I saw this AMAZING article and I am sure most of you have read it, but I suggest reading it AGAIN! It is hilarious and OH SO TRUE! It was a newspaper column and here was the question:
Carolyn:
Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What’d you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .
Okay. I’ve done Internet searches, I’ve talked to parents. I don’t get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don’t do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I’m asking is: What is a typical day and why don’t moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I’m feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy — not a bad thing at all — but if so, why won’t my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest (“My life is so much harder than yours”)? What’s the deal? I’ve got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.
SERIOUSLY? Well, I guess I get it. If you don’t have kids, you just don’t know. I thought I was really busy too “pre-kids” and now I wonder what the heck I did most of the time lol :) Click here for her answer!
What do I do all day?? Well, here goes! A Day in the Life of 2 Kids.
I get up in the morning to one of the kids waking me up. Nurse Grayson, then feed Cody. Get all three of us dressed (this day in particular was over 4 months ago, so luckily now Cody can get himself dressed! SCORE!), pack diaper bag, pack snack bag, load up the car. Get everyone in the car so we will be on time for Graysons doc appt. At this time Cody was potty training and had JUST started so I took him potty as soon as we got there and prayed he didn’t have an accident while we were out! SO not only am I adjusting to 2 kids, but trying to keep one from peeing his pants and also keeping some form of my mind on what the doctor is saying about this new kid I have! Then, after the appt., take Cody potty again, still didn’t go. At this point, Cody and I are both starving so we run across the street to a fast food place and he tells me he has to go potty. So I lug the big car seat in (Grayson is asleep thankfully), Cody and myself in the restaurant, to the potty and he doesn’t go. So we get pants all buttoned up, back out to wait in line and order our food. We get our food, eat and then potty time again. Yup, that’s right, he didn’t go. So I then get us all out to the car and it is time to nurse Grayson. I jam my behind in between 2 car seats and nurse my 2 month old. Then he has a poopy diaper so while I have him on my front seat changing him, it starts to rain on me. Perfect. I get him buckled in and then Cody says… wait for it, wait for it,, YUP, “I have to potty”. I get the potty seat out (again, all in the rain), throw my hatch up and get him sitting on the travel potty (people at this point are probably thinking why does this chick have a half-naked kid in the back of her car and frankly, I didn’t give a hoot at that point!) and he goes! The sky parts, he is happy and so am I… although very exhausted!!! I get him buckled in, myself buckled in and off we go.
Now I could go on about the rest of our day, but I won’t because it is only 2:30 in the afternoon! We still have half our day left.
We just never have enough hands!
Lot’s of love to all you mama’s out there and to my friends who don’t have kids :) I am going to want to take a nap, but I can’t because I have a nose to clean, a behind to wipe, a kid to feed! Have a great day!!!
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
AMEN sister!!!!
Love it, great explanation!
You have 3 kids, which is 2 (possibly more) full time jobs in itself. I couldn't do that. But what about those stay at home moms who have 1 kid? Whats their excuse? I have a (more then) 40 hour a week job, Im geting my masters degree and I have a 6 year old in school, tae kwon do, ballet, and softball. Oh yeah, Im by myself and I make time for my friends (not as much as I want, but a noted effort). Please note: I have NO nanny, NO cook, NO babysitter or any of those other luxuries. Sorry to rant, but a lot of people need a serious lesson in Time Management and get over it. Life is complicated and work but VERY VERY good.
Actually I wonder about the 1 kid thing too. I to am a mother to 3 kids currently ages 6, 3 and 1. No longer able to remember life before kids, I DO kind of look back fondly on the days with only 1 kid. I remember that it was a big adjustment for me. I remember being stressed out and having mini-panic attacks from being cooped up in the house with an infant all day. However, I also remember being able to SLEEP if I wanted to- in the middle of the day when my son was napping. I remember freaking out over clutter on an end table, being overwhelmed at the thought of sorting through a stack of junk mail and papers a mere 4 inches thick. Now my entire house is cluttered as I try to balance caring for an active toddler, drama queen preschooler and educating a bright and easily-bored first grader. What DO the moms with just one kid do all day?? Especially once their kid goes to school. Honestly, just curious. I have a suspicion that their houses are alot cleaner than mine though, or they are the ones packing their kid’s lunch with sandwiches in a cute little shapes and home made organic cookies (I have seen the pictures in the magazines but can’t fathom any real mom having time for that stuff).
