Posts tagged Mom

With Andrew working crazy hours (his normal get home time has been 11pm every night) until April, I basically think of myself as a single mom during the week.  Let me tell you…I have never had more appreciation for single moms than I have had in the past month or so.  KUDOS to you.  And also?  I am a stay at home mom right now…so adding a full time job to the mix like many single moms I know sounds near impossible to me.

Honestly though, we have a great routine going.  We are pretty busy most days, and I have really just gotten used to the fact I won’t have any extra hands from Monday-Saturday.  (Yep, Saturdays too).

That said—the hardest part of my day BY FAR is dinner/bath/bedtime.  It’s honestly chaos between the hours of 6-8.  When you have two little ones who rely on a VERY specific schedule to function, having an extra set of hands during this time of night would be amazing….but I don’t have that right now, so I just have to do it.  

Our routine goes something like this:

• Feed both girls.  Charlotte eats a random dinner most every night.  PICKY PICKY PICKY.  Set Ellie up in her bumbo and feed her cereal.  We usually say “grace” in the middle of all of this.  Mommy forgets—Charlotte reminds.  (Glad I am at least raising a mindful Christian…)
• After dinner I bribe Charlotte to get her in the bath.  I always promise her ONE show and a treat after the bath.  It works.  Get both girls in bath—take Ellie out first while Charlotte plays and lather her with lotion and put PJs on.  Then I keep her in her crib with a paci and a few toys so she is occupied until I’m done dressing CG.  E usually cries the whole time because she’s tired/hungry.  ugh.
• After CG is dressed I set her up with a show so I can rock and feed Ellie.  I then rock/feed Ellie, put her white noise on and kiss her goodnight.
• To avoid a meltdown, I always let Charlotte finish the 30 minute show she is watching.  This gives me some time to clean up and get my own dinner prepped.
• CG’s bedtime routine….this usually takes about 30 minutes.  She is an excellent procrastinator…..

By 8pm when it’s all over I literally sit on the couch and snap my fingers hoping someone hears me and brings me dinner—HAHA. Doesn’t happen obviously!!!!

It’s chaotic.  And sometimes I just want to skip it all and put them in bed with their clothes on.  But, nothing beats rocking my girls before they go to sleep.  It’s the only quiet time I have with them during the day, and I’m so lucky to be the one to be here to do it every night.  They are only little once.

Right  now, this time feels like a race to me everyday.  I am hoping that one day I will look back on the craziness with a smile.

 I’m thinking there is a pretty good chance I will :).