A Day in the Life of a WAHM

OK, I am going to be real here - I had no idea what the acronym WAHM was when my first son was born.  And when I would scour the internet for "schedules" and "activities" for work at home moms, I kept coming across this WAHM word.  WAHM?!?  Turns out it stands for Work-At-Home-Mom.  As my youngest son would say, "dinger dinger winner!"  Needless to say, I figured out the WAHM thing pretty quickly, and nearly five years later, I thought I had it down to a science.  Until my older son started preschool for the first time.  I was never able to find a solid WAHM schedule when my oldest son was born, so here is a peek at a current but ever-changing schedule of this WAHM.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links.  This means that if you click on and/or buy something through the link, I will receive a small commission.  And after a few small commissions, I can head over to Starbucks to grab the most caffeine-laden product that they sell because sleep is for wusses.  At least in my house it is.  

Night before - everyone lays out their clothes for the next day.  Clothing placed on the bathroom counter and clean socks placed inside shoes by the front door.  Backpack is packed and kids "order" their breakfast for the next morning.

6:45 - 7:00 am Mom wakes up - really, let's be honest, it depends how much attention my hair needs that day.  I was not born with naturally easy hair.  Half is wavy, half is curly, and when left to its own devices, it resembles medusa.  

7:30 am Gremlins Children wake up and get dressed - usually they are up before 7:30 and hang out in the bathroom with me while I get ready.  No TV before they are dressed (this is my mother's advice and it has worked wonders in getting everyone ready on time).  In order to leave the bathroom, the kids must use the toilet, brush teeth and hair, and put on their clothes.  I also start a load of laundry.

7:45 am Prepare and Eat Breakfast - this week we have been on an Olaf Waffle (see below) kick.  They sit at the kitchen table and eat.  I apply the no TV rule here, too, otherwise they eat at a pace rivaled only by a 100 year old tortoise.

8:00 am Playtime (and disaster recovery mode) - While I clean up after breakfast, the children of the corn play.  By this point they aren't interested in the TV and usually are excited to play with their toys.  This is also usually when "disaster" strikes.  So far this week I have used this half hour to:  mop the floor after my husband stepped in dog poop while walking the dogs; and mopped the floor, bathed my son, bathed two dogs, and bleached the tub after my son projectile vomited Olaf all over the hallway.  Hence, I call this "disaster recovery mode".

8:30 am Get shoes on - When the clock strikes 8:30 am, all kernels must report to the front door and put on their shoes.  My oldest son has gotten really good at putting on his own socks and shoes, and my younger son usually opts for his hamburger-crocs.  Everyone must use the toilet, then we collect our things and head out the door by 8:35 am.

8:45 am School Drop Off - I enjoy walking my older son to his class, so we make sure to arrive at his school right at the beginning of the drop off time slot.  We are fortunate to live literally five minutes away from his school, so this makes it easy to get there early.  We walk to my older son's class, encourage him to follow the rules and put his folder away, and then we say our goodbyes.  My younger son asks every day if he can stay.  When I tell him no, he gets to go with me, he looks as if I just crushed his soul and is devastated that he must return home with the she-devil also known as his mother.  And on that happy note, we say goodbye to the staff and head to the car.

9:00 am Go Home - OK, this is a blatant lie.  Sometimes I stop for a Mocha at McDonald's.  And then I take the scenic route and drive my awesome mini-van right by Mark Ruffalo's house on the off chance that he might walk out and wave for me and my mom mobile to come say hello.  And see his mansion.  And take a ride in his limo.  And then I remember I have to get home and switch the laundry.

9:15 am Get Ready to Work - get my computer turned on and my paperwork organized.  I also get an activity set up for my younger son (example:  today was ripping paper and gluing with a glue stick; yesterday, it was shoving as many figures into a toy elevator as he could and then complaining that it got stuck).  If I did not stop at McDonald's, this is when I eat cookies my healthy, nutritious breakfast.

9:30 am Feed the Dogs - yes, I have a special time carved out for dog feeding.  I have three dogs.  Three.  Dogs.  And one of them is picky and requires me to mix the perfect ratio of wet and dry food.  And then doesn't eat it anyway.

