycare, i don’t see a problem with that. Its like sending a kid to school .. so what is the difference?

If part of what you are doing, is ensuring that they will have a better future in the end .. then you are doing what needs to be done.

None the less, i think the most precious gift that you can give your children is time. That is something that no one else can give and no one can take away.

Goodluck with the new schedule!

Young Investor

http://www.investmentrealty.blogspot.com

You must not be long-time readers of The Simple Dollar. A couple of weeks ago, Trent announced he was quitting a job he enjoys to be a stay-at-home dad and writer. (The post is called “I Quit.”)He has also alluded to his wife getting a job closer to home. This means his children will spend less time in daycare. Relax.

I have no idea why you’re all coming out of the woodwork to criticize him and his wife for putting their kids in daycare in the first place. Are Trent and Mrs. Trent are the first two-career household in American history? I think not.

Finally, I want you to chew on this: I never stepped foot inside a daycare until I was a newspaper reporter in my early twenties. Why? My mom stayed home with my brother and I. Being raised by my mother hurt us more than it helped us.

My day’s gets pretty full too, though not as much as his. However, I’ll take his post in the spirit it was intended, an honest effort to encourage others to utilize time more effectively, even if it is just by relaxing :-)

Trent – thanks for posting this!

And comment #37 — YES YES YES. Everybody wants a baby … they don’t seem to realize they actually give birth to a teenager who is small for a very short time. I love those commercials that say “life comes at you fast,” when the parents are in the front seat and their baby in the car seat changes into a teenager.

Most people don’t want to think beyond the “Hallmark” giggle and bib years.

Guess when you live where it snows you can’t get much exercise. But…gee. I’m sure glad I live where I can walk an hour a day and then am forced to walk around a college campus and climb lots of stairs. Your new post-work lifestyle will not even offer opportunities for informal exercise on the job. Maybe you should work in more physical activity, for the sake of your health?