Episode 134 - A Day In Her Life with Lucie Corkery
Chaotic, Messy, Joyful Days as a Mom of Three
On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Lucie Corkery, a mom of three under five, writer, and creator behind What Lucie Says and the Substack series Between Friends. Lucie lives in Massachusetts with her husband Kevin, their three kids, and their corgi Beverly, and shares a refreshingly honest look at full-time motherhood in a deeply busy season.
If you are in the thick of young kids, constantly forgetting lunch, negotiating bedtime chaos, and trying to stay connected to yourself, your partner, and your friends, this episode will feel deeply relatable.
In this episode, we cover:
Mornings with three kids under five - Why Lucie wakes up an hour before her kids, the bare minimum routine that helps her feel human, and how TV at breakfast is sometimes the only way mornings work.
Finding time for yourself as a stay-at-home mom - How tennis became Lucie’s outlet for movement, focus, and adult connection, and why having time without her phone has been surprisingly transformative.
The midday juggle no one talks about - Laundry running constantly, walking the dog alone, vacuuming with a toddler and a toy leaf blower, squeezing in workouts, and always forgetting to eat lunch.
Quiet time, shared rooms, and realistic rest - How Lucie structures naps and quiet time for three kids at different stages, and why rest time is non-negotiable for everyone’s sanity.
Afternoons, activities, and getting the wiggles out - Why leaving the house almost always leads to a better evening, even if it’s just a library trip, playground stop, or long car ride.
Early dinners and separate adult meals - Why her kids eat at 5:30, she and her husband eat later, and how letting go of family dinner expectations has made evenings calmer.
Bedtime chaos and small parenting hacks - From bath time that ramps kids up to the light-flicking trick she stole from teachers to regain attention during total mayhem.
Marriage, date nights, and staying connected - Why Lucie and her husband prioritize weekly date nights, how they find babysitters for three kids, and why investing in their relationship matters in this season.
Friendship in a misaligned season of life - The inspiration behind Between Friends, how friendships shift after kids, and why putting plans on the calendar is the only way they happen.
The ball she’s letting drop - Letting go of a spotless house, embracing the mess, and choosing peace over perfection in a home full of young kids.
Connect with Lucie
Instagram: @whatluciesays
Substack: What Lucie Says, including the Between Friends series
References
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Really apreciate how this captures the mundane choreography of early motherhood without making it twee or exhausting. The detail about the toddler with the toy leaf blower following you around during vacuuming is such a perfect snapshot of how kids want to mirror and participate in what adults are doing. I remember doing smth similar with my nephew and it felt like the world's slowest productivity hack.