"So, what do you do all day?" I can't tell you how many times working moms ask me that. It's so funny because I truly feel that I do not have enough time in the day with how busy I am. I think people who are not stay at home moms don't mean to sound rude and legitimately wonder what there really is to do for so many hours at home with little ones. To be honest, I've actually asked that same question to other SAHM friends of mine when we're hanging out!
So I thought I'd just go ahead and paint the picture for you then, since I know it'll be fun to read this when I'm looking back one day.
My day-to day varies greatly, but also has some hardcore routine.
Anywhere between 7:30 and 9: Nurse the baby in bed. Get dressed and wash my face. Come out and hug my boys, who are usually eating breakfast with Rose in the kitchen (the family friend who has been living in our spare room for 6 months to help me with kids).
9am: Eat breakfast and tend to children. Wipe butts, give the baby toys, clean random water-on-floor messes etc... All while drinking coffee and reading interesting blogs and articles.
9:30: Either get all kids ready and pack them the van so I can go work out, or get my cooking/cleaning on. If staying home, I do the beginning of dinner prep, vacuum, or dishes. All while taking little breaks to nurse, kissing boo-boos, giving time-outs, and reffing fights. During these hours before naps I try to sneak in the office for 3 minutes where I usually have an epic art mess going on and put some kind of finishing touch on my latest crafty creation (I love doing All the art you guys). Or if the boys are outside playing for a bit I'll take a cleaning break to practice a song on the piano two or three times before Hadassah cries for attention.
* If it's a gym day, I am there until noon, then we either stop at Taco Bell for the boys' beloved cheesy roll-ups or we go home where I attempt to make a healthier lunch with all of them screaming/whining.
** If it's a preschool day, I scramble to get us all out the door, skip breakfast, and do the gym/grocery shopping with the baby after dropping them off. Once home, they play until naps while I get myself some lunch and nurse the baby.
Noon: if at home, get the kids lunch and throw in loads of laundry.
1pm: The boys nap. Yes my 5 year old still naps. I've been told that most boys his age no longer nap. But for my very intense son, this must happen or he ends up crying on the floor by 5pm for no reason other than he exhausted himself.
Once the boys are down, I deal with the baby's needs upstairs and eat my now-cold lunch while folding laundry.
3pm. Terrible time of day. I've been a mom for 5 years and still don't know how to deal with this point in time. I am now exhausted and must drink coffee now. Haddassah is now getting tired and my oldest will wake up soon. Do I nurse her when he will only stumble into my room and wake her right as she is almost asleep? I always decide to risk it. When he does interrupt, the two of us engage in a cave-man sign language. My index finger goes up, then I do crazy waving with my hand as he mouths words of protest...poor kid.
4pm: Coffee has set in or I still need to drink more. I emerge from my bedroom ready to take on more housekeeping. I read a book to my oldest and we share a very loving time while the other two sleep. Middle child wakes up around 4/30-5 and they immediately begin fighting while I shush them. If he sleeps late, my oldest complains because he misses him.
5:30: I will now attempt an epic cooking experiment from a amazingly odd blog I'm into while prepping dinner. I am very task oriented, and I work best alone.
...My lifestyle obviously makes this a problem. Two boys interrupt and fight constantly. I try not to yell but do. I get out their play-dough so I can concentrate for crying out loud. They still fight and compete but their hands are busy - whatever. Sometimes I have one boy sit in the bath with toys so they are separated yet contained. They are never allowed in the bathroom at the same time because together they find some way to flood it. I attempt to vacuum sometimes because it gets the floor clean but more importantly - throws off the boys' fighting since they can't hear as well. Muahaha.
This is the point where I wait for Brandon to get home while cooking something, managing the boys, and spooning bites of something into the baby's mouth or trying to keep her entertained if she isn't napping. Sometimes we dance together or do some puzzle that facilitates learning. Whew! What a day and it's only 5:30!
Well there it is in a nutshell. If you wanna know what it is I do all day, this would be it. I do hope this doesn't deter anyone from having children, lol. This is probly as hard as it will get for me.
Just know that with the right music, all this can be pretty fun. ;)
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