Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines

Mom to 12 | Mission family in MO | Diapers, deadlines & real mom life (mess included) | Practical productivity for busy mamas

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Re-intro time! 👋

I’ve been a bit quiet on here over the past couple of years (life with 12 kids will do that 😆), but now that I’m subscribing to X and getting verified, I thought it was a great time to say hello again.

I’m Lisa - a homeschooling mom of 12 (though two are now adults!) and a freelance writer and virtual assistant.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

In Salem to give a ministry update at a supporting church, and we had the opportunity to walk around the capitol building grounds. So pretty!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@pinpulleddrmf We always add 15 minutes to every hour the gps says the drive will take. It’s been fairly accurate for our large family as we travel between MO and WA.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@normonics Just when you think you’ve got this parenting thing down, another one comes along who is nothing like the others and throws you for a loop 😆 our 12 are all so different

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@MrsGoresDiary We’ve done seven of our 12 kids - five more to go throughout the rest of the year. The first half of the year is definitely full of cake and ice cream around here! 😆

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Our son with Angelman Syndrome turned 20 today - what a blessing he’s been. He’s taught us so much about unconditional love and what it means to care for one another.

Two years ago, he spent his 18th birthday in the PICU, heavily sedated and on a ventilator after developing septic shock.

We didn’t know if he’d survive, but his fighting spirit rallied and people from all over were praying for him. Though his stamina still isn’t what it used to be, we are so thankful today to celebrate how far he’s come.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@_parasocial My babies pretty much live in cute sleepers and onesies with pants with footies until they start walking. I mean they each have one or two cute outfits for pictures and things, but on the day to day, no way!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Turning our leftover sausage gravy from yesterday’s breakfast into breakfast pizza this morning! Intentional repurposing helps us reduce food waste.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Lower your expectations through the little years. The average age of my crew is now 11.5 and it’s night and day difference between when that was under 8. For now keep focusing on biohazards, laundry, and streamlining but also get the kids helping as much as possible. It’s hard but it pays off dividends rather quickly! Let kid clean be good enough for some things.

And relish in the thought that it really will get easier. When they’re all little it’s about survival - use paper plates some days if you have to, nail down a chore plan and meal plan to minimize decision fatigue, and embrace the crazy.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@HannahWardEdu Thanks for sharing, going to have my teens take some classes!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

We are definitely enjoying the chigger free grass on our trip back to the Inland Empire!

When we are in MO, that is on the list of things I miss.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@karolineleavitt Congratulations!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Teens are a great stage - learning to question and search for who they are and who they want to be and you get to help guide them through all that tumultuous time. It’s seeing their personality traits that you caught glimpses of throughout their childhood really develop into character, and they’re just fun.

Teens get a bad name and it’s so sad.

But honestly, my kids span a 23 year range and parenting adults and toddlers at the same time has taught me to value each season and really embrace each stage since it’s fleeting.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@VeiledGlory We have three dish crews a day who are responsible for cleaning the kitchen and dining room after one meal each

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@MrsGoresDiary They are each so worth the trials!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@MrsCMFrancis We are now at 2400 sq ft and there are 14 of us. Our previous house was 1800 sq feet and felt so cramped! I’m so thankful for our extra space now!!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

Found a new game called The Climbers Family Edition and picked it up to keep my littles and middles entertained while my teens are checking out a college in Fargo. We enjoyed playing!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@MrsGoresDiary My teens got to go there earlier this year with friends, and my oldest went a few times while attending College of the Ozarks, and they all agree it’s a blast!

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@LorentLouise They’re all so different! That’s a good way to look at them.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@Here_s_Hoping Use them!

My daughter is learning to make these and she’s so excited to give her first set to my mom - she imagines them being used, not being stuck in a closet.

[Lisa Tanner - Balancing Diapers and Deadlines @LisaTannerWrite]

@crochet_mom314 When we had our farm, the kids named the animals and learned to treat them well and care for them, as one day they’d be feeding us and caring for us in a different way - it’s an important lesson!