Have you ever read blogs and wondered what goes on behind the scenes? I have!
Keeper of the Home, where I am a contributing writer and the site editor, is currently running a fun Day in the Life series, where each of the writers share a day from their real lives! Today, I’m over there sharing about a chaotic day we recently had. You can read it here.
I decided to share a sketch of our more routine days with you here:
Our girls are now 5, almost 3, and 13 months. We decided to wait until our oldest turns 6 to send her to kindergarten, so she is currently in transitional kindergarten three days per week. On the other two days, I work with her at home.
I LOVE this schooling model. Most children who attend the transitional kindergarten are there all five days, but we purposely have her in only three days, so I can practice for next year, when we hope to send her to a university model school–which is like a hyrbid, part-time homeschool model.
I’d love to tell you that I am super disciplined and get up around 5:00 a.m. and spend two hours in prayer, 30 minutes in exercise and then shower and am dressed and ready for the day before the girls wake up.
But I’m not.
Normally, I stir just enough to kiss my husband goodbye when he leaves for work, and I then wake up fully when the older two girls come and get in the bed with me–or when the baby starts crying to nurse.
I usually cuddle with all three of them in the bed with me for a while. Sometimes the baby lies on top of me and nurses, and the other girls snuggle up next to each side of me. At times, I think: “If only I could just be more disciplined and have breakfast all ready, etc. before they wake up.” But then…I think to myself: “One day I’ll miss these cuddles, and these early morning moments with my nursling.”
And so I’m trying to not beat myself up too much and enjoy it while it lasts. (Don’t let this make you think this time of cuddling is always peaceful. Many mornings the two older girls end up fighting over who gets to snuggle up next to mommy the closest!)
On Mondays and Fridays, we are usually home all day long. I LOVE being home all day! When I was a newer mom, I ran all over Timbuktu with my girls. I attended two weekly Bible studies, took them to the library, took them to playgroups and whatever free music classes, etc. I could find.
And then I burnt out–big time. So ever since my third baby came along, I’ve committed to stay at home as much as possible.
I want to train them to be in homemaking skills and to instill in them a Christian worldview. I figure if we are always running around all over the place–even if it’s for good things–it will leave little time for me to train them.
When we come downstairs for the day, I usually cook breakfast while the girls either watch some Netflix or color. If they aren’t watching Netflix, I usually blare KLOVE on the Roku. It’s so wonderful to start out the day worshiping through the songs they play.
We spend the rest of the day just living life–playing outside, doing crafts, practicing our letters and numbers, etc. and the Bible verses the girls are learning in Awana, which they just started attending on Sunday nights.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, my 5 year old is in transitional kindergarten at a small church preschool for three hours. My almost-3 year old also attends on Tuesday and Thursdays.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I usually come home and put the baby down for a nap and then begin work for most of the time the girls are in school. I’m a work-at-home mom who blogs, freelance writes, organizes ebook bundle sales and edits at Keeper of the Home.
It’s busy and often crazy, but I am incredibly grateful to be able to bring in some income from home and be the primary caretaker of my girls!
On Wednesdays, I fit in a little bit of work during that morning time if my middle child is doing a puzzle or something, but I try not to do too much then because that gives the two of us time together while Big Sister is at school and Baby Sister is napping.
On Tuesdays, my mom comes over to watch the girls in the afternoon, so I can either work in our upstairs office or go to a local coffee shop to work.
We usually spend the other afternoons outside or in our school/play room, and I fit in some more work while the younger two are taking afternoon naps and my oldest is having quiet time. I then start to cook dinner. After eating as a family when my husband gets home, we either get the girls to bed (if we’re eating late) or take a family walk (my favorite!) if we’ve eaten early enough and it’s still light outside.
We then get the girls ready for bed. When we’re on the ball, we read a Bible story together, and we always pray together before bed.
What does a typical day look like at your house?
We love our sponsors!
Custom Designed Lockets and Charms by ORIGAMI OWL Help You Tell Your Story. Contact Independent Designer, Taralee Reeves, at http://taralee.origamiowl.com/ to ORDER now and find out how you can receive FREE jewelry.
Get Organized with 31! Visit https://www.mythirtyone.com/tbradley
Nicole @ CraftyBeards
Very cool to see a peek inside your busy life! I think taking advantage of certain times (like you do) is key.
Blessings,
Nicole @ WKH
Jennifer S.
Our days are similar. I do try to be more specific like 7:30 sharp is breakfast, but we don’t often realize that even with the older children helping me. Mostly we do routine and not schedule – wake up, prep breakfast, eat breakfast, chores, Bible, school, lunch, nap/quiet time, afternoon chores, playing/baking/sewing, supper, clean-up, walk, bed time routines (with 8 children 9 months to 15 they’re all going to bed in stages), in bed myself. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but I always figure tomorrow is a new day to try again.
Sarah @ HelpMeet Your Goals
Love this. I have a 2 year old and 4 month old. One thing I’ve learned with little kids: As soon as I think I have a “typical” day down, it changes. 🙂
I do try to get up early, as that’s the only way to have any down time / work time to myself at this stage. We also try to have at least one fully at home day per week, and minimally schedule our other days.
kim
Absolutely love your post.I found it on pinterest. I did the same thing as a first time mom, burning myself out and my kids out. Love that we don’t have to “do it all”. It’s so counter-cultural. We think we must “do it all” for our kids to be happy, when really quite the opposite is true. Stopping the glorification of “busy”.
Our day is about the same, with 1 in pre-k and the other with mommy. 🙂 We do lots of art, play a lot, pretend, watch a few cartoons, do our memory verses and also listen to music. (I love Air1 radio on I heart radio) We jam. 🙂 Although, I only have boys, my day looks a lot like yours. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Niomi
I love that you stopped being so busy. I’ve made a point to be home most of the time and go for small outings when we want to go out. but i make sure our schedule isn’t hectic, because i think it’s hard on kids! sometimes i feel bad about not doing everything, but they’re happy and i guess that’s the point 🙂 i have a certian allowence every month for the girls to have fun, and i’ve decided to start spending most of it on things to make our home more fun for them. 🙂
Kayla
My kids attend a University Model School and we absolutely love it!
Naomi
First off let me say you don’t have to be perfect to be a great Mom and you are a great Mom!
We have no children because they are all in heaven. My husband and I are both disabled and both night owls so we rise anywhere between 2 PM and 4 PM unless there is a need to get up earlier like a doctors appointment. We eat then we start our day by doing any errands that need to be run. We come home and I do my daily prayer and such then I do it all over again when I go to bed around 2 AM to 4 AM (I occasionally have nights where I can’t sleep so that means extra Bible time and extra prayers!).
When I was married to my ex husband and before I worked in AWANA back in my home church. I loved it! I went through the program myself.
Gerri
All my kids are grown now, just me and my medically retired husband. I say all grown, but my youngest is a senior in high school. When all 3 kids are younger like yours we had lots of snuggle time. It goes by to fast and all the cleaning is here now haha enjoy it. I now have to learn to do other things after years of kids. How do you find time for journal, Bible, prayer time? I still struggle with that