A Day in the Life of A Stay-at-Home Mom

A Day with a Toddler: Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

I see so many mamas out there just rocking it every single day.  They wake up at the ass-crack of dawn.  Have their hair and make-up done.  Have a gourmet breakfast ready for the entire family.  Have their husband’s lunch packed, keys out on the counter… and so on. My average day of being a stay-at-home mom looks nothing like this.

I’m the kind of mom who would like to have all of this achieved and accomplished, but let’s face it. 

It’s just not me! 

My day sometimes feels like a struggle to get through.  Don’t get me wrong, I love every second of being home with my little one, but I definitely don’t have all my ducks in a row.

I would like to start off by saying that this is obviously what works for me.  My daughter is probably one of the calmest babies known to man. 

I’d like to keep it that way for as long as I possibly can!

**This post contains affiliate links to products that I have personally used and love!**

Must Have Coffee First

(Between 5:00 – 8:30AM)

My daughter will generally wake up before both my husband and I.  That can range anywhere between 5 and 8:30 AM.  Yes, I completely understand that we are LUCKY when it comes to our toddler sleeping the way she does.

Before I can function to do anything as far as putting myself together, I need at least one gallon of coffee.  So I get the little girl up, change the diaper, and plop her in her high chair. 

My husband will usually be the one to get the coffee going, but sometimes he gets in the shower in the morning so I will let the dog outside and make a huge pot of coffee start us off.

What’s For Breakfast, Mom?

(Generally around 7:20AM)

While doing this I will grab an Eggo Waffle and toss that in the toaster to keep little bit happy until I can get around to making her “gourmet” breakfast of champions. 

(Some sort of blueberry pouch mixed with oatmeal, a banana, some yogurt, and her milk.)

Of course a lot of this will end up on the floor to feed our mooch of a dog. 

I have just recently gotten into the parfait life. So I will just have some low-fat greek yogurt, blueberries, and some granola on top. 

Most likely I’ll top breakfast off with whatever my daughter doesn’t finish or throws on the floor.

(Half a banana.)

FaceTime and The News

(8:00 – 9:00)

Once we finish up the solid foods, we move our party into the living room where I will turn on the news and FaceTime with Ma’am Ma’am – aka Grandma.  

I plop her down with the remainder of her milk onto her little couch.  Which by the way, is one of the best things you could purchase for your mini.  She feels like such a big girl on her own sofa.

We will usually watch the news until Rachel Ray comes on, and she LOVES her some Rachel Ray.  Up until the interview portion of the show.  Then it’s time for a break from the tv.  

Yes, I am one of the parents who keep the television on ALL day.  More for just background noise.  Remember, I’m home all day with someone who doesn’t talk a whole lot.  So I need to hear some adult voices to keep me from going bonkers.

It’s fine. Don’t worry about us.

Bust Out the Reading Material

(Between 9:00 – 9:30ish)

Once we made it to the interviews on Rachel,  I will ask baby girl to find a book from her “book tote” that just chills on the floor.  She does her little knee walk over to the tote and picks out a few books and will either knee walk them back over to me, or chucks them in all directions.  

Just depends on the day, I suppose.

With about 4 books in hand, and more on the way- we get to reading.  Sometimes I will let her just go off on her own and “read” to herself for a while.  This usually looks like her face smooshed up to the board book pages and going “dbabdbdabdba”.  But, she gets the idea!

Another big gulp of coffee down the hatch during this time.

Play Time and Practice Our Runway

(9:30 – 10:30)

Once we get a bit of reading done, it’s time to get our play on and burn some more energy.  Right now since she is 16 months old- her big thing is throwing a ball.  So that is what we will do.  We play catch and fetch.  Sometimes she will just toss it herself, and chase after it. 

My independent lady.

This is also the time where she will dig through her toy bin and make a huge mess. Get her walker going and then get pissed off because she doesn’t quite know how to turn it around yet when it runs into the wall/couch/other toys. Bounce on her lion-bouncer-thing. 

You know all the FUN stuff!

Here are a few of her favorite things as of right meow:

I’ll Take a Nap Right Here

(I’d say starting anywhere from 10:30 – 11:30)

I’m still waiting for the moment she will simply fall asleep anywhere.  But for now it’s still milk in a bottle, rock, and being as gentle as possible to ease her into her crib before she wakes up.  

Babies and toddlers are ticking time bombs – I swear – when it comes to laying them down!

I have learned once again that it’s OK to let her cry for a while if she does happen to wake up in the process.

She WILL go to sleep!

And she will stay asleep for a good 1.5 to 2 hours. 

