Typical day for a stay at home mom?

Question

Stay at home moms only...describe your day. Mine starts around 6:30 when my eighteen month old wakes up. I feed her breakfast and then we play, read books, and watch Blue's Clues most days. She naps around 11 or 12 for about 2 hours. I'll do housework, eat lunch, watch some tv or relax somehow. Then she wakes up and she'll eat lunch. Many days we will run errands after her lunch. Some days we will go for a walk to the park. Depending on the weather, we might play in the backyard for a little while. Then she'll watch an educational show while I make dinner. We'll eat and then play and read books. Bathtime is usually around 6. Then we'll play and listen to music. My daughter goes to bed at 7. Then I do more housework and relax around 8 or 9. If my husband is off we'll hang out with him all day. It's a tiring day but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Well, maybe an occasional day at the spa! LOL

Answer 1

wake up around 6 (sometimes 5 for a trip to the gym, but alas not often lately ... too tired!) to play with the early-rising toddler ...

frantic rush to get 4 kids bathed, fed, dressed, cleaned up, packed for school in (hopefully) fun way that gets the day off on the right foot ...

drive 2 kids to elementary school and 1 to preschool (preschool's just 3 mornings a week) ...

play with toddler (and preschooler on days off)/ have snack/ run errands/ clean up breakfast disaster/ do laundry/ do occasional activities like gymnastics or music or playdates ...

lunch for whoever's home (and usually my breakfast :-P) ...

pick up preschooler from school ...

put toddler down for nap/ play with preschooler/ clean/ do laundry ...

wake up (poor, still tired victim of scheduling dilemma) toddler so we can go pick up older kids at school (sometimes pick up extra kids as well for playdates) ...

snack ...

play outside until everyone's exhausted ...

supervise homework/ piano/ more laundry/ cleanup/ make dinner/ break up arguments among hungry kids ...

eat dinner;

play with 3 older kids and put toddler to bed;

read to 3 older kids; read alongside 3 older kids while they read to themselves; put big kids to bed;

collapse in exhaustion ... er, i mean hang out with husband/ clean up kitchen/ did i mention there still is sometimes more laundry to do?!?/ take long overdue shower;

then collapse in (happy) exhaustion

Answer 2

Hi, your day sounds a lot like mine!

The only difference being I have two children instead of one, boys aged 14 months and 2 years. They usually wake up at around 6:30 too. They have a nice early breakfast and then we usually go for a walk (if the weather is nice) that lasts for about an hour or so, stopping off at the playground for a swing. When we get home they play inside for a little while I do jobs around the house and sometimes this is when I cook dinner (as the afternoons get so busy). They have lunch at 11 so a little earlier than your daughter (my 2 year old takes about half an hour to an hour to eat his!) then off to bed at 12:30 till about 2:30 - this is when I get a bit of time to myself. I might use the internet, read or watch TV. When they get up again sometimes we go outside for a big play, or wait until they've had dinner (it is daylight saving here so we can be outside later). They get so filthy outside they always need a bath straight after. My youngest goes to bed first, usually around 6:30, and my 2 year old a bit later at around 7 after a story with mummy and a short while reading books in his bed.

Sometimes the same old routine can get a bit tiresome, and I find myself really exhausted some days, but like you I wouldn't change anything. It is so worth it, and I am glad I can be at home with my precious boys during these early years which is such an important and special time in their lives. Yeah a day at the spa would be lovely though! I use retail therapy instead (my husband needs to confiscate my credit card).

Answer 3

It's easier now that my son is in preschool three days a week, but my rule has always been this: we leave the house everyday, unless it is freezing or pouring rain. We don't have a car, either, so it's all on foot. Usually we wake up, watch the Disney Channel for about 30 minutes, then have breakfast, get dressed and leave. Our trips are not exciting - the grocery store, the park, the library, CVS. Starbucks is a real red letter day for us - wohoo! But the fresh air is important for both of us, and I need the exercise. Then we go home, have lunch and he takes a nap. After that, he can play in the house or ride his trike outside if it is nice. Then he gets to watch Sesame Street while I make dinner. Even if we didn't live in a walkable community, I'd still take that morning walk - I think it's important to get up, get dressed and get out for a bit. Otherwise the day just drags, and my kiddo never burns off all of his energy.

