What do yogurt spills, Wi‑Fi outages, and negotiating Lego peace treaties have in common? They’re the realities of working from home as a mom. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and entrepreneur, Kayla Depoian to chat about how shes able to balance life as a mom of three (including twins) through realistic and flexible systems.
Listen in as we laugh about parenting truths (like catching vomit because … instincts) and talk honestly about what it takes to build a business around your life, not in spite of it. Kayla gives us honest, practical systems for time blocking, managing mental load, meal planning, seasonal scheduling, and letting go of perfection.
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Why “Work From Home With Kids” Isn’t What You Think
When people picture working from home with kids, they often imagine sipping coffee while typing at a sunlit desk while toddlers quietly play with blocks in the background. Kayla and I both laughed and cringed as we highlight how different reality can be.
From toddler demands to chocolate‑chip bribes to negotiating peace treaties during client calls, this lifestyle requires systems, flexibility, and most importantly, self‑compassion.
The Pivot: From Classroom to Entrepreneur
Kayla began her career as a public school teacher with a master’s degree, fully committed to making a difference in the classroom. When she became a mom, her priorities shifted.
She describes staring at her baby after long work days and realizing that while she was there physically, she wasn’t present. That was the moment she decided to build something flexible, meaningful, and sustainable. She wanted to for her family and for her purpose.
Just as she started her transition in March 2020, her husband received a cancer diagnosis. Everything paused. And yet, this hardship clarified what mattered most: presence, family, and intentional work.
Four days after his all‑clear, Kayla launched her business.
The Freedom and the Overwhelm
Leaving the structure of a traditional job brought immediate freedom for her compared to her time as a teacher: hot lunches, bathroom breaks, and flexibility. She also saw a blank canvas that was a bit overwhelming. Kayla said it perfectly, “I felt like a kid skipping school and then realized, wait… what am I even supposed to do with all this freedom?”
Her answer was education: learning, training, experimenting, and slowly deciding what she loved most.
Work‑Life Integration Over Balance
One of the most impactful mindset shifts Kayla shared is this: work‑life integration is more realistic and more peaceful than balance.
Balance implies equal measures of both sides of work and family every day. That’s rarely how life works though. Kids get sick, projects become urgent, and some days, the living room stays messy because the kids needed your attention more.
Instead of aiming for balance every single day, Kayla integrates:
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Time blocking (work time scheduled alongside family commitments)
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Priority lists (separate lists for home and work)
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Daily planning in the morning and reflection in the evening
What a Typical Work-From-Home Day Actually Looks Like
There’s no perfect blueprint here, but patterns help. Kayla shared her method:
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Morning Preparation: Before the kids are awake, she lists priorities for both house and work.
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Time Blocking: She uses her calendar and communicates expectations with her husband and kids.
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Dividing and Conquering: When her husband watches the kids, she works. When they’re together, they have breakfast and talk through the day.
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Evening Reflection: What got done? What still needs attention tomorrow?
Flexibility is key, because some days are project‑heavy while others are family‑focused. That’s the beauty of this career, it’s okay if that fluctuates.
Mental Load: The Invisible Challenge
If you’ve ever felt like your brain is a post‑it note with 47 reminders and no clear order, Kayla gets it. She sets phone reminders not just for chores, but for self‑check‑ins.
It acknowledges that productivity is tied to well‑being, not just task lists. Most caregivers don’t give themselves that permission.
The Power of Themed Days
Rather than treating every day as identical, Kayla themes her week:
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Mondays and Fridays: Meeting blocks
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Wednesdays: Errand day
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Appointments when they fit
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Sunday afternoons: Laundry day
Systems make it possible to build in predictability, without rigidity.
Practical Systems That Work
Here are the systems that Kayla swears by:
Priority Lists — Two of Them
Writing both house tasks and work tasks minimizes the mental tug‑of‑war between domestic duty and business goals.
Time Blocking
Scheduled blocks for work, kid time, errands, and rest. This sets clear expectations for everyone.
Meal Planning
Weekly meals based on schedule demands: quick meals on busy nights, collaborative cooking when energy allows.
Reminders for Everything
From vacuuming to self‑check‑ins, reminders keep things moving.
Involving the Kids
Kids aren’t just passive in the process, as they can learn to participate:
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Helping with dinner
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Matching socks
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Participating in Sunday laundry races
Yes, it’s slower and messier, but it builds confidence, capability, and connection.
