What’s A Normal Day?

Lately I have been around a lot of talk of people not having time  (or energy) to do things after their work day.  And while I have many friends that are mama’s, I have a few that are not. While having a conversation with a couple of friends that don’t have children, one said, “I don’t know how you do it. I come home from work, change and sit on the couch and can’t do anything. And in the morning, I can’t get up before 6:00 a.m.”

I said to her, “you want to know what time I really get up in the morning? Are you sure? I get up between 4:00 a.m. – 4:30 a.m. You want to know why? Because I can eat breakfast and drink my tea in peace”.

And there you have it, you know what time I am up in the mornings. And no, I’m not up that early on weekends, but definitely during the weekdays. But I get up and get myself ready for my day bright and early. Then I start getting some things ready for the day.  Around 6:00 a.m. is when the kids start to wake up and I start getting them ready. Well, my oldest, I try to get him to get dressed himself, and I help with the teeth brushing. And then I get the youngest one ready. Once all ready, we go downstairs for some pre-breakfast snacks and water. And by 7:00 a.m., we are headed out the door.

PHEW! Wait – we are only on the mornings here.

Work day is done and then time to pick up the kiddos from daycare and we are home by 5:30 p.m. And right away it’s “mama, I so hungry”. So needless to say there’s not much time to cook. Dinner consists of hard boiled eggs, cheese sticks, cereal and fruit, or yogurt half the time.  Dinner and treats (if it’s a good day) end by 6:30 p.m. Then it’s time to wind down for the night. Bedtime routine starts at 7:00 p.m. (or a bit earlier if we can) and kids should be in bed no later than 7:30 p.m. I say should, because my 4 year old tends to still be awake at 8:00 p.m. As I write this, he’s still wide awake and it’s 8:15 p.m. Really though, after the kids are in bed, that’s when we tend to clean up a bit and then relax.

Does that leave much time? Not really. Yes; I’m exhausted. But sometimes I stay awake just a bit longer so I can do nothing (or something) while the kids are asleep (or in their rooms). Bedtime is typically around 9:00 p.m. or so for me. Because it’s up bright and early to do it all again.

But please, don’t feel sorry for me. Some nights I sleep better than others. On rare occasions I’m in bed by 8:30! How I manage throughout the day – I have no idea. But I do.  I’m on repeat – a lot.  Did I mention that I don’t drink coffee?! I am not, nor have I ever been a coffee drinker. Only tea. And mostly green tea. Match green tea lattes are my go to in the morning. I like them hot. I like them cold. Every. Morning. I feel like when I miss that, that’s when I don’t function that well. Anyways – I digress.

I’m sure there are some mamas who could be in similar situations. There are some non-parents that could be in similar situations.  How we manage, we don’t know necessarily know. We just do it. Just because.

And regardless of who you are – how you’re doing – you are amazing.  Remember that.