As a stay at home mother, homeschooling one at that, I have often heard this question. But, for some reason, it got to me enough today to write about it.  I had a friend (a career mom) tell me that there was no way she could ever stay at home with her kids.
“I mean, what do you do all day? Watch soap operas and daytime TV? I would be sooo bored!”
Since I was laughing so hard, it took me a minute or two to be able to breathe again.
I had a rather slower day today, and have the time to write about what I did today. So, here it goes.
WHAT I DID TODAY
BY Heather
Woke up at 6am with the dogs licking my face, begging to be let outside. Stumble through the house, trying to get to the door in time and chain them up. Use the bathroom, let the dogs back in, and start the coffee.
Wake up sleeping spouse and change into workout clothes. Tie workout shoes. Let dogs back out, since they didn’t finish the first time.
Feed dogs, change water. Feed cats, scoop out litter box, change their water.
Get on treadmill, run for 30 minutes (ok, it was only 22 this morning, but close enough!)
Grab shower, fix spouse and children breakfast. Make bed. Start washing machine. Kiss spouse goodbye, get kids started on chores. Pour self cup of coffee. Call friend who was sick this week and check on her. Set coffee cup down and help 4 year old with shoes.
Change the clothes from washer to dryer and start another load. Look all over house for cup of coffee, only to find it got cold. Pour it out and grab another cup. Start children on Math. Answer phone, tell solicitor that I am not interested. Hang up.
Answer questions about fractions, multiplication tables, and counting while fixing self breakfast. Burn toast since I need to explain fractions a bit more.
Nibble on the slice of toast that isn’t burnt completely, and let dogs out again. Look all over for that second cup of coffee that got cold again. Sigh, and try another cup.
Let kids have break, fold clothes from dryer, put clothes from washer into dryer. Sweep floors as there is dirt all over again from kids and dogs going in and outside.
Start kids on Science. Decide what to have for lunch, and get 4 year old to stop coloring on dogs. Explain that they don’t like to have makeup on. Decide that I am just not going to get a cup of hot coffee, and drink it cold.
Fix lunch. Tell kids that they need to be thankful for it, and not to complain. Get 4 year old to stop trying to shove rice up his nose. Tell 9 year old that the dogs won’t help him eat his broccoli, so he should really stop trying.
Get call from spouse who is at work. “I just wanted to hear your voice”…{read: I am having a bad day and want a little cheerleading”}
Cheerlead hubby. Walk his lunch down to him. Grab mail from post office on way back, make deposit at the bank.
Break up fight between boys, start kids on History, lay 4 year old down for nap. Wash lunch dishes. Remember that the grape jelly didn’t set, and I still need to get that done.
Check email, pray for friend that is having issues with pregnancy.
Get the grape “syrup” and pour it into a pot, wash the jars, and get the canning pot boiling. Boil syrup into jelly and re-can. Go to clean up kitchen, find that I am out of dish soap. Grate soap for making own dish soap. Clean up kitchen, start dinner. Get jars out of water, set on towel to cool.
Finish schoolwork for day, fold clothes from dryer. Start another load of clothes. Play catch with kids, teaching the 4 year old that he needs to put the ball in his NON gloved hand to throw.
Let dogs out. Have DD check the water levels and feed again.
Have friend over for son for playdate. Chat with mom for a few minutes. Check grape jelly (that I didn’t can) and rejoice that it “set” this time.
Pay bills, make phone calls, return emails. Check Facebook home page. Get inspiration for article, write it, and check email again. Switch clothes from washer to dryer.
Get biscuit mix ready for dinner, set table.
Run brush through hair, check teeth, squirt perfume on. Hubby is about to walk in the door.
Make biscuits for dinner, get soup on the table. Feed family.
Have hubby play catch with kids as I clean up the kitchen. Fold last load of laundry. Take out garbage, get kids in bath, and ready for school tomorrow. Try and quiet kids down a bit since Hubby is still working, albeit from home now.
Swiffer floors, pick up legos and books.
Brush kids’ teeth, say prayers, tuck into bed.
Get ready for bed myself. Watch TV with hubby for a while, check date book and plan the weekend. Let dogs out again.
Get into bed, get back up and get boys a drink of water. Tuck back into bed.
Climb into bed and fall asleep, finally. It’s been a long day!
And that, folks, is what I did today! I didn’t even go anywhere, like the library or grocery store. That would’ve been somewhere between breakfast and lunch, though. And some people think that I just stay home and eat bon bons all day? If only I had the time….
Heather Harris from A Titus 2 Woman
Ya know, I am a part time stay at home mom (I work 2 days a week) and my kids are now in school. My friends wonder the same thing. I do tons of volunteer work so most of my non work days are spent on that, paying bills, doing housework, running errands, etc. I truely dont understand how career moms get all the non career stuff done while working full time. When my kids were little I was home 24/7 with them and while I loved every minute of it, there were days I thought I’d go insane if I did one more puzzle or wiped one more snotty nose! I really DO miss my career (Microbiologist) but I figure I have lots of time to get back to it after the kids are grown up. Why have them if someone else is going to take care of them all day?
I loved reading this! Such a true account of the stuff we do all day. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But I must say that I’m not as diligent w/the housework as you are, Heather! Or the canning!
Great idea, thanks for this tip!