A Day in the Life of a Stay at Home Mom

When you think of a stay at home mom what are the images that pass through your mind? Do you see bon-bons and day time soaps, or perhaps you envision sparkling clean floors and home cooked meals? For many these are the common stereotypes associated with mothers who choose to pass up the career track and opt to stay home with their children. In order to dispel some of the stereotypes allow me to share with you a typical day in the life of a stay at home mother of two, bon-bons optional.

7:00 A.M. - Rise and shine sleepy head. While both boys are still snoring I attempt a little time to read the paper and sneak a much sought after caffeine fix. I love mornings like this, when the house is still quiet and there is nothing so important that I can't sit down for a few minutes.

8:00 A.M. - By now the house is in full swing. PBS blasts from the living room as my son ignores me for his cartoons. Oatmeal is cooking on the stovetop as I try to slice an apple with a teething infant on my hip. I can usually tell how the day will go based on how the morning begins, this one will be hectic.

9:00 A.M. - Breakfast done, the boys are dressed and ready to play. Normally we would head out on a morning walk but snow and ice are keeping us inside instead. I set out the crayons and some blank paper for the toddler, set up the baby in his bouncy toy where he can watch, then attempt some cleaning. If I can get dishes washed, one load of laundry in the machine, and run the vacuum in one room I'll be satisfied. Of course I do all this with frequent breaks to sweet talk the baby or draw a requested alligator for the toddler.

10:00 A.M. - The test of any mother, going out in public with her children and not wanting to die from embarrassment. It seems simple enough: mail a package at the post office, return books to the library, and stop at the grocery store to pick up some milk. Bundled up in their snowsuits we load up in the car and venture forth. The boys are wound up from being stuck inside from the weather but we back it back without me offering the boys for sale to any roaming gypsies.

11:30 A.M. - Back home the television is back on, this time turned to Animal Planet. I enjoy a few minutes sitting down as I nurse the baby to sleep and learn about elephants from both the TV and my toddler. Once the baby is napping I'm off into the kitchen to start lunch. Today it will be spaghetti. I start the noodles boiling and the sauce simmering. It is a quick lunch that gets no complaints and I can at least tell myself that there are vegetables in the sauce.

1:00 P.M. - We've eaten and cleaned up, I've thrown the laundry into the dryer, and now we settle in at the table with some colored dough. Soon blue lions, green dogs, and yellow pigs cover my table. It is the moments like this that make being a stay at home mom worth while. Getting to share in my son's creativity and joy is a wonderful experience, while it lasts. We only just start the game of soccer between the lion and the pig when I hear the cries of a waking baby. Off to scoop him up!

2:00 P.M. - Daddy dearest crawls out of bed and grumbles something about coffee as he makes his way to the kitchen. Working a swing shift has him exhausted and irritable, though he can always fake a smile for the toddler's animated retelling of our trip to the post office. Who knew mail could be so exciting?

3:00 P.M. - My eyes must have glazed over in joy at the sight of a yawn escaping the toddler. Naps have been few and far between for him lately, so each one is like a rare jewel to be savored and held dear. As daddy gets his things ready for work I curl up in the toddler bed to read Hop on Pop for the hundredth time as the baby crawls around and chews on his gummy teething toy. As little eyes begin to droop despite protests of "I'm not sleepy!" I scoop the baby up and escape.

4:00 P.M. - Nap number two has begun for the baby. A full tummy and a clean diaper and he is ready to curl up with his blanket again. As quietly as I can I pull clothes out of the dryer, hanging up the nicer clothes and leaving the rest to sit in the basket for a while. I sweep the kitchen floor and put away the dry dishes before curling up with the computer to check my email and maybe get a bit of writing done.

5:00 P.M. - Grunting noises tell me that the toddler is up, and not happy about it. I race to the kitchen in hopes of preempting a tantrum. Crackers, cheese, and chocolate milk prepared and waiting on the table as a very sour looking little man stomps out of his room. I stifle a laugh as I think about how much he reminds me of his father. After a snack we're awake and ready to play. My living room becomes a race track to an assortment of toy cars, a couple dump trucks, a fir truck, and an airplane. Giggles and motor noises wakes the sleeping baby, who is just fine watching us play while chewing on a giant mini-van. .

6:30 P.M. - The house has cycled from race track to the jungle and now is being used as a bowling alley. A bright blue ball rolls down the hallway, knocking over stacks of blocks in its path to cheers of an excited toddler. At first I tried to make it some what educational, stacking the blocks by colors or in certain number groups. But all he really wants to do is knock things over so I let him at it. Strapping the baby into the sling we head off to the kitchen to make dinner. Left over rice, some beans, and corn make the meal without making a mess.

7:30 P.M. - After dinner and dishes we all curl up on the couch to look at books. The toddler makes me read several over and over while the baby chews on the corner of one. There are only so many times that a person can read these kind of books without beginning to feel bored, and I passed that point long ago. With a sly counter move I convince the toddler to read to me while I slyly flip through a magazine sitting next to me. I can only get one article read before he catches me, but that is one more than I was able to before.

8:30 P.M. - I start picking up the toys strung across the house, putting cars back in the bucket and books back on the shelf. The toddler helps me for a bit, but quickly looses interest and opts to play with puzzles in his room instead. My cleaning is periodically interrupted by shouts that the baby has taken this or that puzzle piece and refuses to give it back. Some how I manage to get most of the toys put away and even get the crumbs under the table picked up before they have a chance to grow mold.

9:00 P.M. - I begin running the bathwater while the toddler picks out his pajamas and gets ready for his bath. Luckily I have a special seat that attaches to the bathtub so I can bathe both boys at once. Towels laid out, pajamas on the dresser, and bubbles everywhere I get the boys into the tub. The baby gets a shorter bath, and then I pull him out to dress him while the toddler has more room to play. Once the baby is dressed and dry I scoop out the pirate boy and carry him off for story time.

9:30 P.M. - "Tell me a story!" The toddler begs for his favorite story, the one about the cute little monkey who lives in the trees. I never knew before how much creativity goes into telling a children's story, especially if you want it to be entertaining enough. After a story it is time to tuck the toddler into bed and kiss him goodnight. Then I whisk the baby away to nurse one more time and get him settled down for the night.

10:30 P.M. - The house is quiet again. I spend some time planning what I need to do tomorrow while I put away anything left out. A few minutes to wipe down the bathroom and check the recyclables boxes, and then I can sit back down at the computer to check my email and write.

12:00 A.M. - Time for this mom to go to bed herself.

While I'm not spending my day on the couch with my feet up I'm certainly not June Cleaver either. For most stay at home moms their days are a mixture of both, with plenty of fun added in. The common stereotypes are just that, stereotypes. By taking a look at a typical day in the life you can see what it is really like as a stay at home mom.