Day in the Life of a WAHM {Afternoon Edition}

This is the third part of a series of posts outlining a typical day in the life of a work at home mom.  

Part 1: Morning Routine Edition

Part 2: Work Edition

12:02 – Everyone has finished lunch (after a few minor freak outs regarding cheese) and Bo convinces the girls they need to go “exercise.”  On days when I don’t have other exercise planned, I sometimes do an exercise video during this time.  The trio will often try to do it with me — at least until they kick each other and I have to pause the DVD and try to make everyone happy again.  I ran this morning, so I have no plans to exercise, but Bo has other plans and all three start jumping on the couch.  I quickly realize they need a distraction so I throw everything from lunch onto the counter and pull out our PlayDoh bin.  Success!  The couch jumping has ceased.

12:07 – I start the kiddos with PlayDoh and clean up the kitchen.  I unload and start reloading the dishwasher, throw away leftovers, take the garbage to the garage, etc.  However, my kiddos aren’t entirely self-sufficient with PlayDoh yet, so I am frequently stopping to help someone open a lid, fish out a piece that ends up where they don’t want it, and telling Clara I love the  ”little hot dogs” she’s making.

12:41 – The kitchen is mostly cleaned up so I sit down at the table with the kiddos.  I snap a few pictures with my phone, which everyone wants to see.  They entertain me with random stories about what they are making.  If I ever question why I do activities with my kids, Bo is the first to remind me that they are paying attention.  Today, he says, “Remember when Hippa told us to make PlayDoh snow!”  His memory is like a steal trap and he seems to remember every activity we’ve ever attempted.  I guess at least he’s paying attention.

12:55 – It’s almost “rest time.”  I tell the kiddos we need to cleanup and Clara is not pleased, but eventually comes around.  Bo has stuck PlayDoh into the top of one of the toys so I use an ink pen to try to remove it.  There went ten minutes of my life that I can’t get back…

1:05 – Everything is cleaned up.  I tuck the girls into their beds with Berenstain bear books and Bo trots into his room.  None of my trio actually naps (the girls will maybe once a month and Bo hasn’t for years) but I do require rest time – both so I can attempt to accomplish a bit more work and to give them some down time so they can make it until bedtime.

1:07 – Everyone is squared away and I sit down on the couch and power up the computer – hopeful about what I will be able to accomplish.  Within minutes, I hear the girls in their room chasing each other.  Such is my life.  The first hour of rest time is always long as they are constantly popping in and out of their room for something – “I need covered up.”  ”I need the Lego book.”  ”I need to wash my hands.”  ”I’m thirsty.”  ”Can I have the iPad yet?”  ”Where is my blankie???!”  All sentences said with a whining voice and usually repeated at least three times in the four seconds it takes me to stand up.  If there is an hour of the day I most dislike, it is this one.  I know it is good for the kids to rest, to play in their rooms, etc. but for some reason, every day, I foolishly think that I can accomplish something during this time.  Ha!  Today, from 1:07 until 2:00 I managed to grade two papers.  I guess it’s better than nothing.

2:00 – Bo exits his room, “Is it iPad time?”  He knows when his clock says 2 that he can have the iPad.  Sometimes, I wonder if he just sits and stares at the clock waiting for the first number to change to 2.  I hand him his iPad and take the girls theirs (Yes, all three of my kids have iPads.  This could be a whole other post…)  Everyone is in their beds with their iPads and I have an hour.  It’s time to get serious about grading.   Besides a few interruptions — Bo wanted a new app and Anna couldn’t figure out how to exit a game she was playing – I have the entire hour to work.  I work quickly and efficiently and manage to grade 11 papers.  Woohoo!

3:00 – I turn off the computer and head into the kitchen.  It’s time to make snacks.  The sun is out and we are going outside to play.  I decide to try out my Zoku that Mike bought me for Christmas to make peach pie popsicles.   All is well until I realize I have no idea how to remove said popsicles from the mold.  Such is life.  I leave it on the counter and decide we’ll have packaged popsicles from the garage.

3:15 – Went a little over on iPad time today.  I try to limit it to an hour usually.  Oh well.  Everyone gets their shoes on and we head outside.  Everyone chooses their popsicle.  Clara has a bomb pop, Anna has grape, and Bo has cherry.  The children are happy and sit on the little picnic table and enjoy their treat.

3:21 – The kiddos spend the next hour racing around the driveway on their bikes, sliding down the slide, playing ice cream shop in front of the house, and running around back.   Bo becomes fascinated with an ant hill in one of the gardens and digs a hole next to it.  There is the usual, “Help me with my bike.”  ”Anna won’t let me have it.” chaos but for the most part I sit in a lawn chair and soak up some sunshine.  Occasionally, replying to a few friends I’m texting.  Life is good.

4:17 – Daddy pulls in.  It’s an early day, which always makes me happy.  Bo pounces on him immediately to push him on the swing.  Clara and Anna are in back playing in their playhouse.

4:40 – We gather up the trio, put their bikes back in the garage, and head inside to make dinner.  Soon, it will become apparent that I’m a morning person.