Hilarious!! You are thinking what all moms are thinking! I think you only know what is your experience at that time. I remember thinking one was hard and after having my second i thought, “wow, one was a piece of cake!” When I only have one child running errands I think, “how easy is this”?! Of course, I am sure you moms of three think the same about us moms of two….we have it much easier than moms of three! I agree with you on time! I look at pinterest and think wow….i thought I was a good mom, doing great things with my kids only to see the millions of other things I could be doing with them! Oh well, as long as our kids are happy, I don't think it matters what shape their lunches are in!! Lol -JenSent from my iPad
Ha! Kids are the ultimate “I’m too busy excuse.” I bet I have everyone on this forum beat with my quadruplets, but I hope I don’t sound as annoying as Jennie shoving her kids’ routine down everyone’s throats in an effort to make them bow before the all-busy mom who decided to have kids, and now wants everyone to share in her misery of a life of freedom lost. Why do people who want kids then complain so much about how busy their life is and how hard it is? I get so sick of hearing this one. Maybe I lost my empathy for whining parents when we brought home four premature infants at the same time.
I am so sorry you had such a negative reaction to this post. It was actually suppose to be funny and make you laugh :) With that being said, yes, I made the choice to have kids as do many others, but I feel strongly that we should be able to vent to our friends as needed. Making a blanket statement that we should never voice our opinions about choices we make in this life is unrealistic. I made the choice to be a SAHM and while I love being with my kids, there are days I just want a break….that is just real life. I do believe that being able to share your feelings is the healthiest way to go through life. Maybe if you gave yourself permission to do that, you would feel happier and less resentful. Good luck to you and your four little blessings and thanks for reading the blog!
Jennie
I am so sorry you had such a negative reaction to this post. It was actually suppose to be funny and make you laugh :) With that being said, yes, I made the choice to have kids as do many others, but I feel strongly that we should be able to vent to our friends as needed. Making a blanket statement that we should never voice our opinions about choices we make in this life is unrealistic. I made the choice to be a SAHM and while I love being with my kids, there are days I just want a break….that is just real life. I do believe that being able to share your feelings is the healthiest way to go through life. Maybe if you gave yourself permission to do that, you would feel happier and less resentful. Good luck to you and your four little blessings and thanks for reading the blog!
Jennie
Wow! I thought this was a forum for moms to reach out to each other and help one another….NOT put each other down because one had a rough day or not as many kids as another!! I have never read that anyone has a life of freedom lost or shoving anything down anyone throats. I read how moms love their kids and would do anything and everything for them….no matter how hectic a day!! If you don’t like what is being said, you don’t have to read it. I think this blog is awesome….keep up the good work girls!!!!
Yur the sweetest! Thanks girl! :)Jenniehttp://www.motherhoodsupport.com/From: notifications@intensedebatemail.comTo: jenniewestrich@hotmail.comSubject: Surviving Motherhood – New comment requires moderation on: Why Don't Friends With Kids Have Time?
Sorry Jennie and the other moms if I came off as too negative. I just don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking that the world for the childless stops because I’ve got kids now. I think too often, parents sounds too boastful of their parental duties and too demeaning of the lives of those who don’t have kids. We were childless for a long time and I know the feeling.
NO need to apologize! We are all entitled to our opinion and I appreciate you taking the time to comment! It took us several years to conceive Cody and I get it. The post was meant to be funny, but true for my life. It is much crazier now than it was four years ago as your life will always be crazier than mine with quads! You will never be viewed as too boastful or demanding here, we welcome your thoughts, good or bad!
Jennie
Okay I still dont understand how people with two or less children dont have any time. I am in the military work 12 hour days or more. On my days off I babysit my friends kids for two days. I do all the house chores clean the diapers of both kids cook etc. But I still have time for my friends because I manage my time VERY strictly abd have a schedule. If its not half way done soon I pick up the pace. If the kids want something I still have time. 30 mins to dress 2 hour s to feed 2 hours playtine homework etc. Both diapers changed in 20 mins.