Identity & Purpose
Leaving a traditional job often confuses who you thought you were. For Kayla, the components of teaching (like planning, connecting, and anticipating) didn’t disappear; it just evolved. She now teaches in a different context: life, business, and family.
She still plans ahead. She still adapts. And she still experiences joy, now with the added bonus of being present for milestones she would have otherwise missed.
The Big Myth: You Must Choose
There’s a pervasive myth that you must choose either career fulfillment or presence with your family.
Kayla’s message is clear: You can choose both, but some days one side of the scale will be heavier than the other and that’s okay.
Systems aren’t about controlling every outcome. They’re about creating environments (physical, emotional, and temporal) where your priorities can live and breathe amidst the chaos.
Mentioned in this Episode:
The Entrepreneur’s Death Folder: dallasgirlfriday.com/death-folder
Connect with Kayla:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kayla-depoian-873110202
Review the Transcript:
Julie: Welcome back to the System for Everything podcast. Today’s system tip, schedule your deepest focus work for when your kids are quietly occupied. Just kidding. That’s when the wifi goes out. Someone spills the yogurt and the dog throws up on the rug. Today’s guest is Kayla Depo, who began her journey as a public school educator with a master’s in teaching and learning.
She’s passionate about making a difference from day one. When. Motherhood brought her twins along with a toddler. She didn’t slow down. She got creative with little ones by her side and often on her lap. She launched her own business in search of meaningful, flexible work that could grow alongside her family.
Since then, she’s had the joy of supporting small businesses with thoughtful, reliable, and results driven work. All powered by purpose, passion, and a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Sorry, coffee lovers. None of that here. Her mission to help bring big dreams to life, one intentional step at a time. Welcome my friend.
Thank you so much for being here. Hi,
Kayla: I’m so excited to be here. Uh, we were just talking about coffee and tea, and I need you to know I had to go caffeine free because I was so excited to hang out with you that we didn’t need to, uh, put that on your editor today to slow me down. So,
Julie: I love you. I describe you as you are like the human version of a hug.
You’re just absolute sunshine. You are. Truly one of the most encouraging and thoughtful people in my life. I guys, Kayla and I have literally met in person like twice. Yes. Um, and we mostly chat through like dms and stuff. And when my daughter was born, Kayla asked for my address and she sent us from Amazon some bows for Ellie, which.
Ellie wears in basically all of her month photos you’ve seen on Instagram. And she was like, she needs bows to match her mama. ’cause I wear bows all the time and it’s just, yes, it’s love about you. Those little things like that. You are so, so thoughtful and kind. Aw, and I’m so happy you’re here.
Kayla: Gosh. Well, I’m so happy to be here, man.
What do I do now? I’m like blushing.
Julie: Well, first we’re gonna start with the system reboot as we always do a quick reset to start our episode with some humor and humanity. What is your, I need a minute Snack or drink of choice?
Kayla: Oh, I need a minute. You know what? Like I think if I were to actually choose what I wanted, it would be like some kind of good baked good.
But because I’m a mom and I, I have to like make the decision between if I wanna share it with someone or I wanna enjoy it myself. It’s usually like a quick handful of chocolate chips when no one’s watching. Um, or usually like, I mean, no one’s watching. There’s usually one who catches me. And so I’m usually like, Hey, come here.
Like, it’s our secret. Um, but yeah, I would say definitely like a quick grab and go or you have to share.
Julie: What is something you swore you would never do as a parent, but totally caved on?
Kayla: Oh, man. You know, like a lot of things, I think, um, really, I mean, I, I, I think about, oh man, how do I even choose? Okay. So I remember when kids, when kids were little and I would be, you know, babysitting or nannying, which is how I kind of got my way through college.
I remember seeing these moms like, wipe me too, sing off their kids’ noses with their hands and just wipe it on their pants. I was like, I, that’s disgusting. There is no way I’ll do that. And then not only do I do that, but I find myself, like if someone’s heaving, my hands are under them because the bucket’s not close by.
I’m like, when did I, when did I develop that reflex of like, I’ll catch your vomit. Like, when did that happen? Um,
Julie: I was so worried because I’m very like. Squeamish about a lot of bodily function stuff. Like I have just a very sharp gag reflex, like barf very easily. And so that was something I was so worried about going into, like being a mom.
And so many of my girlfriends were like, well, it, it’s your kid, it’s different. And I was like, yeah, here’s the thing though. She’s literally not biologically mine. So what if I don’t have that ingrained in me to like, oh. Yes. Need to clean, and I was so terrified of that. Instantly I was fine.