Answer 4

I have a 16 month old and a 7 week old. Usually my day starts between 7-8. My son (the 16 month old) will wake up and usually he is in his cuddling mood, so we cuddle and watch tigger and pooh until 8 30, then I'll cook him breakfast, usually eggs and toast (thats his favorite), then I clean up after breakfast. After breakfast and cleaning we play, read, do errands if we have any. At about 12 I start lunch for the both of us usually he is finished around 12 30-1 and then he goes down for a nap until about 3. While he's napping I do housework. When he wakes up from his name he gets a sippy cup with water (funny I know but he LOVES water with ice haha) and he'll watch whatever is on Noggin and have snack. We play again until around 5 and then I start dinner. Around that same time daddy gets home and they play while I finish dinner, we eat, I clean the kitchen, give him a bath and then we have "quiet" time which really is we clean up the toys and we all relax until he is ready for bed. Between ALL of that I have the 7 week old that eats every 3 hours (she gets a bath every day while my son is napping because usually thats her awake time) And diapers of course. Having two babies so close in age is a little difficult. But as the weeks go by I feel like I'm getting better and better at it. Things are very busy with two babies, but I love both of my children more than anything, and I wouldnt change my routine for the world :)

Answer 5

My 18 month old twins get up between 8 and 8:30. I feed them breakfast and then we play in the house or on days that the weather is nice we walk to the park. I make them lunch around noon. Then they lay down for a nap at 1 they sleep for a few hours. While they are asleep I clean, get on the computer, do my workout, then take a shower. We normally run errands after their nap. We eat dinner around 5 to 5:30. I give them a bath at 7:30 and they are in bed at 8. Then I clean my house again.

Answer 6

Wake up around 8:30 when I hear my 15-mth old talking in his crib. Lucky me he likes to sleep in because so do I. Even luckier me, my husband works 3pm-11pm so he's home in the morning. Sometimes he'll get up with him and I sleep in even longer!
Anyway, get up, let the dog out, get my little guy.
We let the dog back in together, then have breakfast.
Then we play, get dressed, usually read some books.
If I have any errands to do we'll usually do them now. Some days go to the library, the park when it was nice out, maybe play in the snow.
Lunch is around noon. Then he goes down for a nap between 1-1:30. He usually sleeps for about 2 hours. I do anything I need to around the house. Sometimes make dinner so I just have to heat it later. Usually go on the computer, maybe watch tv or even take a nap myself.
After he wakes up, he usually has a snack. On a motivated day, we then go to the gym. He plays in the kids care while I work out. On a lazy day we stay home and play, read books, etc.
Dinner is around 5:30-6.
Then we play some more.
Bath is around 7-7:30, then we read lots of books. He gets a small snack, then we read more books (he loves books). In bed at 8:15.

Answer 7

Well, I get up with my9 month old anywhere between 2:30 am - 4:30 am, give her a bottle and then put her back to bed. Around 7 am -7:30 am I get up with my 9 month old and my 20 month old. I change their diapers and give them their bottles. Then they get breakfast around 9am. After breakfast they watch Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Noddy etc. I take a shower and eat my breakfast and check e-mails. Around 11:30 the 9 month old gets a bottle and takes a nap and the 20 month old gets a snack and continues to play until lunch. 12:30 the 9 month old gets up from her nap and she plays and the 20 month old gets lunch. At 2:30 the 9 month old gets her lunch. Around 3pm they both get bottles and take naps. I watch my soaps that I recorded for that day. At 4:30-5:00 they get up and watch some more tv and play while I make dinner. Then we eat dinner and then I feed the baby dinner. At 7:30 it is bathtime. 8:00 the 9 month old gets a bottle and goes to bed. The 20 month old gets a snack, a bottle and then goes to bed (around 8:30-9:00) When they are sleeping I clean up after the kids, do the dishes and then sit down to watch tv or go on the computer or sometimes take a bath. Before you know it, its 11:00pm and bedtime for me. I kiss my husband good nite and check on the kids and go to sleep and start it all over the next day. if its my husband's day off we hang out with him or I go to do laundry or shopping. I try to take the kids out whenever I can. Its a tiring day for me too and I wouldn't trade it for anything either. (maybe a day off to myself ) lol

Answer 8

My kids are 13 months and 4 1/2 years. Most days start at 7:15 when the alarm goes off so I can get my son fed, dressed, and to preschool by 8:30. The baby (I guess I should get used to saying toddler instead) goes down for a morning nap right before I take my son to school. Then I go to the gym until about 10am. I get home from the gym just in time for my husband to go to work. Then I shower and do a few chores before heading off with my daughter to pick up my son from school at 11:30. Then we head to dad's work (a restaurant we own) and hang out with dad for a couple of hours and have lunch. Back home at about 2 the kids head down for afternoon naps. I do a little more cleaning and have some relax time. After the kids get up we all hang out and play and do art projects. Then we make dinner and have it on the table just in time for dad to get home at about 6:30. If there's time after dinner we play a board game most nights (Candy Land, Hi Ho Cherry-O). Kids in bed at 7:15 with stories and singing for about 30-45 minutes with lights out at 8pm.

