When I was in grade school, I used to think sometimes about my mom (who never worked outside the home) and wonder, "What does she do all day?" All those hours, with no kids in the house. Surely she must be eating bonbons and taking big bubble baths, right? Wrong. I don't have kids in gradeschool yet, but I can already see that life only moves faster as kids get older.
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Today I...
Woke up in the wee morning hours with the baby. Again. And again. And again. Finally slept on couch with said baby. Greeted a toddler and a preschooler with hugs and kisses when they woke up bright and early. Handed happy baby to David. Crawled into bed for an early morning nap. Woke up to a kiss on the cheek from the preschooler. Changed into jeans, brushed teeth, took preschooler to school. Came home, fed baby, put him down for a nap. Turned "Sesame Street" on for toddler. Ate breakfast. Without thinking, approved Haven eating jelly beans as a midmorning snack. Put a load of laundry in the washer. Put some makeup on. Decided makeup was lame and admitted to myself I had no intention of changing out of my sports bra and t-shirt today. Played outside with toddler and dog (we're dogsitting). Loved listening to toddler's giggle. Adored her "look"...hair in her eyes, pink army rain boots, sleeves too long, happy smile. Fed baby. Picked up excited preschooler from school. Hugged him long and tight. Took 15 minutes to get kiddos sitting and buckled in car. Wondered, how is it possible that merely getting buckled takes so long? Got excited (for Dave) that a friend approached me at preschool and told me they're getting the BYU game this weekend. Called Dave to let him know. Got home. Fed kids. Cleaned up Haven's chewed up and spit out jelly beans (the "yuty" flavors that she is "dunna save for late-o"). Put the two little ones down for naps. Listened to the baby cry and the toddler sing to herself. Felt sad for baby, amused at toddler. Switched laundry to dryer. Noticed water spreading over the ground from underneath the washer. Thought about the fix-it man who was at our house just last night...the washer couldn't have leaked then? Played outside with preschooler and dog. Relished the sound of his belly laughing at the dog's antics. Came inside. Ate lunch. Talked to mom on the phone. Missed sister. Held toddler whose body was "just not ti-od"--final verdict: no nap. Braced myself for a no-nap afternoon with her (where all trauma is increased tenfold because of her fatigue level). Called a friend, invited her two boys to come play. Laughed outside with both kids and the dog. Remarked at how happy I feel about a dog in the backyard. Felt proud at my maturity level for recognizing that this is not the right time for a dog. Secretly second-guessed decision to not own a dog right now. Watched kids eat popsicles together on the trampoline. Loved that they're such good friends. Welcomed friends over. Went inside. Unloaded dishwasher. Loaded dishwasher. Considered that I should have made dinner plans before now. Posted David's motorcycle gear to craigslist. Accidentally woke baby up. Tried to get baby back to sleep. No go. Fed baby. Rejoiced in no time-outs today. Put away laundry, one piece at a time, with baby on hip. Sliced apples and carrots for kids. De-seeded pomegranate for a snack. Splashed pomegranate juice all over my shirt. No loss, shirt was already nasty. Made some phone calls about health insurance. Cleaned up kid-tracked-in-mud in kitchen. Picked up toys. Got baby to sleep in bouncer. Welcomed hubby home. Loved hubby for putting frozen pizzas in the oven for dinner. Bid friends goodbye. Invited friends' mama to bookgroup on Friday night. Fed kiddos. Appreciated that hubby played with baby and started a bath for toddler and preschooler. Fed self. Took a break by going outside to cuddle dog. Appreciated that there is such an animal as a dog. Came inside. Pointed out leaking washing machine to husband. Tried to be helpful about that even though I have no idea what to do about it. Fed baby. Put baby to bed. Tucked toddler and preschooler in bed. Sat down next to hubby. Got back up to answer calls of "Mommy!" from kids' room. Kissed Haven's "hurt" finger (the cause of the trauma). Explained again to preschooler that seven at night is not the same thing as seven in the morning (and therefore not time to get up and play). Kissed kids. Felt grateful for the feeling of little arms around my neck. Sat down with hubby. Watched funny TV show with hubby. Thought to myself that hubby is a handsome man. Realized it was silly to just think it...told hubby he was handsome. Resisted junk food temptation. Marveled at not feeling depression. Felt blessed. Went to bed.
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Not much time for bonbons or bubble baths. But plenty to enjoy.
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Today I...
