Diary of a Moms ‘Day Off’

So let me preface this by saying, I am extremely grateful for my flexible work schedule.  I am able to work part-time, and spend 3-4 days at home with my girls.  We do have a nanny on days that I work, but I try to spend as much time with them that I can. Time is flying by…and I love watching them grow, and playing, and teaching them.

However, today is not one of those days.

My husband is on the road with the Miami HEAT, and I am solo and “off” from work today, meaning I am just a mom. My 2-year old has decided that hitting is her new favorite hobby, and my 4-year old wants nothing to do with her little sister. Sometimes staying at home is harder than working full time, and today I was on my feet most of the day. Here is a blow by blow account of a never ending “stay at home” day.  No soap operas or bon bons in my future….

Morning
5:40 AM–Emy wakes up.  No idea why, I leave her singing until 6:50.
6:15 AM–Knowing that sleep is no longer an option, I roll out of bed.  Get dressed, feed the loud cat, make coffee, lunches, and pack snacks for baby since we need to run errands.
7:00AM–Get kids out of bed.  Wash sheets that were wet, (yes bedwetting).  Change diapers and get milk and vitamins for kids.  Drink coffee and enjoy the quiet of morning.  It won’t last long…
7:15AM–Fold laundry left in dryer overnight and take back to my room.  Note to self, put away later.
7:30AM–Make breakfast smoothies with the kids.
7:45AM–Clean up dishes then head back to get kids dressed and teeth brushed.
8:00AM–Pack up diaper bag, snacks, dry cleaning, returns for errands and get in car
8:30AM–Drop off at preschool.
8:50AM–Errand #1 with Emy in tow: drop off Charter School lottery application at local Imagine Charter School.
9:00AM–Errand #2: Pick up and drop off dry cleaning.
9:30AM–Errand #3: Return Christmas gift
10:00AM–Errand #4: Arrive Joanne Fabrics to look for clearance items for Lila’s Frozen birthday party. Major score by the way, plus Emy liked looking at all the Disney Princess items.

Lunch and Afternoon
11:00AM–Home finally!  Make lunch for a tired toddler who has been up since the 5 o’clock hour.  Entertain her with ipad Letter School app while carrots steam.
11:30AM–Feed Emy. And make omelet for me.  Put sheets in dryer and throw in another load.
11:50AM–Attempt to try to the potty (no luck), then read book to Emylia before her nap. Totally been slacking on potty training.
12:00PM–Sing songs and put Emy down for nap.
12:10PM–Surprised that the house is silent, and Lila has art class after school, so I hop on the elliptical and make a business call.  Multi tasking is key while I work out.  Also read the headlines on my ipad, check email, and social media all while doing cardio.
12:50PM–Do abs and squats.  All I have time for!
1:00PM–Shower and blow out hair.  By myself without having to entertain anyone.  It feels like a vacation!
1:35PM–Woo hoo!  Baby still napping!  Make a cup of tea and open nook to take a mommy break.
1:41PM–3 sips into my tea, and baby wakes up.  Bye bye tea time.  Gather Emy and go pick up Lila from school
2:00PM–Pickup Lila and head to Fresh Market.  Return phone calls in car and make dentist appointment.  (I know I know…I need to put the phone away.)
2:15PM–Shop for some treats for the weekend.  Lila was wound up and ended up in a time out at the store.  Then Emy tried to kick her and pulled her hair.  Sigh.
3:00PM–Finally home.  Unload groceries and give girls coloring project while I put things away. Then try to catch up on emails in the kitchen…but the girls have too much energy and need some fresh air.
3:30PM–Take the girls outside to jump on the trampoline and swing on the swingset.  There are too many leaves on the trampoline for Lila.  I try to clean them but they still get in her feet.  So we swing…and sing lots of songs.

Here’s where things get busy…
4:15PM–Leave girls on the porch to play in playhouse while I put the sheets back on Lila’s bed. Check on the cat to make sure he’s eaten and change the litter box.  Collect the garbage in the house.
4:30PM–Girls played without fighting for 15 whole minutes!  It’s pizza and movie night, a Friday evening tradition,  so bring Lila & Emy in and start dinner prep.  Bought pre-made pizza crusts and let the girls make their own…with supervision of course!
5:15PM–Eat dinner.  No snack today so they were hungry. Except Lila who declared she didn’t want to eat pizza anymore.  She had an orange and some green beans.  Not in the mood to force her to eat.
5:45PM–Do early bath so we can watch a movie.  They get tired by 7:30 so need to start it by 6:00PM.
6:00PM–Emy falls off her stool and gets hurt. Like really hurt.  Ice her leg and cuddle her.  Leave Lila to dress herself.
6:20PM–Find Lila playing undressed, dripping wet in her room, on the carpet.  Another big sigh.
6:30PM–Pop some popcorn and let them munch while watching Cinderella.  Finally I sit down for 20 full minutes.
7:00PM–They start fighting and I decide to cut movie short and do books and bed.  Take them to brush teeth and go potty, then read books.
7:30PM–All is quiet.  Clean up toys in family room, unload and load dishwasher, check on the cat again.  He was sick over Christmas, not sure if he’s feeling better yet.
7:50PM–Grab laptop and put on HEAT Live.  Lila comes out.  “I need love mommy.  I can’t sleep.  Can I watch Birdman or the wedding dress show?”
8:00PM–Watch TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress for a few minutes.
8:15PM–Put Lila back to bed. (yes I’m a sucker.)

Now my night starts…
8:30PM–Laptop time take 2.  Send some emails for baseball show, write this blog post, and another one for this weekend.
9:00PM–Do my schedule for next week.  Email the sitter, and eat some Skinny Cow Chocolate Clusters.  Out of wine unfortunately…
9:30PM–Make the coffee for tomorrow and realize I never put away clean clothes in my bedroom. Get halfway through laundry basket and give up.
9:53PM–Crawl into bed with my nook, and the HEAT game on. Not sure I’ll be able to stay awake for the 4th quarter.

I know.  It’s hectic, and non-stop, but we only have two kids…and I did get to exercise today, so that’s a total bonus. And I am so blessed to even be a mother…but uncle!  I’m like bone tired…I don’t know how parent’s handle more than two kids. And I am so not looking forward to late night homework help in a couple of years either.

What are your tips for getting through a day alone with your kids?  Give up on the house cleaning? Forget cooking and order take out?  Please…spill it in the comments below.