Being a Stay-at-home-Mum

It has been well studied, researched and definitively proven that a Stay-at-home-Mum works the equivalent of two full time jobs. Those of us in this boat are nodding our exhausted heads in complete agreeance, but there is still a lot of disbelief out there as to the validity of this research. I have some dear childless friends who are bright and well educated people, but when it comes to understanding what goes on in my world, there is a lot of room for growth...

Recently I was talking with one of these friends, we’ll call her Mrs D, when she asked what I was doing for the day. Sophie was off to Kindy so I replied that I am having an “easy one” with a bit of pottering around the house and then having a friend over for lunch. She responded by saying “I wish I had the spare time to do that!” I laughed, if only she knew what had gone on in this household before we had this conversation at 8:30am:

2:20am – Wake to tend to Elliott’s fussing despite me only having been asleep for 3 hours.

5:15am – Wake to give Elliott his bottle.

5:30am – Have cuddles with Elliott and Sophie in my bed before jumping up to start the day.

5:45am – Before hopping in the shower, ensure the house is securely locked so the kids can’t get out. Make sure toilet lids are closed so Elliott doesn’t try to play with the toilet blocks. Collect some toys for the kids to play with in my room while I have a shower.

6:00am – Parent from inside the shower “Sophie, stop trying to pick up your brother”. “Elliott, stop opening those drawers or you will jam your fingers”. “Sophie, can you kiss Elliott’s fingers better, he just jammed them in the drawer”.

6:15am – Dress myself, no time to do my hair or put makeup on. Kids playing at my feet. Tread on a Duplo block, curse under my breath. Remark at Sophie’s acute hearing to pick up swear words so easily.

6:20am – Breakfast. Diet shake for me as it takes less time than eating real food. Argue with Sophie for 5 minutes that she needs to have breakfast. Finally she gives in and has cereal. Feed Elliott his cereal in random mouthfuls between making Sophie’s kindy lunch and putting on loads of washing.

6:45am – Breakfast is done. Argue with Sophie for 5 minutes about what to wear and that she IS going to Kindy. Dress Sophie. Brush Sophie’s hair and listen to her whinge about that. Threaten to take the scissors and cut the whole damn lot off if she doesn’t stop fussing about it. Send Sophie off to clean her teeth and get her shoes on.

6:55am – Poo explosion!!!!! Strip Elliott off and hose him down in the bath. Open the house right up to get rid of awful smell. Rinse soiled clothes in laundry. Dress Elliott.

7:10am – Kids playing on the playground. Do dog poo patrol. Hang out the washing. Elliott crawls in the only steaming pile of dog poo I didn’t see hiding behind the slide. Rinse soiled clothes, hose Elliott in the bath again. Dress Elliott.

7:30am - Running late now. Gather up kids and bags to head to Kindy. Elliott vomits on my shoulder. Drop bags, snap at Sophie for asking “Why” for the 7000^th time that morning. Redress Elliott and I. Rinse soiled clothes.

7:40am – Juggle 2 Kindy bags, a nappy bag, a baby and Sophie out to the car. All loaded up, head to Kindy.

8:30am – Phew! Kindy drop off complete and back home now. More washing, clean the breakfast dishes and...oh no...another poo explosion!! I think Elliott is quite unwell today.

I imagine her morning was more like this:

7:00am – Wake after a full night of uninterrupted sleep. Shower and get ready for the day.

7:30am – Have breakfast.

8:00am - Leave for work. 

I know Mrs D's turn will come when she has a couple of kids in tow and I will be there when she has that "Aha, now I get it" moment. Until then, us Mum's will continue to pass each other in the supermarket, in our dishevelled exhausted looking state, and give each other that knowing empathetic look. We get it J