Answer 9

well my girls are 13 months and 4 years.
Our day starts between 730-8 most days, we get up have breakfast, then i get them dressed. after they are dressed they play a little while i do the dishes and by dishes i mean loading the dishwasher, i usually can't fit everything in from dinner the night before so i have to run another load in the morning.
then i will usually take a shower while they play in the bathroom, so its usually a quick 5 min shower, unless daddy is off then i can stretch it to 10 before the door is banged on.
around 930-10 we have a snack, usually applesauce or yogurt.
then we head out to the ymca, they have different activities everyday, either swimming lessons, kids play, or i might just put them in the childcare for an hour so i can go walk the treadmill or somthing. they have fun and i get an hour to destress and exercise :)
after that we head home for lunch, then the 13 month old takes a nap, usually between 1230 and 1 she is asleep,
while she is sleeping i try to spend some one on one time with my 4 y/o either playing games, doing puzzles, playing on the computer or we do lots of baking together.
she is in preschool 3 days a week so if shes gone then i use that time to do laundry, clean the bathroom, mop the floors ect ect.. all the 'chemical" chores so the baby doesn't get into them.
after nap time its another snack which is usually around 230-3.
around 330 i start dinner so they girls just usually play in the living room till daddy gets home at 430.
we eat at 5 and after dinner, its crazy.. cleanup, then bath then jammies then the 13 month old is in bed by 630 and i spend some time with hubby and my 4 y/o, for a bit, i do webkinz with my daughter everynight before she goes to bed and she is in bed by 8.
by then i crash on the couch to watch some tv or go on yahoo answers (like now) to answer some questions :)
hope you ahve a merry christmas!!

Answer 10

How do you get your little one to go to bed by 7pm?? Kudos to you.I have three kids. My youngest is 6 months and still wont go to bed till 2am. My oldest wakes up at 6am no matter what. My middle child is up at 7am. Breakfast, laundry, unload the dishes from last night's dishwasher run. More laundry. Errands( Tuesday is library day yeah!) or an activity ie playdoh, coloring, walks. Lunch, naps-( but more like quiet time for the two older ones) Feed the baby she takes her nap. Do my to do list for things around the house- and do home preschool with my older two while baby still sleeps. Dinner. Read books. Bathtime. Bedtime routine: Bath, get dressed, brush teeth, one book each, one song, prayer, lights out. Then the baby and I sit together while I catch up on my emails. Put her to bed and take a shower(got to do that!! :) ) and to bed for me. Then to do it all over again. My husband's a firefighter so he's gone between 80- 100 hours a week. So most of it is on me. But I take it very seriously . My kids are my joy. THey are what makes my heart smile- and even though its the toughest job I will ever have, I love to go to work everyday.

Answer 11

My 2 1/2 year old daughter sleeps 12 hours a night but she rarely sleeps until 9 or 10 at night. Wakes at 9 or 10 the next morning. Luckily for our little family this works well as my husband isn't back from work until about 8pm so he gets to see her a bit each day. If I had her to bed earlier, then she'd never see Daddy which isn't healthy for any of us!
So my daughter and I "sleep in" (to some-lol) and then have a quick breakfast and out the door. We do an activity most days (library, swimming, play at the park, get together with friends etc) and we're usually home for lunch around 1 or 2 (which isn't late when you get up at 10am! ha ha). Now my daughter clearly gave up her naps by age 2 and she doesn't act tired so we go with it (of course, I feel ok about this because I know she gets her required 12 hours at night). The afternoons can get long but I usually let her play by herself at something (which she can usually do quite well- and TV is only watched if I'm REALLY needing a break and then it's only 1 short show for her) and I try to clean the house a bit during this time, or else I get her to "help" me (her favourite is the "sock matching party!" and she's quite good at finding the pairs and bringing them to me while I put the other clothes away). We also eat dinner late, around 7:30 or 8pm when Daddy walks in the door. Sometimes we'll eat earlier if she seems really hungry, but usually she eats healthy snacks, and is fine for supper. Then I try to let her play with Daddy while I clean up. That part is never perfect as I usually want to talk to him and she wants to play with both of us etc but we muddle through. Once she's in bed my hubby and I usually watch a bit of TV and talk etc. My day's always seem VERY full and I'm burnt out by the end of them, so I laugh when people ask if I'm bored. I just wish I could fit in some working out time as some of you seem to, because it's desperately missing it in my life. Otherwise, things seem nicely balanced for our family. :)