Woke up in the wee morning hours with the baby. Again. And again. And again. Finally slept on couch with said baby. Greeted a toddler and a preschooler with hugs and kisses when they woke up bright and early. Handed happy baby to David. Crawled into bed for an early morning nap. Woke up to a kiss on the cheek from the preschooler. Changed into jeans, brushed teeth, took preschooler to school. Came home, fed baby, put him down for a nap. Turned "Sesame Street" on for toddler. Ate breakfast. Without thinking, approved Haven eating jelly beans as a midmorning snack. Put a load of laundry in the washer. Put some makeup on. Decided makeup was lame and admitted to myself I had no intention of changing out of my sports bra and t-shirt today. Played outside with toddler and dog (we're dogsitting). Loved listening to toddler's giggle. Adored her "look"...hair in her eyes, pink army rain boots, sleeves too long, happy smile. Fed baby. Picked up excited preschooler from school. Hugged him long and tight. Took 15 minutes to get kiddos sitting and buckled in car. Wondered, how is it possible that merely getting buckled takes so long? Got excited (for Dave) that a friend approached me at preschool and told me they're getting the BYU game this weekend. Called Dave to let him know. Got home. Fed kids. Cleaned up Haven's chewed up and spit out jelly beans (the "yuty" flavors that she is "dunna save for late-o"). Put the two little ones down for naps. Listened to the baby cry and the toddler sing to herself. Felt sad for baby, amused at toddler. Switched laundry to dryer. Noticed water spreading over the ground from underneath the washer. Thought about the fix-it man who was at our house just last night...the washer couldn't have leaked then? Played outside with preschooler and dog. Relished the sound of his belly laughing at the dog's antics. Came inside. Ate lunch. Talked to mom on the phone. Missed sister. Held toddler whose body was "just not ti-od"--final verdict: no nap. Braced myself for a no-nap afternoon with her (where all trauma is increased tenfold because of her fatigue level). Called a friend, invited her two boys to come play. Laughed outside with both kids and the dog. Remarked at how happy I feel about a dog in the backyard. Felt proud at my maturity level for recognizing that this is not the right time for a dog. Secretly second-guessed decision to not own a dog right now. Watched kids eat popsicles together on the trampoline. Loved that they're such good friends. Welcomed friends over. Went inside. Unloaded dishwasher. Loaded dishwasher. Considered that I should have made dinner plans before now. Posted David's motorcycle gear to craigslist. Accidentally woke baby up. Tried to get baby back to sleep. No go. Fed baby. Rejoiced in no time-outs today. Put away laundry, one piece at a time, with baby on hip. Sliced apples and carrots for kids. De-seeded pomegranate for a snack. Splashed pomegranate juice all over my shirt. No loss, shirt was already nasty. Made some phone calls about health insurance. Cleaned up kid-tracked-in-mud in kitchen. Picked up toys. Got baby to sleep in bouncer. Welcomed hubby home. Loved hubby for putting frozen pizzas in the oven for dinner. Bid friends goodbye. Invited friends' mama to bookgroup on Friday night. Fed kiddos. Appreciated that hubby played with baby and started a bath for toddler and preschooler. Fed self. Took a break by going outside to cuddle dog. Appreciated that there is such an animal as a dog. Came inside. Pointed out leaking washing machine to husband. Tried to be helpful about that even though I have no idea what to do about it. Fed baby. Put baby to bed. Tucked toddler and preschooler in bed. Sat down next to hubby. Got back up to answer calls of "Mommy!" from kids' room. Kissed Haven's "hurt" finger (the cause of the trauma). Explained again to preschooler that seven at night is not the same thing as seven in the morning (and therefore not time to get up and play). Kissed kids. Felt grateful for the feeling of little arms around my neck. Sat down with hubby. Watched funny TV show with hubby. Thought to myself that hubby is a handsome man. Realized it was silly to just think it...told hubby he was handsome. Resisted junk food temptation. Marveled at not feeling depression. Felt blessed. Went to bed.
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Not much time for bonbons or bubble baths. But plenty to enjoy.
2 comments:
Wow! What a day--not much TV in that post--very impressive! It is WAY too busy right now--but maybe there will be time for bonbons when the kids are all in school. Or a nap, or a trip to the store when you're not rushed and frantic and stressed. Or just being by yourself. But I find (now that I have one whole hour during the day Tuesday and Thursday by myself) that I don't know what to do with myself! It's a weird feeling.
Lindsey this is so sweet! I love how you convey your thoughts of thankfulness for your children. I agree that it seems like SAHMs would be sitting around all day eating bon-bons. I wish that were my life sometimes, but I'm thankful for how it is and wouldn't trade it for anything!
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