This is generally her only nap now during the day, so she likes to make it a good one.

Mommy Time

There is always a HUGE list of things that I need to get done during the day.  This is the time when I try to get as much of that done as I can.  Whether it be switching laundry, dishes, floors, or like right now… blogging, or slinging my other side hustle.

Of course, sometimes I like to take this time easy-peasy and do something for myself.  

Have a cup of tea, watch Court TV, Catfish, any reality show really.

I seriously need to start reading some books again while I have some tea.  That actually sounds SUPER relaxing to me right now. 

Maybe tomorrow!

I’ll also use this time to shower, and get myself somewhat put together.  If I don’t, then I will wait for little Miss to wake up and I put her in her high chair and put on some Blue’s Clues for a few minutes.

(I set the highchair right outside the bathroom, so I do have my eyes on her.  Again, don’t worry about us.)

I might even get a chance to snack before she wakes up.

Wake Up and Lunch

(Wake up around 11:45 to 12:00)

Now on the days that I shower while she naps, she will actually wait until I get dried off and then wake up.  It’s like she has some sort of radar.  Thanks baby girl!

But once I get dressed, and her up and changed- it’s chow time.

What’s for Lunch?

Lunch can be somewhat picky.  I found that she needs to wait a while before actually eating right after she wakes up.  Otherwise, it all goes on the floor.

So… outside the doggo goes.  I will then empty out the dishwasher.  Clean off the counters. 

Let the pup back in.  Swiffer the floors if he made a mud mess.

Then lunch time begins.

She will usually eat a toddler meal from Gerber, or I will slap some chicken nuggets into the air fryer for a few minutes.  While that is cooking, I’ll bust out the applesauce.

This kid LOVES her some applesauce.

I also found that she will eat as many cauliflower tater tots as she can! 

I love them too, so it’s a nice snack for me.

Toddler Lunch Time Checklist:

• Chicken/Veggie Nuggets
• Cauliflower tots
• Applesauce
• Dr. Praeger’s ANYTHING
• Sketti-o’s
• Banana
• PIZZA
• Something from GERBER

Lunch for Mama

Usually lunch for me looks like leftovers.  Sometimes I’ll get me some Jimmy John’s delivered, or pop in a cauliflower pizza myself.

Nothing too crazy! 

Dance Party Time

(12:30 – 1:30 or longer!)

Being a stay-at-home mom with some serious back issues, I don’t get to work out like “normal people”.  So I do it in my own way and include my daughter.

We will have a ball just dancing, and singing.  

I swear, this girl knows how to bust a move.  I on the other hand just try not to bust a hip.

But, this is probably my favorite time of the day.  Baby girl is well rested, fed, and ready to jam!!

Of course, we do put on classic rock, and the 90’s for a bit too!

More Play Time, Please!

(1:30 – 2:30)

Yes, I know what you’re thinking.  You two just had the most EPIC kitchen dance party.  Why are you settling down?

Because we DON’T WANT TO yet!

Now this play time is basically like the one from earlier in the morning.  Ball, walker, bouncer.. But this is when our imaginations get to play a little more.

AND of course…wear off some more energy!

@thelifeofamomster

When life hits you HARD #babiesoftiktok #momsoftiktok #sahm #toddler #oops

♬ original sound – Chelsea Kimmell

We have a princess tent that she absolutely LOVES!  She has all of her friends loaded up in there with a blanket.  I honestly think she’s playing house already.

**It’s the FAO Schwarz Princess Castle Play Tent from Target!**

But she will grab some tinker toys and just go in and out of this thing and talk to her friends and “PEAK” through the windows at me.  

A good time was had by all!

This is also our puzzle time, more books, and whatever else she wants to get into.  

COLORING– the girl is an ARTIST.

Settle Down with a Movie or Show

(2:30 – 4:00)

Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s both a movie and a show.  This is our wind down time after a good play session.  Usually by this time she is already getting a little tired.  

I’m not mad about having to watch this movie once or twice a day.  Luckily, it was one of my favorites when I was little. (Not going to lie- it still is one of my favorites). 

Just enough musical numbers to keep her entertained, yet remain nice and chill!

This is also another snack time moment for us. Because… why not?

If she isn’t ready to sit down for a movie, a couple episodes of Blue’s Clues will definitely do the trick.  Josh is basically her BEST FRIEND. (Sorry Steve and Joe).

Possible Second Nap?

(4:00 – 4:45pm)

Now that we are in the teething stage, this can be a big hit or miss.  My daughter tends to start getting a little crabby around 4:00pm. So if she hasn’t already fallen asleep during the movie, I will try to get her to take a little “recliner nap” with me as I put some white noise on my phone.

