question for SAHMs

what does an average day look like for you?

do you have a strict schedule?
do you go with the flow of the things that need to be done?
how much "down time" do you get, if any?

question for SAHMs

great question, I am curious to see the responses

Re: question for SAHMs

Uh oh....

question for SAHMs

My child is 6.5 and in school..typical day is, packing lunches for dh and ds.. breakfast for ds..school.. then I clean, do laundry or whatever needs to be done.. I go to lunch with friends a few times a week with. I have my day to myself until 3:30. I clean an something every day, so my weeks are groundhoggish. Before he was in school this was very different. Play dates, crafts and all that other stuff.

Message edited 9/24/2015 1:42:34 PM.

question for SAHMs

I don't really have a strict schedule during the day. I have to get up the same time everyday to get my DD ready for school and I need to be home at a certain time each day to get her from the bus, then run her around to activities, make dinner, do homework, etc.

While she is at school, it really depends on the day. I volunteer alot so that could fill up a whole day, organizing the volunteer events takes time, I go food shopping, clean the house, handle all repairs or repair people that come to the house, run errands for my family, go to doctors appointment/ do my personal stuff like hair and nails. I am pretty busy every single day and don't really sit home for "down time". But the beauty of being a SAHM is that all of the things that I do do, I don't HAVE to do. I schedule lunch with my friends or sometimes go to an afternoon movie. Occasionally I'll stay in and binge watch a tv show lol. There are some weeks I am so crazy with all the volunteer work that I wish I was back in the work force because I think I worked less and at least got paid for it : ).

Re: question for SAHMs

Ive only been a sahm for 2 years. My youngest just started pre k . Hes only half day. But I typically pack lunches, then food shop and run errands like rite aid, dry cleaners etc.
I do some light cleaning around the house. At 1130 i pick up my ds. Give him lunch, we play. He sometimes takes a nap. Then i dont do a thing for a couple of hours lol. I get my dd do any homework, dinner, baths bed.

Re: question for SAHMs

I don't really have a set schedule, for the most part I just take each day as it comes. There are some general routines though, my DD is on the bus at 9, off at 4. On certain days I'm running her to dance, swim, religion, or Brownies. And then I work my errands and chores around my DS's nap in the middle of the day. Kids are in bed every, single night at 8 and then it's my time to relax with DH.

ETA - I'm up about 7 every day and then I feed my DS breakfast while I pack lunches for my DH and DD. Then I wake my DD up and feed her. Then I get the kids dressed and her on the bus. Mornings are pretty non-stop until I get her off to school.

Message edited 9/24/2015 1:57:34 PM.

Re: question for SAHMs

I work p/t so I'm home with the kids 3 days a week. On those days I try to fill the mornings up. Errands, classes, library, playground... if we stay home all morning i lose my mind. We eat lunch, then I put them both down for a nap at 1:00 and i get at least 2 hours by myself on the couch. After nap we play, I make dinner, DH gets home around 5:15

question for SAHMs

I'm a sahm to 2yo dd and 2mo dd. My days consist of:
Dropping off and picking dd1 up at nursery school three days a week.
Dance class
Diapers
Nursing and pumping
Picking up toys
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Dropping off and picking up dry cleaning
Texting
LIF
Stuff on dvr, mostly reality garbage

Most days it's go with the flow except drop off and pick up at school which is set in stone.

question for SAHMs

i am so jealous of your lives.. you are so lucky to be able to be SAHMs!

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I make my schedule for the following day every night. I have to be go with the flow bc if a kids sick, if my DH is working late etc I need to adjust my schedule. I get down time at 8 pm when my kids go to bed.

I wake up at 6:30 and shower
I get the kids up and make breakfast for everyone at 7
I get them dressed, double check bookbags for older 2, and make lunch for DH and my DS
Take them to the bus stop at 8:20
My 21 month old and I clean the kitchen and put away dishes, I set her up with something to do so I can start laundry and clean one room (I schedule 1 room for each day)
I do grocery shopping or any errands
I pick up my DD who is in half-day AM kindergarten at 11:30
We then go home and make/eat lunch
If it's nice out we play outside or go to the park, if it's gross out we do some type of art and craft
My DD2 goes down for a quick nap, while I do homework with DD1
I finish laundry/ pick up messes we made and start dinner
Pick up DS at 3:50
They eat a snack and watch TV or play till I finish dinner
Dinner is at 5:15
After dinner I do homework with DS
Showers/books/bed by 8

ETA: this is my schedule lately, we luckily have a break from dance/gymnastics and sports.. Once that starts up, the after school routine gets a little nuts.

