Thursday, August 14, 2008

In Praise of Stay-at-home Moms

I took today and Friday off to hang out with Tate. My main goal today was to go to the Kimbell Art Museum with him. Last night I thought to myself, "I'll sleep in as long as Tate will let me, and then we'll get up, get ready and be at the Kimbell when it opens at 10 a.m. so we can be back in time for his early afternoon nap." Seems easy enough. 

But yes, it's 11:30 a.m., and I'm still at home. Here's how the day has gone so far: Tate wakes up at 6 a.m., a full hour earlier than normal. So much for sleeping in. Oh well, that just means I have more time to make sure I'm out of the house by 9:30, right? Wrong.  

After eating and playing for a bit, he seems sleepy. I try to put him down for a short nap so I can get ready (figuring he usually sleeps during the 30 minute drive to work at this same time). Tate is not interested in napping and screams every time I leave the room to go get ready. So I decide to get him ready. As I'm dressing him I remember that we didn't give him a bath last night. OK, off to bath. I give him a quick bath, get him dressed. He's rubbing his eyes. Great! He's ready for a short nap. Back in the crib. Wrong. Not interested again. Finally, I pop in a Baby Einstein, put him in the exersaucer and run to my room to get ready, knowing I have exactly 20 minutes until Baby Einstein is over. I get ready in lightning speed. OK, time to go. 

But wait, it's time for him to eat again. OK, give him a bottle. He finishes the bottle. Great, time to go finally. I put him in his high chair while I pack his diaper bag. I pack it up (which means several trips up and down my stairs for things I forgot),  put it in the car. Load the stroller in the trunk. We're ready! I just need to go get Tate out of his highchair. I go back inside.

He's sound asleep in his highchair. Snoring a little, even. 

So here I sit for more than hour, waiting for him to wake up. My schedule for today is blown. And I'm exhausted. 

I don't know how stay-at-home moms do it! 

11 comments:

KJ Druyvesteyn said...

Oh, so much fun, right?! Yes, this a.m. Landon was so crabby & just wanted me to hold him A L L of the time....so, I decided to go to the store b/c then he likes to look around and isn't so needy. Well, we tried to go to one store and it wasn't even open yet (not until TEN? NAUGHTY WORDS) so we ended up at Kohl's b/c that is always open. A few meltdowns later, we just ended up leaving. So, I hear you....some days I almost lose my mind! Hope you make it to the Kimball today! I hear that they have a fabulous art impressionist exhibit...we plan on going tomorrow night. It's a big night out for us with a babysitter and everything! : )

Danielle said...

That describes every one of my days!

Rob said...

You are cute.

By God's Design said...

So funny! Yeah, I usually don't plan anything before 11 a.m. In the working world, you already have 3 hours of work under your belt by then. In the stay-at-home world, you've been up for awhile, but little has been accomplished. Hope you're having fun with Tate!

SpecialK said...

Yep - I worked full time so I could get some rest!!!

Rebekah said...

What a great story. It made me smile to think of cute Tate slouched in his high chair sleeping when he has a perfectly comfy bed to sleep in---which he refused.

pink is the new black said...

Jenny...girl you are so good to even think of travelling from Flo-Mo to Funkytown!!! You go girl, I hope y'all make it tomorrow! I'm back to the working world tomorrow, ugh.
DId you take a pic of Tate asleep in his high chair??? Cutie pie!

Sarah said...

Jenny, don't believe Tate...he told me he was hoping you'd take him to see realists over impressionists. He said he doesn't like abstract art right now. I'm just tellin' ya what he said, okay? So if he tries to fake a nap tomorrow...tell him, "Nice try, buddy."

My other tip:
KJ, you and Landon should go to the museum with Jenny tomorrow and bone up on your impressionist knowledge. Then, when you go with Aaron that night he'll be really attracted to your...um...big brains.

The Robertson Family said...

OK, random question: Anyone have a good book recommendation? I know what you're thinking..the girl can't even get herself and a 9 month old out of the house but she thinks she has time to read. I know, I know. But I need a good book to at least read a page or two every night before I fall asleep with it on my face. And tomorrow my biggest ambition is to make it to Barnes and Noble.

Sarah said...

I read almost only School Leadership/Instructional Leadership materials. I'm sure that would not be the literature you're wanting.

I've heard Thanks is a great book as well as Love, Magic, and Mudpies. I have had those recommended by a lady I'd trust.

And lastly...Walk Two Moons is an adolescent novel...but it is SOOO GOOD. It'd be a quick read and very touching. Holes...that's another adolescent novel that's good. I'd save those purchases for Half-Price Books, though.

KJ Druyvesteyn said...

Jenny--I highly recommend either People or US Weekly--both fabulous, easy reads & are very entertaining.

Sarah--little known fact about me is that I LOVE
impressionistic art (I was a French major for Pete's sake). I've been trying to get to the Kimball & Aaron & I were going to go tonight bit it looks like we have to go car shopping now. UGH!