Parenting: The Changing Role of Mommy

When I first looked at my little 5 pound 4 once little boy, my role was to feed him.  He needed to gain some weight and I was going to be a part of that.  I spent hours breastfeeding my son.  In fact, at first I was asked to feed him, then pump, then feed him that milk and start over again about two hours later.  The first week of breastfeeding felt like a year.  Do not get me wrong, I would not change this, but I did feel like I would never go out in public again, or have a meal without a baby attached to me.

If only I had known what a basic day would look like for me later in life.  Now, almost seven years later I find myself rushing around.  I went jogging the other day and decided to distract myself by thinking about what every hour of the day is devoted to.  A large portion of the day really revolves around cooking.  My husband makes breakfast, but I do spend another ten to twenty minutes cleaning up breakfast.  Then there is lunch.  Most days lunch is quite simple, but feeding five kids takes time.  Before I know it another half an hour is gone, just by feeding them some almond butter sandwiches and carrot sticks!  Can you imagine?  Then there is dinner.  Most days I start cooking at three to have dinner ready by four thirty.  If I am roasting a chicken then I have to start cooking at two thirty and we often do not eat until closer to five. 

I used to spend much more time keeping house.  There were less people to clean around and more spaces to put all our stuff.  Now I wish I was better at cleaning, but I am feeling like I need to figure out how to arrange all the kids stuff in a small space for no money at all.  My latest idea, put some shelves up in the garage.  My mom gave me some a long time ago, but I am not super handy and my husband and I are busy doing other things.  So what might be motivating me to do the bare minimum amount of cleaning?  Sadly, it burns some calories and I know that if I keep myself moving I will not fall asleep, when I should be watching my kids.  Also, I feel less depressed if I look at tidy spaces. 

A large portion of the day is devoted to mediation.  My kids fight constantly.  There is some biting and pinching.  Some kids like to wine more than others.  Sometimes I try to have them work it out.  Other times I join them in the crying.  Let's face it, it might be nice to sit in a quiet office sometimes.  I have had a headache before eight A.M. 

Next task, educating my little ones.  If left to themselves all the time, they eventually get bored.  We like little art projects and trying to figure out what big people do.  This summer our task for the older two is reading.  I have one child who loves it and one that acts like it does not matter.  Some days we throw in a quick math game.  Almost everyday we watch something in French and I try to talk to them about the show in French.  After a few months of this, some phrases are becoming a normal part of life.  I am loving this.  All this is aimed at trying to figure out if I can home school my kids.  Maybe it is insane to even consider this with three other kids three and under.  It is fun now when I do not feel like it is all up to me. 

This year I have been the most disconnected with life outside of my family than ever before.  Somehow, I can almost forget there is a world outside of my house because I am actually busy.  I never thought it would ever be like this, but it is.  Who knew that five little kids could take over so fast. 

If you have not seen or talked to me for awhile, it is because I have an hour to hour unspoken, but known schedule.  That being said, I miss people, and love to chat.  I always knew I wanted to be more domestic, but never thought it would be most of my world.

Basic Schedule

5 A.M. Wake up, feed Bria
5:30 A.M.  Workout - works like coffee without the buzz
6:15- 6:30 A.M.Get other kids up, changed, and put on the potty
6:30 A. M. Shower
6:45 A.M. Eat breakfast
8:00 A.M. put Bria down for a nap
8:30 A.M. French and try and clean up breakfast and whatever else in 30 minutes
9:00 A.M. morning snacks
9:30 reading or math
10:30 free time
11:00 lunch
12:00 P.M. naps younger 3
12:30 figure out an art project for older kids to get some quiet time for me
2:30-3:00 start making dinner
3:00 get kids up
4:15 eat dinner
4:45 bath time every other night
5:00 clean up the living room with the kids
5:30 get kids ready for bed
6:00 the kids are in bed and I am so tired.  Try to have quality time with husband
9:00 on a good day hopefully I am sleeping