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A day in the life of a mom of 11 who's up at 6:30 a.m., homeschooling until noon, and freelancing into the late hours of the night

Lisa TannerJul 30, 2023, 17:53 IST

My husband and I are raising 11 kids.Courtesy of Lisa Tanner

With 11 kids, every day is an adventure, but we've found a flexible schedule that works for us.
Having routine blocks we can rearrange allows us to meet the unique needs of each day.

6:30 to 9 a.m.: Mellow mornings

We usually start the day pretty slowly.Lisa Tanner

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Homeschooling fun

I homeschool my children.Lisa Tanner

12 to 12:15 p.m.: Quick cleanup

My kids help out with chores around the house.Lisa Tanner

12:15 to 1 p.m.: A little bite to eat

I use a meal-planning schedule throughout the year to take out the guesswork.Lisa Tanner

1 to 1:45 p.m. Family playtime

We like to play board games as a family.Lisa Tanner

1:45 to 3:15 p.m.: Quiet time

With kids of all ages, it's important that everyone finds some rest time throughout the day.Lisa Tanner

3:15 to 4:45 p.m.: Snacks, screens, and sun

In the fall, we like to make big leaf piles to play in.Lisa Tanner

4:45 to 5:45 p.m.: Dinner prep, laundry, and more tidying up

My kids help with the laundry.Lisa Tanner

5:45 to 6:45 p.m.: Dinner

I have themes for each night of the week for dinner.Lisa Tanner

6:45 to 7:30 p.m.: Family read-aloud and bedtime prep

I read to my kids every night.Lisa Tanner

7:30 to 8 p.m.: Special time

I spend one-on-one time with one of my kids every night.Lisa Tanner

8:30 to 11:30 p.m. (or later): Work time

I tend to do my writing after my kids go to bed.Lisa Tanner

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