A little while back I did a post on a day in the life of a working mom. Wow, I just found it to link to and realized it was wayyy back in December of 2011.
And well…things haven’t changed too much. But I thought it would be fun just to see what has changed.
Wake up call is still 6:30 or so. Basically whenever Allie decides she’s hungry. That is anywhere between 5:30 to 6:30. At that point, I lament the fact that I couldn’t get my A** out of bed and workout. Then I start getting ready for work. While I’m in the bathroom getting ready, one of two things is happening.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that I prefer Scenario B. Makes getting out the door so much easier. I pack a total of 6 bags every morning:
- Kids Lunch/Food
- Kids Diaper Bag
- My Lunch
- My Pump
- My Laptop and work stuff
- My Gym Bag
I finally get to work around 8:30. I spend 8:30 to 5:00 at work with breaks to snack and pump. I try, at lunch, to sneak in a workout or swim.
I get questions about pumping so quickly, if this it TMI, move to the next paragraph. Ok, is it just us moms now? I have 3 pumping sessions scheduled on my calendar each day. I end up pumping about 15 minutes and get anywhere between 4 and 6 ounces. I get more in the A.M. and it dwindles from there. I know at some point I’m going to have to supplement but I’m trying. Ok, now back to regularly scheduled programming.
After work, a myriad of things happen but usually, S picks the kids up so I hustle…feed zoey (our dog), pump, change clothes and go bike or run. If it’s nice, I head outside, otherwise, I end up on the treadmill where I’m usually accompanied by my running buddies.
Then I make dinner, while S entertains the kids, mows the lawn or works out. Then it’s bath time. Allie goes first and she goes right right to her room to eat and go to bed. We are following the MomsOnCall Schedule and it works out well with the exception of the 6:00 to 9:00. I just can’t get E in bed before 8:30.
After Allie goes down, E gets his bath. Most of the time, S gives E his bath while I’m feeding Allie. Then I do teeth brushing and bedtime. We pick our PJ’s (a.k.a. Jimmies) and lay down. We did some sleep training with E before Allie came around and I’m sooo glad we did. E is sleeping through the night now and wakes up about 7:00 like clockwork. It’s been so nice.
After the kids go to bed, I have about an hour to blog, study or try to relax before I’m cashed out for the day. Allie usually wakes up about 2:30 to eat but goes right back down. Then sleeps the rest of the night.
So that’s it..our day in a nutshell. It’s not glamorous but it’s our life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
What’s your day like?
Happy Tuesday?
Okay, I’m tired now :-). That sounds like a full day! No kids here, but between work, cooking dinner, my dogs, and writing my days stay pretty full too.
Ha! It is a full day. I’ll be glad when the kids get a little older. 🙂
Sounds like a busy day! Whenever I read about US moms I’m amazed at how quickly you’re all expected back at work. It makes me feel so very thankful for Canada’s long maternity leaves. Regardless, sounds like you guys have your scheduled dialled and working well!
I am definitely jealous of the Canadian way of doing maternity leave. It’s the best!
It’s all about the logistics! So many logistics and so much coordination with two kids. Luckily for us, the boys are older now and both in school. They are more self-sufficient now too which gives my husband and I little more time to get ready in the morning or to make dinner at night.
just call me UPS. 🙂
Just wondering, what kind of sleep training did you use with your little guy? My son is so difficult to put to sleep and always ends up in my bed, so I’d love to give anything that might help a shot!
We went to the sleep specialist at St. Lukes here in STL. She was wonderful and does phone consultations. Her name was in the post i linked too. She was great.
Fellow bag lady here! While I don’t have as many as you, I do feel like I look like a homeless person on most days of the week. Maybe I need a shopping cart to carry them all around. 🙂
Such is the life of a working mom!
Ha! A shopping cart isn’t a bad idea. 🙂
I can relate to every single line in this post! As a fellow working mom of 2, I’ve been there, done that, stained the t-shirt! While I absolutely LOVED nursing both of my girls through their first birthdays, I can’t tell you how happy I was to pack up the pump for good when I weaned my youngest earlier this year. So glad I will never have to pump in an airport bathroom or airplane ever again!!
I am already ready looking forward to weening allie. 😉
Katie you are a rockstar. That is all.
Thanks! You will be too!! (Not that you aren’t already).
I need a nap 😉
ha! Me too. 🙂
It does sound like a hectic but gifted life! It’s nice how you and S take turns on child-duty so you each have your alone/workout time.
Great word! Gifted for sure. I’m very fortunate and I know that. 🙂
You are amazing!
And I just love that photo of Allie in the tub. She is so beautiful!
I love that photo too. It’s one of my favorite so far. 🙂
Seriously, I find it so impressive that you handle all that in a single day! I work from home, plus my kids are both school age, so my life is admittedly easier than that. I complain about packing their lunches–now I will shut up and think about you packing six bags! You go, wonder woman!
hey, if I could figure out a way to not have to do all that I would. 🙂 I am ready for them to be a little older.
I love reading about how other moms manage it all — it’s certainly exhausting!! My day is really similar to yours, minus the pumping 🙂
I do too! I’m always interested in ways I can gain efficiencies.
Seems like you have a really good routine down! I’m always amazed at moms who just seem to make it all work!
You’re right. It all works out. It has to right? 🙂
This post is like a reality check for me. I’m not ready to go back!!! Wah! Sounds like you have made a great transition to 2 kids. I’m sure you will be so happy to be done with school.
I will be so happy to be done. I hate to wish my life away but I’m ready for the next month to fly by. 🙂
Our wake-ups are generally 5:30 to 5:45. When it’s not the Lightning Kid, it’s Shark Boy. I get a lot of comments about camping or being a sherpa when I walk into the office carrying my gym bag and my lunch in a cooler bag; it’s worse if I’ve taken my laptop home with me the night before. While I do like to write/blog after the kids are in bed and the kitchen has been cleaned, that time is usually reserved for quality time with my wife (which is generally just watching some tv, but can also be talking about the days events in an adult fashion without constant interruptions).
If I could wake up at 5:30, I could work out. that’s so funny.
I love peeks into other peoples days! And even though I have 2 kids, I feel tired just reading this! You do a great job of working it all in. I have no idea how you get ready with the kids nearby – I can hardly use the bathroom without one of mine freaking out! 🙂
Thank you so much!
I have nothing but the utmost respect for moms that do it all. I can’t even imagine… 🙂
You are most certainly a rock star mom!
That just made me TWITCH only because that was my life not too long ago. My kids are 7 1/2 and 5. A lot easier in so many regards. Their sleeping through the night (somewhat) helped a lot. It enabled me to get up at 4:30 am and get my workouts done. Also, no more diaper bags to pack and drag around. They are able to entertain and get themselves ready in the morning (as per our morning checklist). We have other issues now but so much easier for the most part.
No glamorous here either but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Thanks for linking up with A Day In the Life!
I remember pumping sessions. It didn’t work once I went back to work so I switched back to formula. That was 16 years ago…yikes.
my goodness i don’t see how you momma’s do it! amazed!