All in a day's work

Today was the first day that I had to really honestly do the stay-at-home mom to two kids thing.  Since Zintis was born, I have had help of one sort or another pretty much every day.  But today, finally, all the help was gone- no Joel, no grandparents, no friends, no aunts and uncles... just me and the kids.  I have to say, I've been dreading this day for a while. Based on the few times I have had to do a few hours on my own with the kids here and there, I was worried about how this whole thing would go!

Well, today went remarkably well. No big blow ups, no huge tantrums...and I kind of got a lot done today!

It's very easy at the end of the day to feel like nothing got done at all... so I thought I would actually make a list of what I did today.  Not to prove anything more than that I actually did quite a lot today, even if it doesn't look like it.

So, not at all in the order I did it all... here is what I did today, all while minding two children:

• a 30 minute workout
• washed 3 loads of laundry 
• made breakfast for Beni and myself
• made lunch for Beni and myself
• washed the dishes from breakfast and lunch
• put clean sheets on our bed
• took out the garbage from all the bathrooms
• got both kids down for naps (Zintis at least 3, Beni 1)
• shower
• hung 3 loads of laundry
• nursed Zintis on demand
• cleaned up the floors- especially every time Zintis spewed 
• washed out two garbage cans
• folded and put away dry clothes
• wrote a blog post (other than this one)
• got the kids dressed
• changed about 10 diapers

In the end the list doesn't look that long to me, but when I think about how long some of those tasks take... it all adds up!  Getting all of that done between 7 and 4 suddenly seems like kind of a lot.  Cause you know how it is with kids around... you start something, and then they need something or just start climbing on you and you can't actually do what you're doing, etc.  

I know every day won't go this well.  I know there will be plenty of days when I get a lot less done.  I hope there are days when I actually do more stuff with the kids. That is one thing I still want to strive to find a balance on. As a stay at home mom, I have a responsibility to the house, but I also have a responsibility to the kids.  I waiver back and forth on how much they need in the way of special kid centered activities versus just following me around the house, helping me with household tasks, or playing on their own.  I think there is value in all of these things- I think there is a whole huge amount of value in them playing on their own, AND in them helping me with stuff around the house, or just seeing me do it.  But, I know that spending a few focused minutes on doing something fun, that they choose, is also very important.   I'll admit, I definitely put in more effort to keeping up with the house during the day, than doing special stuff for the kids.  So yes, more time focused on the kids- being with them, not just doing stuff for them (like feeding, changing, etc).  

As I said, I know not all days will go like this.  Beni is sure to hit some more walls.  Zintis may start making things more difficult sooner or later when he gets mobile or starts eating or whatever.  He's such a good sleeper right now- hopefully he won't change that.  I am bound to have lazy days, or bad days or whatever as well.  

I really do enjoy being at home with the kids, and I don't mind the housework either.  I'm glad we have good days. I know we'll have bad days, and I wish us all strength in just getting through them.  When it comes down to it, it's all in a day's work! 

The next day: Yep.  See?  Not every day will go so well.  I got practically nothing done today.  Beni was in a mood- we ended up going to the docs office to make sure she wasn't sick.  She's not, but is still battling some ear and throat yuckies, which explains that she isn't 100%.  Today is the kind of day where at 9pm I'm still working because I got nothing done during the day.  More dishes, more laundry, more tidying up.  Sigh.  All in a day's work!