Why I’m Always Five Minutes Late and Honestly Don’t Care Anymore
If you’ve ever seen me barreling into a clinic holding a toddler with one arm, a feeding pump with the other, and a backpack unzipped and trailing medical tubing behind me like a sad parade float—hi. Yes. That was me. I wish there was a book about time management for medical moms, but until then, I put together some of my best tips.
But just so you know… I’m always five minutes late. Sometimes ten. Occasionally thirty.
Not because I’m flaky.
Not because I didn’t plan.
But because this life is a circus with no ringmaster.
I Used to Think I Was Just Bad at Time Management
I really believed that.
So I did what every Type A mom does when she’s drowning—I made checklists. I set alarms. I laid out outfits the night before. I prepped pump feeds and laminated schedules and color-coded appointment folders.
And still?
We’d end up late because my kid had a meltdown, pukefest, or blowout. Or I was on hold with insurance for 42 minutes to approve a medication we’ve already been using for a year.
Or, like one especially glorious morning, I had to clean out PUDDLES of reflux puke from my child’s car seat and try to get him changed in the trunk using nothing but lysol wipes, baby wipes, and prayers. (and of course our extra outfit was too small. What a sight we were rolling into therapy 15 minutes late.
Time management? I’m an expert.
The problem is my time gets hijacked by chaos on the regular.
5 Real Systems That Help Me Stay (Somewhat) Functional
(a.k.a. What Time Management for Medical Moms Actually Looks Like)
This isn’t pretty. It’s not Pinterest-y.
But it works just enough to get us through the week.
1. I Outsourced My Brain to My Phone
My phone tells me:
- When to leave
- When to dose meds
- When the therapy eval is
- When to follow up on that DME order that’s been “processing” since 2023
I have:
- Alarms for meds
- Timers for feeds
- Calendar blocks titled things like:
“DO NOT FORGET THIS APPOINTMENT OR YOU WILL CRY”
I even have a recurring weekly reminder to restock the car stash—because past me will absolutely forget to replace the wipes after the last diaper disaster.
🛠️ If your brain has 87 tabs open and at least one is playing music you can’t find, the Medical Mom Reset Workbook can help. It’s built for real life—with all its interruptions. grab the Medical Mom Reset Workbook. It’s like a life raft for the executive dysfunction spiral.
2. I Pad the Time, Then I Pad the Padding
If I think it’ll take 15 minutes? I give us 40.
Not to be early. To be realistic.
I’m factoring in:
- Sudden poop
- Broken syringes
- Tube extensions tangled in the car seat
- Last-minute portal message with new instructions
- Someone refusing to wear pants (kid or me, tbh)
When we leave “on time,” it means we’re okay… for now. Miraculous.
3. My Car Is Basically a Mobile Med Room
I keep a fully stocked emergency kit in the trunk with:
- A backup G-tube kit
- Oral med syringes
- Electrolyte drinks
- Ziploc bags (don’t ask—just trust me)
- An extra shirt for me, because you only get puked on in public
- Snacks I pretend are for my kids, but let’s be real…
I’ve done emergency G-tube site cleanups in a Target parking lot.
I’ve flushed meds with bottled water on a playground bench.
I once gave a tube feed in the dark using my phone flashlight and a prayer.
📋 Want to make your own Go Bag That Saves Your Sanity?
I’m creating an Emergency Bag Checklist—join my list to get early access when it’s ready.ag Checklist—designed by someone who’s lived this mess. Get on the list to get it first, here!
4. I Say “No” A Lot More Than I Used To
I don’t do it all anymore. I can’t.
- I don’t go to every birthday party.
- I skip the extra therapy session if we’re spent.
- I ignore group texts when I’m maxed out.
Burnout sneaks up fast in this life.
The cost of saying yes is usually me falling apart later.
So now I ask:
“Is this essential, helpful, or healing?”
If not? It’s a no.
5. I’ve Stopped Apologizing for Being Late
I used to over-explain. “Sorry we’re late! There was a mix-up with the prescription refill and then my son’s tube clamped weird and—”
Now I just say: “We’re here.” Because honestly? Showing up at all is a victory when life is this complicated.
What I’ve Let Go of (And What I Cling To Now)
✖ I’ve let go of:
- Trying to prove I can handle it all
- Apologizing for every delay or reschedule
- Acting like I’m not overwhelmed
✔ I’m holding tight to:
- My backups (car kit, emotional support snacks, white lies to get off the phone)
- Saying “no” without guilt
- Taking five minutes in the car before appointments to cry, scream, or just breathe
This isn’t about “just being more organized.”
You’re parenting in a high-stakes system that wasn’t built for you—doing it without a break, a backup, or a blueprint.
So if you’re five minutes late, you’re still ahead.
If you’re overwhelmed, you’re not alone.
If you need a tool to make the week slightly less of a disaster? I’ve got one for you.
🎯 Check out the Medical Mom Reset Workbook—a real-life system for real-life chaos. Built by a mom who’s in it, too.
📌 Pin this for later—because five-minutes-late moms still deserve support.
Related Posts to Keep You Going:
- Mom Life Curveballs: Embracing the Unexpected, Even When You Are Overwhelmed
- How I Stay Organized as a Medical Mom (Without Losing My Mind)
- Why Self-Care for Special Needs Moms Isn’t a Luxury—It’s How We Survive
Quick FAQ
Q: Will this actually make me on time?
Nope. But you’ll feel less like you’re spiraling while you’re late.
Q: Do I need to print anything?
Not unless you want to. The Medical Mom Reset Workbook is digital with optional printables.
Q: What if I’m too overwhelmed to start anything right now?
That’s what the workbook is for—tiny, doable steps you can take even with zero bandwidth.