Kayla: Yep. Instantly.
It’s like this weird instinct that just like kicks in.
Julie: Like it would gross me out if anyone else did it, but like, if she needs to puke in my hands, that’s fine.
Kayla: Motherhead, I think people that’s gonna be the pull quote from this, like, oh, it’s this like magical time. And I’m like, oh yeah, there’s magic. But there’s a whole lot of like, it’s the stickiest job I’ve ever had.
Everything’s gooey and sticky all the time.
Julie: The stickiest job I’ve ever had. Oh my God, that’s so funny. All right. Okay. What is a tiny thing that when it is completed in your house, you feel like you have just won the lottery?
Kayla: Oh, honestly, wiping down the kitchen table. It’s like a tiny little thing. Tiny, but there’s so many people in my house that.
That are constantly eating at the table or having snacks at the table. Like when I wipe it down, I’m like, whew. It’s like a reset for the next phase of the day. And then I would say the second thing is the, the accumulation of socks in my front entryway. I often have more socks in my front entryway than people who live in my house.
I’m like, where do they come from? Do they multiply? So just like clearing the space of getting rid of all these little socks, I’m like, huh. I feel like, I feel like we can, you know, start fresh again. It’s just like, it’s such silly stuff, but yeah, it feels really good.
Julie: Alright everyone, you have met the personality.
Now meet the powerhouse. Let’s jump into the real system of the day because while work from home life might sound dreamy in theory, Kayla shows us what it actually takes to make it function in real life. Here’s my conversation with Kayla on this system for office hours and nap time hustles. Okay. I wanna start with the big pivot.
I mean, you were a classroom teacher with a master’s degree. What made you decide it is time to walk away from this?
Kayla: Ooh. Okay, so it’s gonna get real serious, real fast. I love it. I, uh, had my, my, oh, my first, right? And, and after having a baby changes, you change my prior. I had a kid who was sleeping 12, 13 hour nights, which I was not complaining about.
To be clear, it was amazing. But I wasn’t seeing her hardly at all. I would basically like nurse her, then go to school, then come back, nurse her and put her to bed. And then I would just like stand there and like creepily watch her sleep because I missed her, you know? And uh, so that was, I feel like moms are the
Julie: only ones who can stare at their child sleeping.
And it’s not creepy. It’s not the police song. It’s not, I will be watching you.
Kayla: Yes. It was just like, I love you and I wanna hold you, but I don’t want it to be like mm-hmm. The scene from friends where like, Rachel’s like, I don’t care. I’m gonna wake her up anyways. And then the kids screaming for like a year and a half.
I didn’t want that. So I was just kind of was like, I’m just gonna, I’m just gonna be here. Right. I’m just gonna, you know. And so that was the first step for me. And I told my husband, okay, uh, you know what, I’m gonna do this. I think I’m gonna transition, started getting my resume together around my birthday, which was March of 2020.
And then we all know what happened like the following week. And so then I got stuck and I was like, very funny, why would this happen? And it was a, it was a good thing that I, that I ended up staying where I was because that same season, my husband got a cancer diagnosis and that kind of just spun everything on its side.
And so I had to be the one who was working, I had to be the one holding the fort down while we were working through that. And then after that I went, you know what? I had to, I had to prioritize a lot of other people and a lot of other things over my family who needed me. And yes, I was still able to show up for them, like from a financial and benefit perspective, but I wasn’t physically there the way I needed to be.
And I thought, you know what? I don’t wanna get to the end of my life and go, I wish I hadn’t missed it. I wish I had been there. I wish I could have been more present. And so it was kind of like this like. Jolting awakening. And so when my husband got the all clear, I kid you not four days later, I was like, I’ve got it.
Like Eureka, I’m gonna build this thing. And my husband was like, okay, you’ve done all this stuff for me. Like I’ll, I’ll follow you into the dark. Let’s see what happens. Um, and man, best decision ever to do that.
Julie: So then what were those first few months like after you left teaching?
Kayla: Honestly, it was like. I almost felt like a kid who was skipping school like I was gonna get in trouble.
Like, I mean, this is, so this, this will tell you how hard teaching is and wow. Teachers are buy a gift card for that teacher, man. They are, they’re hardworking people. But I was like, I can go to the bathroom whenever I want. I made a hot lunch and I was like thinking that I was, you know, all that because. I ate a warm lunch and you know what?