I will say that for the last couple of weeks, this has been a success.  Thanks to teething, of course.  Once she gets to feeling 100% again, it may be a different story.  

But, for now- I’ll take it

Winner, Winner- Chicken Dinner

(5:00 – 5:45)

Chicken dinner is pretty accurate.  My daughter is decently picky when it comes to food.  So while other kids have become pros at eating their fruits and veggies all by themselves, there’s my silly girl.  

Textures are not her forte- but the girl will eat a whole pizza- NO PROBLEM!

So a lot of the time we have to do applesauce, sketti-o’s or some kind of small pasta, chicken/veggie nuggets.  Truly a trial and error process every, single, day.

My husband is usually waltzing into the doorway around this time too.  

Just in time for some dinner giggles!

Daddy Play Time

(6:00 – 6:45)

Depending on what time my husband walks in the door is when he gets to join in on baby time.  So if he gets home early enough, he will take over feeding her while I scramble to get something made if I didn’t already throw something into the crockpot earlier, or we can just go ahead and order take-out. 

Crockpot Dinner Ideas

(Once again, it’s fine!)

Anyways, he will either take over feeding her or he will be able to jump right into evening play time.  This usually consists of her jumping on him and using him as a personal jungle gym.  

Following up with some laps around the house with her walker.  Making sure daddy is right there behind her!

Hubby Takes Over

(6:45 – 7:00)

My husband has taken over bath time.  Which is a nice tag team deal we have going on.  He gives our mini a bath, while I get somewhat of a break. 

Break meaning:

• Pick up all the toys
• Put the living room back together
• Wash bottles
• Get her clothes ready
• Turn on sound machine
• Clean out crib
• Wrangle up pacifiers
• Make sure he grabbed a washcloth and towel
• Get her bedtime milk ready
• Make sure her nose sucker and comb are ready to go!

Yes, I will still consider that a break.

Nighty-Night Time

(Asleep by 7:30pm)

Once we have our daughter all nice and clean, nose sucked, sound machine on- it is time!

It is time for one more bottle of milk and to catch some zzz’s. 

(She hardly ever finishes a bottle at night, so I should really start putting less in there. I’ll start tomorrow.)

Let’s just say she is typically out like a light within a few minutes!  Put her in the crib and we are good to go until morning.

During the few minutes that she is drinking that bottle and passing out, I have a moment to sit down and BREATHE.

Which then leads to our next topic.

What to Do With ME TIME?

This…this is what I’m doing with my “ME TIME”. Writing, or catching up on things I might’ve missed throughout the day.  

Most of the time this is when I will finally have a meal. Yes, I’m aware that it’s probably later than what most people would consider eating dinner, but it works for us.

My husband and I FINALLY have time to wind down and just relax.  While I type up a blog post, or make some graphics, he can sit and catch up on his Mandalorian. I will gladly leave him to it!

I will admit that we could and should work on doing things for us, together- but right now I think we are both in that exhausted stage.  Our daughter is in the “I’m becoming a toddler” stage, and my husband works quite a long day.  So the two together are draining. For now this is what we do before bed time.  Take time for ourselves!

(I would like to add that we do NOT ignore each other! Simply stating we have our own wind down times and activities.)

I Love You’s, and Goodnight!

(Anywhere from 8:30 to Midnight)

Like I said toddler and working all day makes for flat out exhaustion.  This means that I could fling myself into bed at 8:30. 

No Regrets!

Usually I will find myself finally crashing around 10:30 though.  I feel like this gives me the perfect amount of sleep to function the next day with my two gallons of coffee!

If the hubby decides to stay up a little longer, I say I love you and goodnight and turn on some ASMR to drift off to.

OR

If we go to bed at the same time, I will say I love you, goodnight, and turn on some ASMR to drift off to. 

Not much difference there.  But it’s the only way I can shut my brain off and fall asleep!

We pass out and get ready to do it all over again tomorrow.

My Day as a SAHM!

I understand I said a lot!  But this is my day in a nutshell.  Maybe it will help others realize that their life or days don’t need to be that “picture perfect” “#momlife” day. 

Maybe it will light fires under some butts if you don’t want to do this?

Who knows?

All I know is this is what we do, and what we like to do! 

I love every second of my mommy-daughter days.  Our dance parties in the kitchen at lunch time. Singing to the same songs from the Labyrinth over, and over again. Waiting for the next “recliner nap” just to get a little quiet time. 

This is perfect for me, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it.