Message edited 9/24/2015 3:11:44 PM.

Re: question for SAHMs

The only "set" schedule I have everyday is what days and times my kids have things. They are 5,4 and almost 6m
Every day we are up getting ready for the day the latest 630am. We are all fed, dressed and showered (me) by 745 then we walk my oldest to the bus stop. Then it's back home for about 45min then I bring my 4y to school. In the 2.5hds she's gone I run my errands with the baby. Home to get her at 1145. Home for lunch then it's laundry and clean up time (and the baby naps) then we get my daughter from school at 3. Then on mom and thurs we come home to get ready for dance. Then home to make dinner, do homework, make lunch for my DD for the next day. Get everyone ready for bed. Then putting them to bed is a whole debacle cause they never just go to sleep. We get a whole song and dance about them not being tired. Then eventually they fall asleep, I finish straightening up and putting clothes away then eventually I sit down around 9pm lol
That's my day. But of course can change any time

Message edited 9/24/2015 3:07:31 PM.

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Re: question for SAHMs

I am a SAHM to 3 year old triplets that just started full time nursery school. When they were home with me, life revolved around the 8 or so early intervention therapies my son with cerebral palsy had each week. I had a mothers helper for two glorious days a week. I made one day a "going out" day since I couldn't manage triplets, especially one with a disability, out by myself. I refused to schedule any therapies this day and we just did something fun - museum, park etc. the other day with my mothers helper was a "me" day - I went to the gym, had lunch with a friend etc. best money I ever spent.

They just started full time school and life is very different. I wake up at 7, put the finishing touches on lunch, guzzle coffee, get the boys up and dressed while my husband showers. We bring the boys to school together and I drop DH off at the train. I go to the gym, come home, shower, eat, clean up and do laundry. Most days if I can swing it I blow out my hair and put makeup on. Even if I have nothing to do it makes me feel better. I then do homework (I just went back to school at night) and look for part time jobs. Around noon I leave to run errands. I don't have to pick the boys up till 230 but I usually get there at 2 in order to get a handicapped spot.

3-6 I let the boys veg out while I make dinner and get lunch ready for the next day. 2 nights a week I have class for three hours.

It's not a life of leisure but it's a much easier gig now that they are at school. I am looking for a job so I am enjoying the little peace while I have it :)

Eta - oh I forgot the best part! Put the boys to bed and then reward myself with a big, giant glass of wine!

Message edited 9/24/2015 4:22:20 PM.

question for SAHMs

No strict schedule here. It's hard work but I'm so greatful I get to do it. It feels like my whole day is prepping meals and cleaning the kitchen in an endless cycle!

A typical day is getting up around 7 although I'm up half the night with my 10 month old. I drink my coffee while nursing the baby, cuddling with my 3yo, and checking my email, fb,etc.
Then diaper change and play time. I have to sit on the floor with the baby bc she is just learning to pull up and crawl and will get into trouble on her own. Then breakfast followed by cleaning the kitchen, emptying dishwasher, etc. Then I get everyone dressed and ready for the day and throw in laundry. We're out the door for errands or preschool, library classes, play dates, visit family a,etc. Home for lunch, clean the kitchen again,put away laundry. My lo gets physical therapy 2 to 3 afternoons a week or we hang out and play in the afternoons. Make dinner, feed everyone, clean up, get both girls to bed, clean again and pass out! In between all that I try to get the baby to nap, nurse her too many times a day, pick up toys a zillion times, meal plan, and all that.