I took my time eating it. I didn’t have to slam it down, and I just thought, this is great. And my husband looked at me and said, honey, I’m happy for you, but like, set a higher standard for yourself. Like there’s more out there than just hot lunch. And so then I was like, oh yeah, okay. So I had this like liberation of like, I can kind of make this whatever I want, and then this overwhelm of like, what do I want it to be?
Because there’s almost too many options. And so I found myself constantly diving into training and like learning, learning, learning. I was drinking from the fire hose as I was trying to figure out what was it that I really loved the most, because I could do a lot of things, but I wanted to do things that I enjoyed.
Um, and so when I finally kind of settled out of that phase, it was like, huh? Like just this like relief of, okay. I can see the clearer picture now I can see the picture on the box. I was like putting the puzzle together but didn’t really know what it was gonna look like. And that is like, yeah, that was scary.
Julie: Were you always entrepreneurial or was this more survival instinct?
Kayla: I mean, okay, so there was a moment when I was little that I thought I was gonna be an entrepreneur and uh, I think I bombed it pretty hardcore. I was gonna like open this hair salon and I decided that my first victim would be my brother.
And I cut his hair to look like my dad’s, which was like, you know, a thing that, it’s like a rite of passage as a child. But it was also a, a, a particular moment in my dad’s life because my dad, king of wearing a hat, had no idea he was balding. And I did, oh my God. So I cut my brother’s hair to match my dad’s.
And, uh, that effectively ended my entrepreneurial, uh, dreams right then and there that maybe I, you know, should just stick to, uh, something else. And so. Then when this happened, it was definitely like, this is survival. But as I started going, I realized like those juices were always kind of there. I just hadn’t tapped into them in the way that I was.
So yes, just trying to keep the, keep the, the boat, uh, above the water.
Julie: Totally. A lot of moms are just like parents in general, you know, kind of daydream about working from home, but I mean, it’s not. Always what it looks like on Instagram. It’s not, you know, influencer life. What surprised you the most when you actually started doing it?
Kayla: Oh, it’s definitely not, uh, influencer life. It’s, I think about Jenna Kutcher when I think about this. Like she talks about, um, work life balance would indicate that there has to be like a perfect amount on both sides for it to be balanced, right? And that’s just impossible. Most of the time. There are seasons when you’re more, when more moms going on, you got a flu bug going through the house.
You’ve got extra appointments going on, you’ve got back to school going on. And then on the flip side, you’ve got live launches that are happening. You’re on more podcast episodes. It’s the end of the months. You’ve got reports and invoices, like it’s constantly doing this. And so I realized very quickly that it’s more of like an integration of those two and knowing that it’s okay.
There are gonna be seasons where, or even days or weeks when, when the scale is tipped from one side to the other, and you’re going to have to choose, is it okay with me if my living room’s a disaster this week? Yep. I’m gonna pick my favorite room in the house and that’s the room I’m gonna clean and the rest is gonna have to be messy because it’s a busy work week.
You know? And so I, I think that was a surprising thing for me and a good exercise in me learning to kind of like let go a little bit. And go with that flow a little more with, as someone who loves systems, that was like an exercise in and of itself. I was like, okay, we have to just let things move in the way that they’re moving.
We’re all going down the river together. It’s all gonna have the dirty laundry’s gonna come with us. Like everything’s just like everybody’s coming. We’re gonna get to the destination. It’s just not gonna be the way that the, you know, Instagram life has painted it to be. And that’s okay.
Julie: So I think definitely you are saying, ’cause you’ve been doing this for years now and mm-hmm.
Had multiple pivots. So I think would you probably agree that this life wasn’t built on, it’s something you’ve exactly planned, but more something you piece together one season at a time.
Kayla: Yes, and I think that that’s okay because I think saying that I built something that was intended to be means that it’s done right.
And I don’t think that it, that I want it to be done. I want it to continue to grow and evolve with my life, because right now my kids are in this very needy phase, thank goodness. We’re past the diapers and we’re past the potty training, but, but there’s still a lot of mom, mom, mom, mom, that that’s needed.
They’re gonna be moving into a new phase consistently where they’re gonna need a little less of me and I’m gonna be able to change what I’m doing and my involvement in work’s gonna look different. We might be able to travel a little bit more because right now, ooh, that’s like, you know, we drive out to Grandma and Papa’s and back and it’s, that’s enough of a, of a trip because it takes that long to pack all the snacks and all the everything.
