I feel compelled to write a sample schedule of my day and I know any mom reading this will nod in understanding. Most of the time I record the wonderful moments of parenting and those are the moments I try to focus on. But let's face it, when you're in the trenches of parenting it can sometimes feel like the most monotonous, thankless job. I do this for my children in the future. So when they call me up as frustrated moms or dads to complain (and I hope they do call) I can say, "I remember all too well when I did that with you." Here's to posterity.
A typical day...
6:15 - wake up and do my bathroom routine.
6:30 - wake up Addie and Maycie for school. Fix breakfast, pack lunches and snacks, brush hair,
take girls to bus stop.
7:05 - return from bus stop and work out for 30 minutes or until boys wake up.
7:40 - get Isaac from bed (who's been talking in bed for 30 minutes) and make breakfast for the boys.
8:00 - unload dishes, pack Alex's lunch and snack and begin breakfast clean-up.
8:30 - try to get a quick shower in while boys play or watch t.v.
9:00 - get Isaac dressed and make sure Alex is dressed and ready for school.
9:15 - take Alex to school.
9:25 - usually run an errand to grocery store to get bananas for the 3rd time this week.
10:30 - return home and finish cleaning up the morning tornado. Feed Isaac his 2nd banana for the day.
11:00 - work on a load of laundry, try to make a bed or two, clean up a mess Isaac made while ignoring
him to work on chores, give Isaac some attention so keep him out of trouble, try to get Isaac
focused on an activity or t.v. show so I can do more chores or check email.
12:00 - fix lunch for Isaac, myself and possibly Rob (if I have time). Answer emails while eating lunch.
12:45 - pick Alex up from school.
1:15 - fix snack for kids, do reading lesson with Alex, clean up kitchen from lunch and snack
2:00 - read with Isaac and put him down for nap
2:15 - yay! free time! if I'm lucky. Blog, read or catch up on something
3:15 - Addie and Maycie get home from school. Fix snack for them and listen to their day.
3:30 - Isaac wakes up. Give him his 3rd banana of the day. Start supervising piano practicing and
homework.
4:30 - let kids go play with neighborhood friends. Supervise Isaac outside while also trying to get
dinner started. Deal with various neighborhood kid drama.
5:30 - finally bring Isaac in from outside, fight tantrum, try to distract Isaac with a toy or t.v. show so
I can finish dinner.
6:00 - call kids in from outside, call Rob down from work, eat dinner.
6:30 - clean up the kitchen (yet again) while kids finish homework or chores or just relax.
7:00 - start bedtime routine, baths, showers
7:30 - get Isaac in bed, do scriptures, prayers and reading
8:15ish - finally finish tucking in other kids.
8:30 - crash with Rob, t.v or talking
Variations might include: sick kids needing to be picked up from school and taken to doctor, days we have activities such as piano lessons, art lessons, sports practice, church activities in which I usually have to get dinner on the table an hour sooner and means I usually clean up the kitchen after kids are in bed if I have energy or (if I have enough dishes for breakfast) wait until the morning to clean it.
When it comes down to it, I so grateful that I CAN do a day like that. I'm grateful I don't have to work, but can be at home with my children. I'm grateful I am physically capable of caring for my family without outside help. I'm grateful all my children are physically and mentally able. True, there are days it seems like the task that never ends; cleaning up the kitchen for the umpteenth time, changing peed on sheets yet again, wiping sticky hands, faces, noses and furniture all day long, running kids from one activity to the next. But I wouldn't have it any other way. This is the best, most important job in the world!
