A Day in the life of a SAHM

I was recently compared to a dear friend who has four kids and is a SAHM who also runs a business. 

She has managed to run the house brilliantly and set a schedule for her children; aged between 6 months to 4 years old. 

It is to the tee including their seating arrangement during meal times and incorporated play and study times. 

Not to mention that she cooks as well! 

Her children are obedient and listens to her instructions, well, maybe throws their tantrums once in awhile. 

One of the ideas given to me was to also run a business and manage my lil' rainbow ... and the following was highlighted: 

"Well, you can run a business as you have only one child which you can obviously manage". 

They don't know my lil' rainbow like how hubby and I do ... her curiosity level is extremely high and she couldn't care less if she would be endangering herself. 

To her, the world is safe and she can do anything and everything she wants.

I feel like a failure for not being able to have a schedule like my friend and grasping for tips online ... yes, try to Google "Schedule of a SAHM" and you'll know what I mean :)

Ultimately, through trial and error, you will soon find out that you will need to work the schedule around the child and not vice versa. 

Every child is unique ... each household is different and runs according to the different personalities inhabiting it.

So, for any schedule you have drawn up, give it a little flexibility and don't stress yourself out ... they may change depending on your child ...

DAILY 

(Mon - Fri)

6am "ME" time for prayers, etc

8am  Lil' Rainbow wakes up. Breakfast together.

9am  Lil' Rainbow bathes and plays whilst I prepare meals in the kitchen.

11am Snack time and prepare for morning nap.

1pm  Lil' Rainbow wakes up for lunch.

3pm  Prepare for afternoon nap, I bf her and usually fall asleep together as she tends to cling for hours.

5pm Lil' Rainbow wakes up and plays. If the weather permits, we either go for a swim or go to the playground.

7pm Lil' Rainbow has her dinner and bathes with Daddy. Spends quality time with Daddy.

8pm Prepare for bedtime. 

9pm "ME" time ie watch movies, etc. 

You could incorporate laundry and other chores as well ... leave the vacuuming / bathroom cleaning for the weekend as hubby will help look after baby / toddler.

Sat / Sun

Flexible day ... ie host lunch / dinner with friends / family over, attend invites / events, shopping, etc. 

WEEKLY (Specifically for managing house chores and once you have identified the time / hours you won't be disturbed)

* Again, this is just an outline and as a reminder so you don't forget. 

Mon

Laundry

Tue

Clean floors and kitchen

Wed

Grocery shopping

Thu

Laundry

Fri

Clean bathrooms

If you don't have a schedule, that's okay as long as you can manage the important ones ie feeding the child and not forgetting, yourself!

Good luck! :D

Number 2?

Yes, I am constantly being thrown the question of having a second child now and again. 

People were more interested to ask this question as opposed to asking how I was coping or how my baby was progressing / recent developments.

What's wrong with me having one child for now? 

As if having ONE child is a sign that I'm a selfish mother ... that I don't wish to conceive another.

At times, I just want to be mean and ask them back these questions:

Would you like to conceive for me?

Carry the baby the entire 9 months for me?

Deliver the baby for me, be it SVD or C-Sec?

Endure the 40-day or 100-days confinement period for me?

Care for the new baby AND at the same time, my Lil' Rainbow for me?

Have sleepless nights as baby transitions from the womb into the world and have difficulty sleeping?

Breastfeed baby and suffer cracked nipples for me?

Suffer baby blues for me?

I can list out several other questions and am soooo interested to know how they answer!

Ok, I'm not THAT mean ... I won't ask those questions despite me having the urge to do so and mentally asking them and calming myself down at the same time! 

In turn, I'd just smile and say, "No plans yet."

THEN when you thought it would end there ... they'll go, "But WHY? You're not getting any younger" or "She needs a younger sibling to play with" or "At least you need 2 kids so that it won't get lonely when they grow up" bla bla bla bla bla bla!!!!!!

They have NO idea ... 

That I'm scared ... 

Of getting pregnant again and delivering a second baby ... 

It hurts, really does. 

Every step of the first delivery is still fresh in my mind and it seems so recent, though it has been almost 17 months ago.

But some people just can't empathize and even compared me with other mothers who have more than one child. 

Let me be, please, for now. 

It's my body and it is me who has to endure it ... not you ... 

I'm SICK of the question ... 

I either just smile and not say a word or avoid the question entirely (change subject).

When the time comes for me to get pregnant the second time, it will come and I shall leave that to God the Almighty.

It is MY second child so let me do things MY way ... 

If I happen to conceive, it's God's will and I shall accept it wholeheartedly.