Um, and so I want it to continue to evolve and pivot with our seasons. Um, and to just yeah, fit our life in the way that it’s meant to, because I
Julie: think that’s the beauty of this role. You know, it’s one thing to, to dream about working from home and another thing entirely to do it with tiny people in your house.
Kayla: Mm-hmm.
Julie: So, I wanna get specific, like, what does a typical quote unquote, typical day look like in your house right now?
Kayla: Yeah. Well, I will say because my husband is a solopreneur, we have unique schedules where he has some days mm-hmm. That he works the second half of the day into the evening. Okay. And so I have more kid coverage and I’m able to do more meetings or things like that on those days versus other days where he’s out of the house, he’s teaching all day.
And so I’m in a work the evening or I’m in a work there. Quiet time, nap time, uh, situation. But I would say almost every day I can, I can guarantee you that I’m gonna get up. I’m gonna get all my ducks in a row for me. ’cause I have to do that before everyone else kind of starts doing their thing. I’m gonna make my list of what are my top priorities today?
And there’s gonna be two lists. ’cause there’s a house list and there’s a a work list. And then I’m going to determine what’s. What’s the highest priority and what order am I going to tackle those in? Sometimes I’m going down this list and then this list. Other times I’m jogging back and forth between the two, and then at the end of each day, I look at the day and I go, okay, what did I accomplish?
What’s hanging over me that needs to be tackled first thing tomorrow? Should I do that again tonight just to get that off of my plate, or should I make a different intentional plan for tomorrow? And so every day really is a little bit different, but the best system that I’ve found is time blocking. I block, this is when I’m working, this is when I’m with the kids, you know?
So that way I know that when I’m working my husband’s with the kids, so that way they’re not just like. Flying solo. Um, that is not, that’s not how I roll. And that could be chaos in itself. So I always have to make sure that I block that time. And so that’s on our calendar. My husband knows, oh, okay, I’ve got the kids during this time.
And then I sit down and I’m like, okay, self, we’ve got this time. What am I gonna get done in the order that it is? And when you’re serving multiple clients, there’s competing deadlines. So those priorities have to be considered on that list as you’re working through it. I, I wish I could say like, here’s the perfect plan that it’s each day, but each day of the week is
Julie: just different.
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Grab yours today@dallasgirlfriday.com before life throws a plot twist. Are there any non-negotiables in your daily rhythm that help you? That help things run smoother, or at least make them feel a little less chaotic?
Kayla: Yes. Um, I mean, for starters, there has to be like that one-to-one connection with each of my kids.
If I fly out of bed, fly, you know, into the bathroom, get myself ready for the day, and my husband’s making breakfast and eye bolts into my office. It’s chaos down there, and my mind is not where it needs to be because I’m, I’m wanting to help and I’m wanting to run down in comfort. And so if I start the day with, okay, we’re all together, we’re gonna have breakfast together, or I’m gonna read a story just like ground everybody, and we talk about the schedule together.
Okay? So today, mommy’s gonna work for until lunchtime. And Daddy’s gonna do X, Y, and Z. You guys are gonna go to the park or you’re gonna go to the library, you know, and then after that, here’s what’s gonna happen, you know, oh, it’s the farmer’s market today. Does anyone wanna go do that? And we kind of, we, we actually write it out together so that everyone knows what to expect for that day, and then we kind of divide and conquer.
I love that. Um, and so it’s a lot like, like what I would do in my classroom, which was like morning meeting, like just get everyone connected and then we all go and fly our own ways.
Julie: How do you manage that mental load?
Kayla: Oof. I’m gonna be a thousand percent honest with you because I know that there’s someone listening to this who’s like, please don’t just say that.
Like, I’m the only one who’s struggling with managing the load. Uh, and the truth is, it’s hard. There are seasons when I’m like, okay, you know what? I feel like I’ve got it.
Julie: My, my answer to that would’ve been like, I don’t. I don’t manage it.
Kayla: Yeah. I mean, there’s seasons when I feel like I’ve got it and when I say I’ve got it, I mean, I’ve got it better than when I don’t have it.
Yeah. But then there’s also seasons when I’m like, whoa, I, I don’t know how I’m gonna, I don’t know how I’m gonna make it all happen. And I think as, as parents and as small business owners, we also have a lot of, a lot of that like. Guilt that kind of rides around with us, right? Yeah. You wanna be pursuing a passion of yours.
