Since I made the decision to be a at-home mom, it’s been nearly two years. Every day I’m grateful to be at home with my boys. The days can be long and exhausting. Some days I feel in control and other days I count down the minutes before Hubs gets home to help. It is my favourite job, and I would not trade my time with my sons for anything.
What do moms who stay at home do? On some days, I do ask myself that question. This is a question I ask myself on days when I don’t feel productive.
When I was working outside the home, my tasks and projects changed constantly. As soon as I completed one project, I moved onto the next. Even though I am at home, I have specific tasks and a project. It’s not that I don’t finish tasks, but it’s more likely than not that the same task will need to be completed again soon after. And again. And again. Laundry. Preparing meals. Cooking. Shopping lists. Shopping. Shopping. Making the bed. Reminding myself of the rules.
There are also all kinds of fun activities – storytimes at the library, playing in the park, playdates, walking around the neighborhood, and getting to meet our neighbors. Arts and crafts are great for rainy days. There are many things to do, including reading, singing, dancing and watching our favorite TV shows. Kisses, hugs, and lots of laughter are common. This is what makes the job worthwhile. Here are the things that I can’t miss.
But I digress.
Even though you are at home, it is still a job. It’s how I like to see it. As a mom who stays at home, I am not only responsible for teaching our children during the day – although this is the most crucial role – but also creating and implementing systems that will keep our family running smoothly. Of course, this often involves asking Hubs to assist and teaching Little how to do chores. The system is still largely mine.
Since having our littlest, (Hug), I feel like we have finally settled into a routine that is predictable. Today I will share a glimpse into our everyday life.
This post will answer your questions about what stay-at home moms do during the day.
Evening
7:00-8:00 We start the day. Little has a rule that he must stay in his bedroom until at least 7:00. When he awakens, he immediately comes to our bedroom for extra cuddles. He will sometimes fall back to sleep, but he usually lets us know that he wants playtime. Hug usually wakes up between 7:30 and 8 am.
* I sneak out of bed to get to the restroom a few moments before anyone else wakes up to get ready for the day. Before Hug was even born, I got up early every morning. I hope to return to this routine, as it increases my productivity. However, we are still in the newborn stage, so that’s not going to happen right now.
8:00 Hubs helps Little start his schedule. Little knows he has to go get “a new, clean diaper”, brush teeth, and choose his play clothes before he comes downstairs. Little can then play on his own for a while, while Hubs has a quick shower.
Before heading downstairs, I feed Hug and change him.
8 :15 Hubs takes Little downstairs to begin his breakfast.
8 : 20 When I arrive downstairs, I start heating up my breakfast. The same bowl of oatmeal is almost always served with maple syrup and cinnamon. Hubs goes upstairs to get ready for work.
8:30 Hubs leaves for work after we say a prayer as a family. Little and I discuss our plans for today and I let him know what we need to prepare.
9:00 Little watches TV while I prepare our morning activities.
Early Morning/Late Morning
To be honest, this is the most important part of our day. As we finish breakfast and prepare for the day, Hug is on the verge of needing a nap.
9 : 15 Hug begins getting ready for his nap after 9. I will take him up to his pack-n’-play if we are staying at home. I pack my bag for an outing and make sure I have everything we will need (diapers & snacks, water bottles & extra clothes), before I begin. I always make sure that my Active K’tan Carrier is with me. When Little was a newborn, I used the Baby K’tan Original Carrier. Now that we’re moving into warmer temperatures, I use the Baby K’tan Active Carrier. This carrier is lightweight, blocks 90% of UVA/UVB rays, and wicks sweat away. I was very concerned about this because Hug is still too young to use most sunscreens. I always take it with me when I go out with my boys, especially if I am by myself.
9:45-9.45Leave the house to start our morning activities. It usually takes 30 minutes or more to get everyone outside. #truelife I try to get out of the home about three times per week. We go to the grocery store on Mondays and we visit the library for storytime twice a week. We’ll be adding more playdates and playground time now that the weather is warming up. When we’re out of the home, baby wearing is a must. This allows me to carry Little and still push my shopping cart.
