A Day in the Life
After reading what I wrote about Pajama Day, I realized how day-to-day life is changing, and I wanted to make a note of what the day is like here.
Somewhere between 6 and 8am: Nina wakes Mommy up, asks to be dragged into our bed, perhaps gets a little milk.
5 minutes later: Nina grabs Mommy’s iPad and starts watching “Foofah” which is Yo Gabba Gabba, a show from Nickelodeon. Mommy takes a shower.
Around 8am: Daddy wakes up Ian, and grabs the piles of clothes that Mommy carefully chose the night before.
8:15am: Daddy ushers the kids downstairs and gets them dressed for school if it is a school-day. This usually happens while watching a show on TV like Yo Gabba Gabba, Bananas in Pajamas, or Busytown Mysteries. Generally Daddy (foolishly) dresses the children even though they (particularly Ian) know how to do so. Nina asks for raisins for breakfast. Daddy fills up water cups, feeds the cat, shaves, and continues to help kids get dressed, perhaps feeding kids a little breakfast in the form of Cheerios.
8:30am: Mommy comes downstairs, kids get into coats. (Nina now decides that she needs to go potty… sigh.) Regardless as to whether or not the kids have eaten enough in the morning, they request cereal bars as if this is a God-given right. Kids are strapped into Mommy’s car, kisses are exchanged. Daddy breathes on windows of car and draws Muno for Nina, the Millennium Falcon for Ian, maybe writes their names… if it is cold out. Mommy slowly backs out so that Daddy can walk along the front of the car and wave good-bye. Sometimes she rolls down the windows if the kids are saying good-bye or I love you.
(Mommy drops off kids.)
9am-6:15pm: Work.
(Mommy picks up kids, loads them up, drives home, unloads them.)
6:25pm: Kids come home, and even though Daddy has been home all day, both kids say “WELCOME HOME, DADDY!” Daddy wanders up the steps eventually as dinner is put into motion by Mommy. Mommy and Daddy read the sheets that tell us how the kids did today.
6:30pm: At this point we might go outside for a little bit, particularly if Brendan and Jake are available, or just stay in and play. Usually the latter happens and the kids get in Mommy’s way while she cooks. The table is set. Hands are washed. Vitamins are distributed and consumed. We say grace. We eat dinner. (Ian usually does not eat whatever is being served…) Ian is excused from the table, he washes his hands, forgets his face, has to go back to the bathroom and try again. Second time he’s successful but leaves the light on in the bathroom, and must go back a third time. Nina is cleaned up with a wipe, she’s free for a few minutes, but suddenly has to go potty again.
7:30pm: Usually Ian has to go potty around this time as well.
8:05pm: When it gets closer to bedtime, there is an overall resistance to the very idea of bedtime that is palpable in the air. Eventually, pajamas are put on. Daddy generally does not help with tooth-brushing as it is a trial of patience that Daddy is ill-equipped for. Stories are read. Hugs goodnight are exchanged. Ian gets a sippy cup of cold water, Nina gets a zooey, and some milk. Ian gets to watch a couple videos on Daddy’s phone. Ian says a good-night prayer.
8:30pm: Ian gets up 2-3 times in the next hour needing something ridiculous.
Later: Mommy stays up late working and getting things ready for the children’s next morning. Daddy goofs around. Most nights Mommy and Daddy enjoy a show on Hulu Plus.
