Fantasy vs Reality - A Mom's Life

Hello everyone,

I hope that when you read this post, you are keeping safe and healthy. If you are in an area where cases are rising, please wear your masks. Don't think of this as an inconvenience but as way to protect your loved ones.

This is how my "Fantasy Mom Day" would go like:

It is still dark outside. I have woken up at 5:30am to get a fresh start to my day. There is a slight odor of apple cinnamon in the house, as I started burning my new candle in my kitchen. I have already started a load of laundry and unloaded the dishwasher. The coffee is brewing and my bagel is ready to be buttered. 

As I sip my first cup of coffee, I get dressed, get my hair and makeup done and go off to pray and journal. Once that is done, I get to my second cup of coffee and eat my bagel. I do this while watching an episode of The Great British Baking Show. 

The first load is done. I toss it into the dryer and start on my second load. Hopefully, by the time the kids wake up, all my laundry will be done and folded into everyone's basket. 

The sun is starting to come out and I come into my home office and start my lists: to-do, emails, bills and other house things and any shopping lists that are needed. After that, I plan out my work: blog, Pinterest and Facebook, writing and any school readings or papers. Depending on the day, I may have some house cleaning to take care of - only once the kids are up.

It is 9:00am and the kids are about to wake up. I start to prepare their breakfasts so that all is ready when the wake up. 

They all wake up, happy and smiling and we have a pleasant and blessed breakfast...

This is my "Reality Mom Day...

I was wanting to wake up at 5:30am but kept snoozing and then, I missed my alarm and woke up within minutes of my virtual morning training. Even as I am training, I am unable to wake up. I forgot to start the coffee machine and forgot to program it last night...and I just looking forward to my coffee. The house is a bit of mess - the kids went to sleep quite late because they just would not go to sleep and kept coming out of their beds. As I am training, one of them comes out and I have no choice but to train with them. I can't focus and keep saying: no, don't touch that, please get off me - no, this is not a game. I am more tired from getting them out of the way then the actual workout.

By the time the workout is done, the kids are out of control and screaming...which is normal because I have yet to change their diapers and now - they are HANGRY! I make coffee and quickly work on breakfast and because I don't have anything prepared, I am just giving them whatever  ... being granola bars, crackers and veggie straw chips....and by the time I get to my coffee...ugh, it's cold, very cold... and my breakfast consists of what the kids have thrown on the floor.

I have no option to shower and must have them with me while I dress. I scrounge up an outfit, put my hair in a very messy and not great looking bun - makeup...yeah, not going there. I take them outside and start the yelling matches of having to dress them - running after them to get them dressed, applying sunscreen, putting on shoes and strapping them to stroller. I am about to leave the house and I get a whiff of poop smell - NO!!!! I start to unstrap them and change them and start up all over again and we go for round two of leaving the house. WAIT!!! I forgot snacks and water - as they are still strapped and wailing (because they just want to be out) and I quickly just pack-up unhealthy things because I don't have time to get any fruit or cheese.... We finally make it out of the house and off we go...

During the walk - I look at my dress and notice that it has traces of yogurt and my hair feels a bit off - yes, I totally forgot that the baby threw up on me while I was burping him... We meet some other moms walking with their kids and I am ashamed as I look all frumpy while they look as though they just came out of a magazine...

We finally come back home and the kids just want to eat - and yet again, I did not have time to prepare anything...and so, pizza, chicken nuggets it is - it's quick and they will eat it...

It's lunch time and I have nothing to eat and start to snack on anything that I can my hands on...

They go on to nap and I can finally breathe a bit - but I actually can't because I have to work on laundry, the shopping lists, the bills that I have forgotten to pay and ... SUPPER!!!! By the time I have gotten to all of that, I am about to just sit down and breathe a bit and the children start to stir...

AFTERTHOUGHT:

I would like to say that when it comes to children, every day is different and that is okay. Kids live in the moment and predictability is not one of their key traits. And that is okay. In fact, my reality mom days are probably the ones where I get the most memories because the kids and I laughed more than on a fantasy day where everything is perfect... Do I prefer fantasy? maybe in some ways. Let me explain...

Yes, I prefer days when I get up early because it is during those mornings that I get the most done. I also prefer when the kids get a full night sleep because they wake up happier and are less prone to being whiny. But, I don't mind as much having food or burp-up stuck to me, my clothes, face and hair -NOPE! And the reason why I don't is because it means this: I have been blessed with children. I have been blessed with children that run, climb, walk, laugh, giggle and scream - and that is great because before them, I lived my days pretty much alone because my husband worked longer hours - because when you don't have kids, your employer does not understand why you need to come home to your wife at a decent time... 

Kids are challenging. When you have three of them about a year apart, like we do, it gets very challenging... but we have been blessed with a wonderful nanny that helps us and allows us to do our work so we can have more time for them on Holidays and weekends ... and weeknights. We love our kids - I love those little faces so much I squeeze them any chance I get!!

Today is a mix of fantasy and reality - just like I like them! It is a blessed day!

What is your fantasy versus reality mom day? Are you having a fantasy or reality day? If you are struggling with the kids - hang in there because you are not alone. Seek out help. You would be surprised at how many people can actually help you and want to help you. 

Until my next post, please remember to keep safe and healthy. Wash your hands, don't touch your face and wear your face masks.

SM