<p>Is the art of mult-tasking a nature or a nuture thing? I get so frustrated at my H, S27, S25, S21, D16 and S10 that they do not seem to have the ability to manage or work on a multitude of tasks at the same time. I on the other hand (as well as S23, D17, D7) feel like the cirque du soliel of multi-taskers. He says you are either born that way or you aren’t. He sights the picture of me at age 5 riding a bicycle, wearing roller skates and holding and umbrella as proof. So nature or nuture?</p>
<p>Anyone with eight children <em>HAS</em> to be multi-tasker!!!</p>
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<p>I believe it’s both. It’s not one or the other, black or white. There’s a lot of grey area (tee hee pun) in the way our brains are wired.</p>
<p>ETA: My thoughts exactly, mrsref.</p>
<p>I believe (and science seems to back me up) that true multi-tasking is not possible. Just watch all the people driving and talking on the phone-the ones who nearly run over you in the crosswalk, and drive on without realizing that they nearly killed someone! These people often think they are wonderful multi-taskers! (I am not saying this applies to you!)</p>
<p>People can do several things at once, but they are essentially switching their focus back and forth, dividing their attention into smaller, less effective slices.</p>
<p>Then again, you might be talking more about time management, the ability to juggle lots of responsibilities effectively. People who can handle lots of tasks usually have laser-like focus, and get them difficult tasks done faster because they avoid getting side tracked.</p>
<p>“Anyone with eight children <em>HAS</em> to be multi-tasker!!!”</p>
<p>Actually that is 9 children…you didn’t count my H. </p>
<p>We are a blended family, but I am the only “mom” since my H’s boy’s mom died 20 years ago. I am busy, but I love it!</p>
<p>I used to pride myself on being a great multi-tasker. Until I bought tickets to Paris online while I was an a conference call…for the wrong date! I had to pay $100 per ticket to change them to the right date, even though I realized my mistake almost immediately.</p>
<p>Missypie is not alone. I used to be a great multi-tasker till 2-3 yrs ago. I also had a great memory and never needed a calendar. I won’t mention how many times this year I showed up for a Dr appointment on the wrong date.
Yet both my d’s multi-task. S does not. Heck he isn’t even that strong at single tasking.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s nurture. My kids are like night and day in that regard.</p>
<p>S1 is the king of multitasking. He can’t stand to have a minute not filled with doing something, usually several things at once. </p>
<p>S2 is a no-tasker unless I light I fire under his…pants.</p>
<p>My H and three kids are all born multi-taskers and I am a uni-tasker. I am dazzled by their accomplishments and they all count on me to be the organized one. Sometimes it works quite well and other times it drives me mad to be surrounded by whirling dervishes.</p>