A day in the life
Mon-Fri as a stay at home mom
A Day in the life
Eight days a week — as a mom
Your time is not your own when staying at home to look after the kids. This unpaid and often thankless job never ends(Kids @ 8, 4, and 1).
Wake up early and selfishly enjoy the first ten minutes of the day to yourself. Then the cries of “Mama, Mama” begin. The four year old is up. He wakes up the one year old. The 8 year old will not wake up.
Teeth need brushing and bottles of milk need preparing. Some things you do and some things, if you are lucky, your partner does.
Breakfast is over arguing who has more cereal or milk in their bowl.
To the “I don’t have a spoon” you respond with “But you have legs.” Chair creaks and little feet run to get two spoons for the two bowls on the table.
Cutting apple slices and preparing sandwiches for lunch. “But I don’t like jam sandwiches!” shouts the exasperated four year old. Looking through the cupboard for crackers. “Crackers and cheese! Crackers and cheese!” He is appeased.
Water bottles found, some still in school bags, some on the table and some in the wash. Baby girl needs some fruit.
Rush rush rush. Time for school. Shoes, bags, lunches, and now the fight over whether or not the toy car they just found can go with them.
“But I wanted to open the door!” “I found it first!” “Its mine!” “Mama!”
Finally, everyone is out and there is some peace and quiet. But wait, baby girl is still here. Saving her life is the theme of the day.
Save her life while she tries to sneak past your guard and climb the stairs. Save her life while she tries to grab your purse off the settee. Save her life while you are actively changing her diaper because she just will not hold still. FOMO is everything.
She hugs and kisses you before her nap. Worth it? A million times.
Finally, a cup of tea and… No. Wait.
The kitchen needs to be cleaned. Dishes from last night put away. Toys kicked back into semi order. Books restocked on shelves. The floor needs a sweep, badly. Eat a late brunch.
She is up again. Time to look lively and play. Pick up toys and hand them over. Will you walk? No. Carry, carry, carry. Feed food, throw food, pick up food. Clean up baby. Clean up baby’s mess.
Out for a walk. The playground and swings.
Dear shrieking mess of a tyrant. Little dictator will be shrill with you should you stop swinging before she is done. She WILL NOT GO BACK in the stroller. Carry her football style while pushing stroller one handed.
Pick up the brothers in the hot sun.
Listen to three voices tell me about their day all at once. “HE won’t let me speak!” shouts the middle child. “I am listening” you reply.
Happily take on the burden of the bags hanging on the stroller. Push push push. Kids are happy. Kids are lively. Kids have so much energy.
Fight over who gets the key and who opens the door. Wait, the mail! Key is already down the road and running.
Wash hands. Potty and wash hands. Potty and wash hands. Diaper and wash hands.
Snack time! Not those cookies, these cookies. “I want milk.” “I don’t want milk.” “Then drink water” “Ok” “MAMA!”
Happy children are fed children. Playtime.
“Video games” — “NO”
“Net TV” — “NO”
“Normal TV?”- “Only IF”
Piano plays. Drawings get made. Floors would be scrubbed and toilets cleaned for video games. Audible sigh, not old enough.
Make dinner. Check fridge. Mental note to get groceries. Reheat leftovers into today’s special: Fried eggs, frozen vegetables, rice, lentils, spinach.
Dinner time!
Food, fruit, cheese, dessert, yogurt. Keep it coming until they say they are done.
Bath time. “Do I have to?” “Yes” The more kids in the bath at the same time the better. Stinky shorts, dirty shirts, and unmentionables thrown into laundry hamper.
“MAMA!” Milk while boys read. Clean the remains of the kitchen and dinner table.
My dear angels. Catch them and put them to bed. Each asleep one by one.
Silence. “What now?”
Exhaustion. Fatigue. Tired feet. “What time is it?”
“Was it worth it?”
Always YES.
