"What do you do?"

When meeting new people, I almost (definitely) dread this question - “so, what do you do?” How do I concisely share what I do in a way that is appropriate for light, casual conversation? I often reply with some version of “I’m a birth doula”, or “I teach kids yoga”, with a follow up of: “and I’ve got 3 kiddos, so I’m often the one caring for them.”

My day to day is a combination of getting my school aged children out the door and planning activities to do with my toddler. My toddler’s activities always include screen time, so that I have time to answer emails, attend therapy, have a doula client consult, play Connections, or scroll social media. I meal plan every week before going food shopping (which counts as a toddler activity, by the way), and we visit the library regularly. When I’m not building a marble run or completing a puzzle with my littlest, I am cleaning up lunch or moving laundry from the washer to the dryer or cleaning up the play-doh left behind or wiping toothpaste out of the sink. I pick up my school aged kids every afternoon (which, by the way, also counts as a toddler activity) and the four of us spend time outside and have snacks and I do my best to hold space for whatever the big kiddos need after a day of school. Usually at this time of day, I try to read a book while I dread dinner time.