10:00 On Mondays, we almost always go to the supermarket. Hug is napping, so he’ll probably fall asleep on the way home. He goes back to sleep as soon as I put him in the carrier.
1115 Reload the car and drive everyone home. I try to arrive home right before Hug finishes his nap so I can prepare lunch while he is sleeping.
11:30-12:00 While Hug is napping, I prepare lunch for Little and me. If we have been out, I will wear Hug as I prepare lunch to allow him to get in his last nap.
When Hug awakens, I play with him while Little finishes his lunch.
12:30 More playtime. After lunch, I start to get Little thinking about nap time. I allow the boys to play for a few minutes during Hug’s 60-75 minute nap window.
Naptime
12 : 45 Hug him and get him to sleep for an afternoon nap. During this time, Little will (hopefully!) play quietly. He’ll often come into the room, and I will read to him quietly while I am nursing.
1:00 Put Little to sleep for his afternoon nap. For a time, I believed that Little had stopped taking his afternoon nap. He refused to take them in the first few weeks we had Hug at home. Since Hug has a more consistent schedule, I can give Little more attention and get him to nap again.
Then we sat down and read two more books. We close our eyes, and then “think about sleeping”. The whole process takes 15-30 minutes, and Little will sleep for 1.5-2 hours.
1:30 When my boys are napping, I work on my blog, clean the kitchen or do some other things.
2:15Hug awakes and eats. While we wait for Little, we play on the Activity Gym. We also practice tummy-time.
Post Nap
3:30 Little wakes up. I prepare his snack and we discuss what we want to do later in the day.
3 :45 Since it is warmer, we’ve been spending more time in the afternoon outdoors. This looks like a walk most days. Since we do not have a double-stroller (and Hug’s too young to fit in it without his car seat), I also use my Active Carrier. I love that I can go outside without worrying about Hug’s last nap. Because I know Hug will nap in his carrier, I also don’t feel trapped in my house when the weather gets nicer later in the afternoon.
After our walk we play in the backyard, garage, and driveway. This time of year, sidewalk chalk is our favorite.
5 : 15 We head inside to prepare dinner. Little can play during this time, or help me in the cooking if it is something he knows how to do. Hug usually sits in his bouncer chairs as we prepare dinner and put it in the oven. I can still interact with him and keep him safe from the oven/stove by putting him in his bouncer chair. *I don’t wear Baby Hug when I am working near an oven to ensure that nothing hot will spill or splash on him.
5 : 45 Dinner is cooking in the oven. We head to the living area to play. Hug is playing on a blanket with his Activity Gym, and Little is nearby or reading books.
I also spend this time of the day trying my best to keep Little away from the pantry. Some days are more successful than others.
Dinner and Bedtime
6 :45Hubs comes home from work, and we have dinner. This part of the day can be a bit of a race with the clock. Hug is getting sleepy, and Little is bursting with energy because Daddy has come home to tell him about his day. Hubs and myself work together to prepare and set the table. I eat my dinner quickly to get Hug up for bed.
7 :15 Hug baby and put him to bed. The whole process takes around 45 minutes when it is bath night.
8:00Hubs helps Little clean his toys, and then gets him upstairs to bathe and go to bed.
8 : 20Bathtime, brushing teeth, pajamas, Little
8 :45Reading for Little and turning off the lights. It is similar to Little’s nap time routine. The process can last anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the day. Hubs takes care of most of the bedtime routine by himself. After our nightly prayer and a story, I go downstairs to plan for the next day and wash dishes or work on my blog.
10:00Hubs, I try to spend time with you and catch up on the day.
11:00Good night to everyone and a great day tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Here we go. It’s funny, when you spell it out this way it makes it look so organized and busy. It hasn’t been this way always – the first few weeks of being a four person family were a challenge. The Baby K’tan Active Carrier has allowed me to be able focus on Little, and make sure he gets my attention throughout the day. It also allows Hug to come along with us on our adventures and get the support and rest he needs.
You should also familiarize yourself with all safety measures prior to using a baby carrier. Please consult the sizing chart to ensure you are using the correct carrier.