The Building Block Method for Moms: How I Finally Found My Rhythm as a Work-From-Home Mom (Free Toolkit)

She was six months old. Just starting to get wobbly on her knees, and I was already panicking about baby-proofing every corner of the house- figured she'd be crawling in a month or so. But truthfully? I hadn’t baby-proofed myself yet

I still hadn’t found my rhythm as a work-from-home mom, and every day felt like one big reactive stress melt. I was trying to feed her on Zoom calls, quiet the screeching before I unmuted to talk on a call, and not feel like a bad mom for throwing Ms. Rachel on for too long so I could finish one more email.

I didn’t feel like a good employee. I didn’t feel like a good partner. And I definitely didn’t feel like a good mom. (Even though, in hindsight, I wasn’t giving myself nearly enough credit.)

From the outside, it probably looked like I had it all together. I got so many comments celebrating the water I was drowning in. I was “Supermom” holding down a job, a household, and a happy baby. But inside? It felt like I was spinning plates on a moving treadmill.

Luckily, my mom, who has a degree and 30+ yrs in child development, was my personal “worry check.” I’d call her almost daily, asking if my baby was hitting milestones, if I was doing enough, if I was enough. Her answer was always the same:

“She’s perfect. You're perfect for her. Stop worrying, you are doing all of the right things and so is she.”

(cue that episode of Bluey "Baby Race" when Chilli was feeling defeated and then Judo's mom sits down on her porch and assures her she is doing a great job. She tells her to run her to run her own race- that was such a perfect moment to watch and connect with... i digress)

I am so grateful for her advice, activity ideas, and ability to calm my worries... but like any new mom, of course, I didn’t stop worrying. The 2am thoughts of "am I doing enough for her and for my job" still woke me up.

Then one day, it clicked.

My first go at the building block method... The chalkboard I put up in our first house (surprisingly the only picture of it I could track down)

I bought a giant vinyl chalkboard and covered an entire wall of our kitchen. I grabbed the chalk and started writing out a schedule- blocks of time for her and blocks of time for me.

We alternated between interactive play and independent play while I worked. At first, it was messy. But over time, I noticed a pattern... when I gave her 10 minutes of hyper focused, fully-present play, she was content to play independently for a bit longer afterward.

Each “play block” had a developmental focus: gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, social-emotional, or language. I didn’t overthink it. Sometimes it was blocks on the floor(fine motor), sometimes it was me holding her little hands up and dancing to music (gross motor), sometimes just talking through what I was doing in the kitchen (language).

And something amazing happened…

At the end of the day, I actually felt good.

She was getting meaningful connection and development time. I was getting productivity windows. And for the first time, our days felt like they had a rhythm. NOT a rigid routine, but a flow.

What the Building Block Method for Moms Really Is

The Building Block Method for Moms was born out of that kitchen chalkboard and a whole lot of trial and error.

It’s not about scheduling every minute and it's not about making huge lesson plans.

It’s about stacking your day intentionally  in layers that support you and your family.

Here’s how it works:

1. Foundation Blocks

Start by writing down your main anchor points. The rhythms that naturally shape your day and your little one’s. These give your day structure and predictability without rigidity.

Think of it as your “daily frame”:

• Wake-up time

• Breakfast

• Lunch

• Nap(s)

• Dinner

• Bedtime routine

• Asleep

Once these anchors are set, everything else builds around them.

2. Building blocks

These are the heart of the Building Block Method for Moms. The intentional moments that help both mom and child find rhythm.

You can do more than 10 minutes each, but start small, especially while you’re both adjusting. (This method is best for littles between newborn–4 years old.) The goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel, it’s to see the developmental value in what you’re already doing and add where there may be a gap.

You can always Google daily ideas or pull from my free Mosaic Momma Toolkit, which includes Building Block activity prompts by age and category.

Try picking one quick activity in each area of child development. Example:

💪 Gross Motor: Lay a blanket on the floor and practice sitting and supported standing by gently holding their hands. This builds balance, coordination, and muscle strength and it’s a sweet bonding moment too.