You also wanna pursue motherhood, and sometimes it doesn’t feel like you can have both at the same time. So it’s stressful. And then while you’re in the, in the middle of managing all of that. Like you said, the dog throws up on the carpet or the power goes out because it’s been storming half of the summer here, it’s storming today.
Um, and now you’re trying to figure out, okay, can I get a hotspot or can I, you know, is there an area that didn’t lose power by me? I could go to an indoor playground and let him play and work or like, you’re constantly having to pivot and some days you get to the end of the day and it’s just like, wow, that was a lot.
And I don’t know if I’ve checked in with myself at all. So I’ve actually, like, if I were to show you my phone, it might overwhelm you. I have, I set reminders for certain things that I need, and it’s like, no, I love that every task in the house has a reminder that goes off a certain day of the week. So I know like, oh, it’s time to clean the bathroom, or it’s time to run the vacuum, just like otherwise I won’t.
I’ll put it off for too long. But one of the things on that list is just to check in with me, like, how am I doing right here, right now? Am I hungry? Am I, you know, do I need a hug? Like, what do I need that’s missing in my day? So then I can schedule that. If you ever check
Julie: in and you need a compliment, you just text me.
I got you.
Kayla: I would love that. I think we need to have a mom group chat of like all kinds of moms who are just like, Hey, or even just friends who, who are just working hard, who just need like a little positive. You’re killing it, you know, because yeah, we’re so good at giving it to other people that we’re not always good at giving it to ourselves or checking in with ourselves.
We’re worried about taking care of everyone else all the time, but like, Hey, you have to check in with yourself. Otherwise, it does. It gets to be a lot. And yeah, that meant a load. You need to talk about that more.
Julie: Do you theme your days at all? Like are there certain days that are just work or there, do you try to stack all your appointments on one day of the week or is it kind of just more free flowing as it comes?
Kayla: I would say so right now with my availability, I try to keep meetings, uh, certain hours on Mondays and then certain hours on Fridays because those are the best chunks of time where I know my husband doesn’t have to fly out the door to get somewhere. He is working from home, so he goes downstairs. So there’s a little bit of flexibility there.
So I try to keep my meetings on those days. And then, uh, Wednesday is like our good run errands day, because there’s not. Going on on that day, right? You’ve got your marching orders. Monday, Tuesday, you went out and crushed it. Thursday things are gonna pop up. And Friday you’re wrapping it up Wednesday. Hey, I can run to the grocery store.
Hey, we, you remember those library books that like, we keep getting emails about that we need to return. Let’s go do that now. Um, and then same thing with appointments. Appointments usually land on like a Monday afternoon because that’s the best day to get it done. It’s the most often like open day because nobody wants to start their Monday at the dentist.
But sometimes it doesn’t work that way. Right. Sometimes like my husband is, uh, he’s a music teacher. He was supposed to have his recital last weekend. It got rained out and so we had to pivot and I was like, let’s just do it at our house this weekend. So, you know that I was running to the store on a not Wednesday to get a whole bunch of stuff to bake cookies and muffins and stuff.
’cause like now we’re hosting this thing. Um, and so like you kind of have to. Make space. But yeah, I, I try to theme it so that I get it done. And then Sunday afternoon, baby, we tackle that laundry. And I’ll tell you what, like I, I know there are some people who wash it every single day, and those are queens to me.
I don’t know how you do it. But at least in this season, I can get away with Every Sunday I just wash like four loads and then we have a party. Yeah, I recruit everybody. I’m like, the more people to get in on it, the better the kids have races who can put away all the things faster, who can match the most socks like and like, yes, there’s probably fighting sometimes or somebody gets mad because they lost, you know?
But we’re just trying to have fun, you know, because otherwise I’m alone watching friends pairing socks up too late. And then can’t put it away ’cause everyone’s asleep or I’m trying to creep in their rooms again. There I am in their room, you know? Um, but yeah, I just try to make the best out of it.
Julie: Any other systems for cleaning your chores?
Kayla: Yes. So like I said, I have those reminders that go off.
Julie: Please remind me, how old are your girls?
Kayla: Uh, so my two youngest, they’re twins. They’re three. And then my oldest is six. And I’ll tell you what, like the sooner you can get them involved, the better. Yeah, it’s not, and they like doing
Julie: it.
Kayla: Yes, they do. I mean, okay, it’s gonna, I
Julie: mean, it’s gonna take longer, but over the span of your lifetime, it’s gonna take less time because then hopefully as a teenager, you’re not every single day being like, make your bed.
