Let’s face it, many have wondered what stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) do all day. While hopefully your upbringing taught you to keep those thoughts to yourself, I’m here to shed some light on the daily lives of SAHMs—specifically mine. I won’t claim to speak for every mom out there because, honestly, you should never assume anything about sleep-deprived, coffee-chugging women wrangling toddlers (trust me on this one).
For the past six years, I’ve been orchestrating this delightful chaos, and believe me, I’ve fielded my fair share of curious and judgmental inquiries. So, let’s address a few of the classics:
- “Are you ever bored?” Well, obviously.
- “What will you do when the kids are in school?” Honestly, I can’t predict where I’ll be next week, let alone in five years.
- “You have three kids under six? You must be so busy.” Absolutely! But I always make sure to have one hand free by 7 p.m. for a well-deserved glass of wine (because priorities).
- “I could never stay home all day. I’d go insane.” You know what would drive me crazy? Working a 40-hour week just to afford a cheap bottle of wine after paying for daycare for three kids.
So, for those of you still curious about my day-to-day life, here’s how it typically unfolds:
Daily Routine
6:45 a.m.: Wake up. Brush my teeth. Splash some water on my face.
7:00 a.m.: Rouse the kids from slumber. Hope for no flying fists from the middle child.
7:15-8:30 a.m.: First cup of coffee. Feed the kids. Prepare lunch for the kindergartner. Search for quarters for the latest fundraiser. Pick out outfits while listening to my middle child lament that she can’t wear her favorite dress. Get everyone cleaned up and ready to go.
8:35 a.m.: Drop off the kindergartner.
9:00 a.m.: Drop off the preschooler.
9:15-10:00 a.m.: Do laundry and tidy up the kitchen post-breakfast. Enjoy a quick chat with my best friend while the baby naps. Relish my second cup of coffee.
10:00 a.m.: Playtime with the little one. Try to fold laundry while he enthusiastically scatters it around. Reheat my coffee. Get gently assaulted by 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 now-screaming child.
10:07 a.m.: Watch in disbelief as he takes one bite and offers the rest to the dog. My heart breaks a little.
10:15-11:15 a.m.: Pay bills, read a few pages, clean up some messes.
11:30 a.m.: Time to pick up the preschooler.
11:45 a.m.: Lunchtime. Reheat my coffee (again). Nap time! Send the preschooler upstairs, where she inevitably finds ways to avoid sleeping.
Noon: Clean up the lunch mess. Walk quietly around the living room, picking up toys while the baby naps.
12:30 p.m.: Devour my lunch, trying to savor the quiet. Give up on the reheated coffee.
1:00 p.m.: Finish laundry and scrub something that I just cleaned two days ago.
1:15 p.m.: Baby wakes. Read books, play, and dodge flying NutriGrain bars.
2:00 p.m.: Preschooler joins us again.
2:15 p.m.: Chill time with cartoons and snacks. Check the dinner recipe to see what I forgot to buy.
3:00 p.m.: Tidy the house 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 as other parents chat with me.
4:00 p.m.: Home with the kindergartner.
4:10 p.m.: Engage in some craft project that takes ages to set up but is over in a flash.
5:00 p.m.: Start preparing dinner. Kids make a beeline for the basement.
6:00 p.m.: DADDY’S HOME THANK YOU, JESUS.
6:15 p.m.: Dinner time!
6:45 p.m.: Collapse on the couch, instantly surrounded by three kids who apparently don’t know how to give a proper back rub. Contemplate leaving the kitchen mess until morning.
7:00 p.m.: Clean the kitchen for the umpteenth time. Family time begins, followed by some much-needed wine time. Binge-watch a show when the kids vanish with their iPads.
9:00 p.m.: Head upstairs. Brush teeth, wash up, and tuck the kids in. Squeeze their adorable faces because I love them so much it hurts.
9:10 p.m.: Encourage them to lie down for bedtime.
9:20 p.m.: Yell for them to settle down, warning that if I come in, they’ll regret it.
9:30 p.m.: Debate whether to go downstairs for some me-time but usually don’t.
9:33 p.m.: Finally, pass out from the day’s exhaustion.
So there you have it! And to all the working moms, single moms, and those juggling family with travel, you are my heroes. This isn’t a competition about who has it harder; we’re all just trying to raise decent human beings while waiting for our version of “Whine Thirty.”
If your daily grind is tougher than mine, I salute you. If you do less but your kids are happy, please share your secrets! If you think my Pop-Tart decision is questionable, just know the dog eats most of them anyway. If you thought I had everything under control and my life was picture-perfect, I sincerely apologize for the false impression.
And if you read this and felt a wave of sympathy, feel free to turn that into something tangible—like sending me some free wine and cheese.
For more insights on parenting and tools to aid in your journey, check out our related posts on home insemination at Intracervical Insemination, and learn about fertility options at Make A Mom. For more resources on pregnancy and home insemination, visit the CDC’s infertility page.
Summary
This blog post humorously details the daily routine of a stay-at-home mom, countering common misconceptions about their day-to-day lives. It highlights the challenges, chaos, and joys of motherhood while recognizing the hard work of all mothers, regardless of their circumstances.