🖐️ Fine Motor: Place a few colorful toys or crinkly fabric squares in front of them. Encourage reaching, grabbing, and exploring textures. You’re helping them build dexterity and curiosity, even if it looks like just wiggly playtime.

🧠 Cognitive: Play peek-a-boo in front of a mirror. It teaches object permanence (“Mommy disappears but always comes back!”) and helps them recognize their reflection.

🗣️ Language: Narrate your morning routine. Talk through what you’re doing (“Now we’re making coffee!”) and sing a little song. Babies learn language through rhythm and repetition, not perfection. My daughter probably thought I was nuts- I would (and still do) make up songs about everything in my day lol.

💞 Social-Emotional: Step outside for five minutes to feel the wind and see the world together... watch the mail truck, a passing neighbor, or the trees. You’re helping your baby feel secure and connected to the world around them (and you get a breath of fresh air, too).

Bonus tip: I always try to include fresh air in at least one block. It’s good for both momma and babe. Social-emotional activities are an easy way to do that!

3. Necessary Blocks

I don’t personally write down every meeting or task. I already have a work calendar for that. Instead, in my Building Block Method, I create intentional pockets for deep focus or home management. This usually means nap time, early mornings before my daughter wakes, or after bedtime. These are my “high-focus” windows- the blocks where I get the most traction.

How to Use the Building Block Method for Moms in Real Life

Here’s a peek at what a day built with this method might look like. Notice how I have time ranges not exact minutes. This reflects more of the toddler age range.

Routine Example: Balanced Start (6 AM – 8 PM)

Time	Focus
6:00 AM	Mom self-time (coffee, reflecting, planner/journaling)
6:30 AM	Focused work/project time
7:00 AM	Kids wake + breakfast
8:00 AM	Building Block: Gross Motor (freeze dance, walk outside to get morning sun)
8:15 AM	Independent play → Mom work/project time
9:15 AM	Building Block: Fine Motor (Lego, beads, lacing cards)
9:30 AM	Mom work/project time
10:30 AM	Snack + quick walk
11:00 AM	Building Block: Creative (painting, music instruments, pretend play)
11:15 AM	Independent play → Mom work/project time
12:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 PM	Building Block: Learning (matching games, flashcards, reading together)
1:15 PM	Nap/quiet time → Mom deep work/project time
3:00 PM	Snack + outside time
3:30 PM	Building Block: Sensory (play kitchen, sandbox, kinetic sand)
3:45 PM	Independent play → Mom work/project time
5:00 PM	Dinner prep (kids help = Building Block: Helping Hands)
5:30 PM	Family dinner
6:30 PM	Evening routine (bath, reading, wind-down play)
7:30 PM	Mom nighttime self-time (tea, gratitude journal, light stretch)
8:00 PM	Bedtime

This method grows with your child so as naps shorten, independent play expands, and family needs shift, you can re-stack your blocks to fit your current season or workload. You'll see more 15 min blocks above because I left a little room for transition time. As toddler years approach, how you transition into a new thing is KEY.

The beauty of the Building Block Method for Moms is that it’s flexible, realistic, and deeply human... just like motherhood itself.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s awareness. When your day has a flow that reflects your real life, not someone else’s Pinterest version, you can finally breathe again.

If you’re reading this and feel like you’re just barely treading water, please know. I’ve been there. And with the "threenager years" hitting hard, I STILL am there some days but I have my anchors and I can't say enough how it helps.

You’re not failing. You’re just ready for a new rhythm.

And it doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one intentional building block at a time.

Ready to Build Your Own Rhythm?

I put together a free Mosaic Momma Toolkit to help you get started. Inside you’ll find: ✨ A printable Building Block planner page ✨ Daily rhythm template ✨ Sanity Saver mini-guide for busy mom days ✨ My favorite independent play ideas

I wanted to make something I wish I had looking back at that new mom, overwhelmed in every area of life. It’s your permission slip to start small, build slow, and find your rhythm, not perfection. I hope it helps, momma. This is a hard job that feels impossible some days and so rewarding other days. You're doing amazing

👉 Download your free toolkit here.