Make your bed.
Kayla: Okay. Well, full disclosure, I make my bed like twice a year.
Julie: Oh my God. Me too. I actually, that’s something I, I. I get it why people do it, and I get it. It’s very nice to get into, you know, after our housekeeper comes and changes our sheets and makes our bed, it’s very nice to get into that bed.
It’s very nice at a hotel room to get into that bed. But no, I’m just not gonna do it every day. I’ll never be that person.
Kayla: No, I’m, and I always laugh because they’re like, oh, the most successful people make their bed every day. And I’m like, there are a lot of other things that I’m doing. I make my bed.
Like if there’s a birthday party or like the queen is coming.
Julie: Yeah. Like if someone’s coming over. For sure.
Kayla: Yes. Yep.
Julie: All right. What is your go-to dinner strategy?
Kayla: Okay, so dinner is kind of that hard time of day where everyone’s exhausted, right? Yeah, I’m tired. I’ve been up early, I’ve gotten a lot done. The kids are starting to get cranky ’cause they’re exhausted from their day.
So I try to break up my dynamic duo between, you know, trio really between the three kids and I just take one, take one kid with me to break that up. I bring that one with me and they sit on the counter and we cook together, and it’s a really fun one-on-one time. And then the other two have like a different dynamic than now have to work out.
So there’s a little less chaos over there for them. Mm-hmm. And so then the one that I have in the kitchen with me, we are cooking together and we’re talking Eleanor’s now sick. So she’ll start helping me. Like she’s very proud that she’s now able to cook like the ground beef. You know, she. She needs some help.
She’s definitely not like doing it on her own yet, but like it’s a cool thing for her to see where she’s putting the carrots in like the, the big pan and we’re starting to make like a roasted chicken or maybe don’t let them help with the seasoning. I learned the, the hard way that, that is, that is rough.
Um, especially because the holes are larger on one side than the other. Uh, we had very garlicy chicken once very garlicy like friends didn’t wanna come over. We were so garlicy. But you know what? We didn’t really get sick. Oh my. Which was cool.
Julie: Probably got no mosquito bites for a month.
Kayla: Like, like the kind of garlic that you like sweat it and you’re like, self grass.
Yeah. We’re really cool. We’re a, we’re a party man. But yeah, just breaking that up and having someone join in. And then I also, I, I plan out the meals for the week, so I, I’ll look at the days and I’ll go, okay, so Monday night we have dance. I need something kind of quick and easy on that night. You know, Tuesday is wide open.
We can make something that takes a little longer. And so I plan that out and then I let each person pick a meal. So with five of us in the house, Ooh, that gets me through most of the week. And then I only really have to pick two more days. Yeah. And then I build my grocery list based on that. So that way I am not.
Wasting more food because that’s something that can happen really easy in houses too. And we, I mean, I got like the pamphlet about composting and then I, I got on that board and now I’m all excited about that and, and, uh, making sure that we’re using our food. So I’m like, oh, I’m, I got cilantro, but I’m not gonna use the whole bunch.
I guess I’m gonna have to make two taco themed meals to use all the cilantro Sad day. Right? Like, and so like, I try to plan ahead so that we’re reducing our waste and I know what to expect. But I have been told because of that, if there was ever alien, an apocalypse, there’s nothing in my fridge. Come, come the end of the week.
Like, and the joke in our house is when you open the door and it’s extra bright in there, it’s time to go to the grocery store because like the shelves are empty. But I’ll tell you, because of that, I can wipe down the fridge before the next load of groceries come in because it’s nice and clean. So like, I dunno, maybe it’s crazy.
Maybe it’s genius. I don’t know.
Julie: I love how much intention goes into your day, even when it’s messy. Um, but I also love, I I, I know how that so many, so many parents out there wrestle with identity when they leave a traditional job. How has this lifestyle shift changed the way you, you see yourself? Do you still identify as a teacher?
I mean, I know you homeschool, but has that part of you evolved into something else?
Kayla: That’s a really good question. I feel like. I feel like because of how much life has changed since then, I still find myself being like, so who am I? You know, like, like kind of just trying to find myself like, girl, don’t go to the store and try to buy, buy clothes right now.
I was like, okay. So it’s crop tops, and then it’s like matronly, like, you know, outfits. I’m like, where, where do we fit in this season of life? You know, like, what clothes am I supposed to wear? Wait a minute. Are we wearing Crocs with socks? Like that was like a ew. That was like a sin. Like, is that cool Now?