9:40 am Start Working - by this point in the morning, my younger son is occupied and I can sit down and review a few e-mails or files or schedule a meeting.  Sometimes if my younger son is restless, I allow him to watch a little TV at this point (he can only choose from a few shows, so TV time is limited).

11:40 am Get Ready to Pick Up Older Son - this is when I let the dogs out (yes, I am the answer to "who let the dogs out?") and have my younger son clean up a little, use the bathroom, and put on shoes.  We leave the house by 11:45 am.

11:45 am Pick Up Older Son - We pick up my older son and talk to his teacher if necessary.  Then we talk about his day as we head home.

12:00 pm Lunch - we usually arrive home by noon.  I am fortunate that my husband comes home for lunch every day, so we all prepare lunch together and sit down to eat.  I also use the lunch hour to fold a load of laundry, clean dishes, prepare dinner, and - if there's time - work on the blog.  The boys usually play with Legos or pretend play.

1:00 pm Afternoon Activities - Over the summer the boys had swim lessons, but since that is coming to an end this week, there is no need to put it in the schedule.  Currently, I set them up with an activity (coloring, drawing, pretend play, etc.).  My older son can have a little TV time during the afternoon if he chooses.

3:30 pm Get Ready to Go Outside - Again, I let the dogs out (this is why the original song was so long - I let the dogs out so much) and the boys use the bathroom and put on their shoes (or swim suits if we are heading to the pool).  I also offer the boys a snack before we leave.

4:00 pm Go Out and Play - I am very fortunate that I live within walking distance from my mom.  We meet most afternoons to get the boys outside to play and burn some energy and exercise. Even when my mom is not available to meet, I make it a point to get the boys out for at least an hour every day.  Activities include:  taking a walk, going to the park, swimming, bike riding - pretty much anything to burn all of the energy that they have stored up.  (OK, this is unrealistic - everyone knows that NO ONE can burn ALL of a little boy's energy).

5:00 pm Come Home - we are usually home by 5:00 pm.  The boys get cleaned up and we all meet in the kitchen to work on dinner together.  Once dinner is set, the boys go and play (usually very loudly) until dinner is ready.  (I have recently re-discovered the crock pot.  You bet this is how I will be preparing dinner for the foreseeable future).  I am convinced that they get louder whenever their dad is home.  Coincidence?  I think not.

6:00 pm Dinner Time - I aim to have dinner on the table by 6:00 pm.  Sometimes it is earlier.  Sometimes it is later.  You get the idea.  My older son helps with setting the table.  My younger son sits at the table and demands food.  At least everyone knows their role.

6:30 pm Clean Up - If we are fortunate enough to finish dinner by 6:30 pm, I usually clear the table and do the dishes.  Normally though, we are finished closer to 7:00 pm (each son has to use the bathroom during dinner like clockwork.  and they always ask for more food.  or another napkin.  or a different fork because the fork they are using touched the meat.)

7:00 pm Bath Time - the boys get their bath around 7:00 pm and the dogs get their dinner.  My husband and I each tackle one task.  I usually get to handle the splash zone, I mean bath time.

7:30 pm Pajamas and Teeth - by 7:30 pm the boys are out of the bath and have their pajamas on and their teeth brushed.  The have a half hour to finish playing while I straighten up and clear the clutter.  I also require the boys to lay out their clothing for the next day and "order" their breakfast for the next morning before they go play.

8:00 pm Bed Time - the boys use the bathroom and then report to the couch for a story (if they aren't wild - the rule is that they must remain calm if they want story time.  Big Mama doesn't read to a wild child.)

9:00 pm Get Back to Work - by this time, the kernels are sleeping and I have a couple of hours to finish working (if necessary) before showering and passing out.

11:00 pm Sleep - since our family's motto is "Sleep is for Wusses" an 11:00 pm bed time rarely happens for me.  When it does, I am woken up 30 minutes later by one of the kernels.  My older one is usually frightened that there is lightning outside.  My younger one thinks everything is a spider and will sit up all night repeating the word "forty-eight".  Oh wait.  That was last night.  Yes, I got my Mocha this morning.

REPEAT.  Every. Day.

What does your schedule look like?