My down time is usually while I'm playing with the kids or if I get to sit to eat. I rarely get to watch anything that's not Disney Jr before 9pm and struggle to get a quick shower in a few times a week. Somehow my house and kitchen are still always a mess and my to do list never gets done. Even still, I consider myself very lucky and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Re: question for SAHMs

I am home during the day while the boys are in school. I work part time after-early evening. I get up at 6:30, walk the dog and start getting the kids ready- dressed, breakfast, make their lunches and make sure their bags are packed up. Then I usually do a load of laundry and empty the dishwasher. Then the rest of the time I wing it. Some days I go to the gym, some days food shopping, some days the dog park, some days shopping, some days straighten up the house, etc... Then I usually prep dinner before I go to work at 3:00pm.

Re: question for SAHMs

I don't have a strict schedule but we have school and activities every week that are on a schedule. . My girls are 5 & 3 now and I'm busier than I've ever been. My oldest is in Kindergarten. School days I'm up by 5:30. I get her lunch/snacks and backpack parked, iron clothes and than I shower get them up and it's breakfast, a few cuddles, get dressed and were out the door at by 8:30. My youngest goes to school 3x a week. I help out at her school so some days I'm there the whole 2.5 hours. On days I'm not there I'll go food shopping, clean, laundry, prep meals. I'm a class mom for both girls and on the PTA. So I am have a lot of school obligations. When my little one is home we go out shopping, play, go to activities she is signed up for. Than we get my older dd off the bus at 3:15 and than it's chaos until bedtime. There is hw and the extra activities they do gymnaTics/swimming/dance. We eat dinner and have baths. They go to bed at 8;00-8:30 by the time I get everything done. After they are asleep I clean, put away laundry. I'm a sahm but I consider myself a full time taxi drives as I spend most of my time in the car driving someone somewhere. I'm so grateful I have been able to be home with my girls. I'd never trade it.

Message edited 9/24/2015 4:37:22 PM.

Re: question for SAHMs

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I am a stay at home mom to a very active 18 month old. We do not have a strict schedule (I could not image making that work) but our days have a pattern to them. Dd usually wakes between 7-8:30. She is usually up and running within minutes--depending on DH's schedule he may spend a little time with her in the morning and feed her breakfast if not our routine is potty, play for a little while then breakfast-breakfast takes about 30 minutes.
Dd has mommy and me classes two days per week so we shower and dress right after breakfast. On days we are home I usually clean and do laundry then we shower and dress. We go out in the afternoon to run errands or meet with friends or family frequently. Dd will usually eat lunch around one. Sometimes she naps--she has never been on a consistent nap schedule so this varies greatly--we usually play in the back yard or take a walk to the play ground in the later part of the afternoon--some days I take her to the zoo or open play time at the gym where she takes a class. Dinner is usually between 6:30-7. Some days I am able to prepare an involved meal others it is grilled meat, salad, veggies and sweet potatoes or pasta. After dinner is dd bath time-if DH is home he will do bath time--then dd reads a few books--she is usually ready to go to sleep around 9 pm.
I rarely have any downtime during the day. I hit the ground running in the morning and if dd naps I often use that time to do things I cannot do when she is awake. I feel very blessed to be able to stay home with dd for as long as I have been able to do so BUT it is NOT easy at all.

Re: question for SAHMs

This is the First year my kids are in school full day. We have a very tight schedule in morning and again when they get home from school. The day time is not structured and each day is different for me. Some days I have more down time than others. I do relax a portion of each day since I can do that now. I try to run errands in one or 2 days, condense cleaning, and meet with friends once a week. It's nice but I do miss having my little one at home with me each afternoon. Being home with babies is very very different, that's for sure

question for SAHMs

When I'm home over the summer, I have a routine, but not a schedule. This summer our lives revolved around nap time.

6-7am: wake up
8: breakfast
9: workout (run, walk, baby bootcamp)
10: play outside
11-11:30: lunch
12-12:30: nap
2-3: wake up, snack and then pool, park, play date, etc
6: dinner
7:30: bed

Since DS is still little and an only child, I have free time when he naps and when he goes to bed for the night. During nap time, I'm usually running around like a crazy person cleaning.

Re: question for SAHMs

Posted by Blubtrflygrl

Uh oh....

Re: question for SAHMs