Julie: Um, if you step in a puddle, wouldn’t your socks get wet? Gross.
Kayla: Exactly. I don’t know. I don’t get it. I was all for it when it was like big hoodies and stuff like that. But like figuring out your style as a mom who works from home. You know, like even dresses, I’m like, I have to wear shorts under there.
Somebody’s lifting my dress in public on accident, you know, figuring that out and just trying to determine my role. It’s, it’s very fluid. I’m still kind of piecing it together. But yes, I definitely still identify with that teacher in need because teachers have to have strong systems. They’re in a building for a very.
I mean, it, it’s a long day, but it’s also very short and there’s a lot that has to be accomplished during that time. And so there’s that piece in my brain that will never stop planning ahead and looking ahead and pivoting. Um, and even now we have the opportunity to homeschool. And that’s been, oh, that’s been so cool.
I mean. Don’t get me wrong. There’s days when it’s like, is this a good fit? Because it’s hard. Yeah. But then also, like my daughter read a book for the very first time and I got to see her do it and I didn’t miss it. Oh. And I bawled like a baby, and then I embarrassed her, but I was like, this is the coolest thing, you know?
Um, and so like, it’s amazing to get that opportunity. And then also to be a part of our, our community, we have a hybrid model, so she still gets days where she’s in the classroom too, and that’s really cool. Oh, that’s interesting. Okay. Then I get to let her fly. So she goes two days a week and she gets to fly there and she has her friendships and she gets to bring her lunchbox and her backpack and kind of gets that same full classroom experience.
And then the other two are at home and they’re like, well, this is weird. So now what do we do
Julie: there? There’s this myth. You have to choose between being a present parent or being professionally fulfilled. Yeah. What would you say to a parent who is in the early stage of figuring out how to do both?
Kayla: It is a lie that you have to choose. It’s a total lie. You do not have to choose, I would say. You get to, you get more dis, more decision in that than you think you do.
Instead of feeling that, that pressure that you have to chase something you love or someone you love, build something that lets you have both knowing full and well, that some days it’s gonna be more of your career, and some days it’s gonna be more of being a parent. But give yourself that permission to choose what’s best for you because.
It is true what they say, that it goes really fast. It does. And I don’t say it to be like, you know, a downer, but it it, they do, they grow and they change so fast and you don’t wanna miss that. Um, and I, I, I do take peace in the fact though. I had someone who once told me, you’re gonna be friends with your kids more as adults than you will when they’re kids.
And I was like, I dunno why that was so shocking to me. That I was gonna have like grownup friends someday and I was gonna have them for a really, really long time. But their little, yeah, my mom’s my best friend hand wrinkles and their cute little stick figure pictures and all of that was only gonna be for a little while.
And so if you want both, you can choose both and, and go against, go against that grain. Don’t be afraid to, to do something that makes a lot of people go, I’m sorry. You what? Are you crazy? Yeah. Be crazy. Be crazy. It’s fun.
Julie: Kayla, thank you so much. Please tell everyone where they can find you online, how they can work with you.
Kayla: Yes, come hang out with me on LinkedIn. It’s the best place to chat with me. Send me a message. Tell me what you do. Tell me your story. I’d love to just to get to know you and support in any way that I can.
Julie: Uh, all right, everyone, before we go, it’s time to close out with one of our favorite segments. This system shut down.
Sometimes the best way to end a conversation about systems is with a little bit of chaos that makes them necessary. Today’s fast five is things you have said on a work call that you never thought you’d say, because when you work from home with kids, professionalism comes with a side of gold fish crackers and mild panic number one.
Can you hold on one second? Someone just licked the dog. Number two, I ignore the screaming. It’s just bath time. My child is not being waterboarded. Number three. I’m gonna go ahead and turn off my camera before the nudity escalates. Number four. Yes, I’m muted. My daughter is trying to teach the cat how to dance.
And number five, I’m still with you. Just negotiating a peace treaty over Legos. Proof that even in the most chaotic moments, you’re still showing up. Building something meaningful and keeping everyone mostly alive. Kayla, thank you for letting us peek behind the curtain and reminding us that there’s no perfect system, just the one that works for you right now.
If today’s episode made you laugh, cry, or feel a little more seen in your daily juggle, send it to a fellow parent who gets it, and we’ll see you next time on the system for everything.
