I always find it fascinating to get a glimpse into the lives of other moms. How we each can look somewhat similar on the surface but inside our families, we all are so different. Here is a glimpse into a somewhat typical weekday for myself, a full time working mom of two kids ages three and six.
4:30am
No matter what ring tone you set on your cell phone, they are all annoying at 4:30 am. I drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I change into my gym clothes that I set out the night before so that I could make an extra quiet exit. Husband, two kids and one dog still sleeping. Off I go.
5am
I am currently a bit obsessed with Orange Theory Fitness classes. I question my sanity for signing up for a high intensity workout so early in the day but am always glad on days I do.
5:50am
Bolt to the locker room to get ready in record time so I can still make it to work close to 6am. See my gym bag essentials for tips on how I speed up my morning routine (hint, dry shampoo is a must).
6:15am
Arrive to my desk (yes, I get ready fast and my gym is super close to work). Days I don’t work out I arrive promptly at 6am. I dive straight into my emails, check my calendar and brace myself for the day ahead. I love the early mornings because I can actually get some things done before the office starts buzzing.
About now you might be asking, what about your kids? My husband drops off and I pick up. God bless that man.
Next up- Coffee and breakfast. One of the perks of being a working mom is that daily I get to enjoy a hot cup of coffee. Either from the kitchen at work (which is surprisingly tasty with some creamer) or from the Tully’s that is located in my building. I bring my breakfast everyday typically consisting of yogurt and granola or an Advocare meal replacement shake.
8:30am
Since I tend to micromanage my household a bit, I usually text my husband each morning to ensure our three and almost six year old were successfully dropped off.
For 8.5ish hours Monday-Friday, my day then consists of scheduled meetings, impromptu meetings, a refill on my coffee, attempts to get to my desk to work on projects and email back log, rifling through my lunch bag for snacks and too many days a week deciding I don’t like what I brought and finding time to grab a deli sandwich or taco salad instead. By the end of my last meeting each day, I am ready to hit the road.
3:30pm-ish (each day fully dependent on my meeting schedule)
Head out for kid pick up. During the school year, my son must be picked up by 2:45 before being charged for extended care. Not always do-able. During the summer, his summer camp gives me the “luxury” of a 4pm pick up before extended care kicks in.
4pm
Pick up my three year old from daycare. Throw some food at my kids in the back seat to avoid cranky kids even though I know that is unstoppable.
4:20pm
Arrive to swim lessons, get the kids into suits and into the pool.
On days we don’t have an extra curricular activity going on, I head home with the kids and do my best to enjoy some quality time with them. Often my mind floods with all the things there are to be done around the house. The struggle is real.
5:30pm
I arrive at home with my kids, where my husband is now home from work and cooking dinner. This is the unhappy hour. Kids are starting to lose it. They take what seems like 4 hours to eat their dinner. My husband and I try to stay strong but honestly sometimes I feel like I am losing it too.
6:15pm
Bedtime routine begins. Two evenings a week I leave to hit the gym at this time leaving my husband with the bedtime battle. Kids are tired, parents are tired. Bath/shower, teeth brushed, kids fighting, someone bonks their head (typically a kid, sometimes a grown up). Books, songs, one more drink of water. Moms, you know the drill and it is relentless.
7pm
Youngest down and the six year old gets one more book. You know, so he feels cool in getting to stay up “way later” than his sister.
7:30pm
Both kids down and, on gym nights, this is when I walk back through the door. Zero guilt for having missed the bedtime battle.
7:45pm
My husband heads to the gym.
8pm
I start prepping for the next day. Snacks and lunches for summer camp and myself. Throw the wet swim gear into the washer, pack up a new round of clothes and snacks for the next day when we will do it all again.
9pm
Take a few minutes to actually sit down. Work on some blogging, some gym choreography or log into work to catch up on emails if I had a heavy meeting day.
9:30pm (I aim for earlier if possible most nights)
Head upstairs and get ready for bed. Lay out my gym clothes and prep my gym bag for the next day if I am doing an a.m. workout. Otherwise, I lay out my work clothes in the bathroom to not disturb my sleeping household in the morning.
Until we do it all again tomorrow. Good night.
