MY LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH PODCASTS

I have recently discovered podcasts.  I have no idea if I am way behind on this one, but I recently found out about podcasts and really loved them...at first.

The idea is great.  I love to listen to a podcast while I am folding laundry or cooking dinner.  I would much rather listen to a radio show about living life as a Catholic couple or about being a good mom than I would watch some junk television show with no redeeming quality.  In the beginning, I listened to podcasts and felt inspired and happy when the radio show was over.  Usually, I learned something or paused to think about something in my life.

The problem is that I truly listen and, in order to listen, sometimes I can't focus on the task at hand as completely as I should. For example, when I am listening to a podcast while cooking dinner, I am pretty sure it takes me longer to cook dinner than it would if I were focusing solely on that task alone, without any distractions.

Also, I feel less able to switch gears if my kids should interrupt me during a podcast.  Usually, I run over to pause the program and then try to focus on my kids, hoping I can quickly resolve their issues and get back to my program.  How ironic---sometimes I rush through helping my kids to get back to listening to a podcast telling me how to be a better mom.

I find that sometimes I turn to music to accompany my chores when I feel I need to get through them a little more quickly.  If I need to clean the bathroom, I can do it faster with music in the background than if I am trying to follow a podcast.

Overall, I think podcasts are helpful and interesting.  I know there are lots of great, short TED talks from which to choose, and that I can try to listen only when the kids are at school or when they are in bed, so maybe I will just set a few limits for myself and that will do the trick.  :)

I wonder how often other moms listen to podcasts.  If anyone has any thoughts, I would love to hear them.

By the way, if you are wondering which podcasts are my favorites---I love to listen to Catholics in a Small Town, the Power of Mom, the Catholics Next Door, and sometimes TED talks.  What are some other great mothering podcasts?