I’m here to give you an inside look at what stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) do every day, so you can stop asking! I know many of you might have wondered about it or, hopefully, your upbringing taught you to keep those thoughts to yourself. But today, I’ll share my daily routine as a SAHM, though I won’t pretend to speak for all the hard-working moms out there. Trust me, you don’t want to make assumptions about these sleep-deprived, caffeine-driven women managing toddlers.
I’ve been navigating this whirlwind for six years, and I’ve received my fair share of inquisitive and judgmental comments. So let’s address some popular questions right away:
- “Are you ever bored?” Well, obviously!
- “What’s your plan once the kids start school?” Honestly, I can’t predict my schedule for next week, let alone five years from now.
- “Three kids under six? That must be overwhelming!” Yes, it is! But I make sure I have one hand free by 7 p.m. for a glass of wine (priorities, right?).
- “I could never stay at home like that. I’d lose my mind.” You know what would drive me crazy? Working a 40-hour week while still only affording an $8 bottle of wine after childcare costs.
My Daily Routine
Alright, for all the curious folks still reading, here’s a rundown of my day:
- 6:45 a.m.: Wake up. Brush my teeth and wash my face.
- 7:00 a.m.: Get the kids up. Hope the middle one doesn’t take a swing at me.
- 7:15 – 8:30 a.m.: First cup of coffee. Feed the kids. Make lunch for my oldest. Search for quarters for the latest school fundraiser. Choose outfits. Listen to the middle child cry about not being allowed to wear a dress. Get everyone cleaned up and out the door.
- 8:35 a.m.: Drop off the kindergartner.
- 9:00 a.m.: Drop off the preschooler.
- 9:15 – 10:00 a.m.: Laundry. Clean the kitchen from breakfast. Have a quick chat with my best friend while the baby naps. Enjoy my second cup of coffee.
- 10:00 a.m.: Playtime with the little one. Try to fold laundry while he throws clean clothes everywhere. Reheat my coffee. Get hit in the face with a Pop-Tart box.
- 10:05 a.m.: Firmly say, “No Pop-Tarts.”
- 10:06 a.m.: Give in and hand over the Pop-Tart to the screaming child.
- 10:07 a.m.: Watch him take one bite and then give the rest to the dog. Feel a little defeated.
- 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.: Pay bills, play with the kids, or clean.
- 11:30 a.m.: Pick up the preschooler.
- 11:45 a.m.: Lunchtime. Reheat coffee again. Nap time for the baby. Send the preschooler upstairs to do whatever she does besides sleep. Reheat coffee—again.
- Noon: Clean up after lunch. Quietly pick up toys while the baby naps.
- 12:30 p.m.: Shovel food into my mouth while enjoying the rare silence. Give up on the reheated coffee.
- 1:00 p.m.: Finish laundry or scrub something I just cleaned two days ago.
- 1:15 p.m.: Baby wakes up. Read books together and play.
- 2:00 p.m.: Preschooler comes downstairs.
- 2:15 p.m.: Relaxation time. Cartoons. More snacks. Check the dinner recipe to see what I forgot to buy.
- 3:00 p.m.: Tidy up before the kindergartner returns.
- 3:30 p.m.: Head out to pick him up.
- 3:35 p.m.: Stand in the pickup line, trying not to feel awkward while chatting with other parents.
- 4:00 p.m.: Back home with the kindergartner.
- 4:10 p.m.: Engage in some craft that takes longer to set up than it does to complete.
- 5:00 p.m.: Start preparing dinner. The kids know to disappear during this time.
- 6:00 p.m.: DADDY’S HOME! Thank you, Jesus.
- 6:15 p.m.: Dinner time.
- 6:45 p.m.: Collapse onto the couch, immediately swarmed by all three kids who don’t give great back rubs. Consider leaving the kitchen dirty until morning.
- 7:00 p.m.: Clean the kitchen for the umpteenth time. Family time. Whine time. Binge-watch shows when the kids are occupied.
- 9:00 p.m.: Head upstairs. Brush my teeth, wash up, and tuck the kids in. Squeeze their adorable faces because I love them so much it hurts.
- 9:10 p.m.: Tell the kids to lie down for bed.
- 9:20 p.m.: Raise my voice to get them to sleep because they will regret it if I have to come back in.
- 9:30 p.m.: Think about heading downstairs for some ‘me’ time. Never do it.
- 9:33 p.m.: Pass out completely.
So there you have it! And to all working moms, single moms, and mothers whose partners are often away, you are my heroes. This isn’t a competition of whose day is tougher; we’re all just trying to raise decent humans while counting the minutes to our version of “Whine Thirty.” If you manage to accomplish more than I do, you’re practically superhuman. If you do less and your kids are still happy, I want to know your secrets. And if you’re judging my choice to give my kids Pop-Tarts, don’t worry; the dog eats the majority of them anyway. If you thought I had it all together and my life was perfect, I’m sorry for giving you that impression.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed after reading this, why not turn that energy into something constructive and send me some free wine and cheese?
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Summary
This article provides a candid look into the daily life of a stay-at-home mom, debunking common misconceptions and revealing the challenges and joys of parenting. It emphasizes the shared experiences among all mothers and encourages solidarity in the parenting community.