Talia Felicia is a Chief Possibilities Officer (A.K.A. Event Professional), Graphic Designer and Adjunct Professor at the world’s greatest post-secondary institution (Go Gators!). She has been married to her husband Danny for 19 years and is a mom to Gabriel (15), Noah-Danielle (10) and Liam-Bailey (7).

MORNING

3:45 – 4:30 a.m. For some reason, a few times a week God sees fit to wake me up between 3:45 and 4:30 a.m. If I happen to miss His call then my alarm will go off at 5 a.m.

I am typically the first person up; so, I tiptoe around in the dark, try really hard not to kill myself as I put on my workout clothes, grab my bible and head to the living room to read and pray.

Here’s the real – on the days when I wake up super early I will do my prayer and devotional time, but won’t work out until after 5 a.m. The truth is, I catch up on Youtube videos in peace and quiet until about 5:20 a.m. Then I will get a 20 minute workout in and start the rest of my day.

5:45 a.m. I work on my business and prep for my second shift, later in the evening (that is what I call all the entrepreneurial stuff I do after the day gig is over); or grade papers.

6:45 a.m. The two younger ones are typically up by then, trying to avoid brushing their teeth and I try to avoid them breathing in my face! Some mornings I am mom of the year and cook breakfast for them. MOST mornings they make their own oatmeal or cereal, or Gabe’s ‘world famous eggs’. This is around the time the hubs arises. He usually greets me with a “good morning, babe,” and the kids with a joke.

7:10 a.m. The teenager emerges from his lair in just enough time to start breakfast as his siblings finish. I am typically laughing at them and finishing up my 2nd shift work for the morning. This is also when the annoying “hey Google, set an alarm for 7:42” takes place. This, done by child 2 or child 3, is so that they can chill, talk to each other or watch a show until the very last minute.

7:15 a.m. By this time Noah and Liam have come to their senses and realized dental hygiene is important. Along with washing their faces and putting on their clothes.

7:20 a.m. Gabe is done with breakfast and goes to hang out with the younger two. Liam and Noah have already plotted and negotiated as to who in going to get to watch ‘their show’ this morning. And the morning TV shenanigans commence. Gabe puts up no fight, because as the big man on campus gets to he hang out by himself for a while until school.

I go back to the room to hang out with Danny as he gets ready for work. I am talking his ear off about whatever, but he loves it – ask him!

7:42 a.m. Google ANNOYINGLY alerts the whole house as to what time it is, and the kids get moving to their workstations to begin Digital Academy for the day.

7:45 a.m. By now Daniel is headed to work and I head to my home office to tackle my work day.

8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. When I am not shooing the kids out of the camera frame during Zoom meetings and saying “shhh,” I spend my time planning, designing and solving problems at the day gig.

AFTERNOON

1:30 – 2 p.m. I break for lunch and to help the kids end their day and then head back to work at 2 or 2:30 p.m. just in time for afternoon trainings.

On the days that Daniel works from home – he typically handles the after- school corralling and incessant request for snacks.

2 – 5:00 p.m. Liam and Noah finish their homework, ‘take a break’ which
is really procrastination from their afternoon chores. When Gabe finishes
a little before 3 p.m., he will get a snack and start his procrastination polka dance as he joins in chorus with his younger siblings. Not to worry though…by

4 p.m. everyone comes to senses, because they’ll be asking to go for a bike ride shortly.

Today though at 2:50 p.m. there was not a single protest in procrastination. I hear loud music coming from the younger kids’ room which means that their big brother is in their space playing ‘mentor’ as they clean their room. Yeah, that’s what he calls it. He sits in there for ‘support’ and project manages – ha ha ha!

EVENING

5 p.m. The kids have done their chores – MOST DAYS, made it back from their bike rides and typically Gabe will need to work on some additional homework since he is a high schooler and all (insert tear emojis). I will use this time to call either my mommy or a girlfriend to catch up on the day while I start dinner.

5:45 p.m. Danny is usually home by now and the kids are full-swing into either reading, watching TV or doing whatever. The older two are allowed to play games on their cell phones (not that dog gone X-BOX and NO FORTNITE). Danny and I catch up on the day, or he’ll join in on the conversation with me and whichever bestie I am chatting with.

6:30 p.m. Dinner time! That is if there are no mommy or kid mishaps and if I actually have a dinner plan…cause some days I have NO CLUE.

7 p.m. The kids get ready for bed and usually hang out together in one of their rooms chatting it up about the latest current events; I wish you could hear this stuff. These kids are HILARIOUS. Danny will hang out with them and I often do too, but with my laptop, iPad and cell phone in tow. This is when I start my second Shift.

8:30 p.m. Liam and Noah retreat to their room. I usually hear them talking for another 15 minutes or so and then it is lights out! (Actually, they are sitting in pitch blackness giggling, most nights) Gabe goes to his room to chill.

9:30 p.m. Lights out for Gabe and I finish up my biz stuff for the evening. Danny will generally find some kind of sporting event to watch, while I run a bath and read my book or, you guessed it – watch some youtube videos. I mean, you have a guilty pleasure too; I saw you last week (just kidding).

10 p.m. By now we are beat. Danny starts his night routine and sometimes I am already drooling and in Neverland by the time he is out of the shower. Some nights though we stay up way past our bedtime like we’re still young and dream about plans for the future.

A Note from Talia Felicia:

This is a typical day. Some days I am really structured and other days I am really not. Over the years I have learned not to beat myself up about this. My kids are loved, well fed and in my opinion have a very cushy life. What’s most important – by the grace of God I have managed to keep them ALIVE… Be kind to yourself momma. You are doing GREAT!

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