Yeah, at times I just felt like affirming that ...
"I'm a SAHM and I just sit on my bum the entire day.
I don't do anything productive which contributes to the nation's economy nor society."
A day in a life of a SAHM,
I have it easy and don't have to work to earn a single penny.
Or maybe it's simply because I can't manage my tasks timely.
Penning each item into an organizer (time-clustered) which I can follow easily.
And help you make sense of what I do / achieve daily.
Here's what MY day looks like (Warning: This may be boring so this is your chance to NOT read this entry ... don't say I haven't warned ya!) :)
I would probably be the envy of those who have to work in the office and brave the city traffic every single day.
My 2 years & 5 month old toddler wakes up to breastfeed, dozing in and out of sleep.
May stretch until 9.30am.
Toddler decides to continue to sleep.
Been holding my bladder so I go and take a leak first then go into the kitchen.
Initial plan was to boil water to make toddler's milk, I end up ...
* washing the dishes in the sink (I clearly remember cleaning up the night before???)
* re-fill the ice-cube container
* re-fill empty water bottles
* wash toddler's water bottle and plate used for dinner the previous evening
* clear up dried plates / pots / pans into the kitchen cabinet
Once done, only then would I remember my initial plan of going into the kitchen!
Decide to take a shower before toddler wakes up.
Purposely stand under warm running water as my back tends to ache in the mornings, perhaps from lying down on one side too long, breastfeeding.
Careful to only use Sebamed soap as I'm now officially an eczema sufferer.
Step out of the shower and toddler is already awake, not crying, just rolling around in bed.
Greet her and she smiles whilst I get dressed.
She now helps me to get dressed, brings me my shirt and wants to put on my pants for me.
A 1-minute task can easily turn into 5.
I would ask toddler to take a shower.
Yes, greeted with MUCH resistance, with her shouting and screaming.
Normally I would give in until she calms down but since her diaper is soiled, I would need to drag her into the bathroom.
NOT a pretty sight since I'm trying to take off her PJs (coz she kept saying "NO" even when I asked her to) and she keeps crying + screaming.
Taking off her PJs would normally take less than a minute if she co-operates but again, 5-minutes as she clutches (HARD!) on her PJs.
In the bathroom ... (where she continues to cry + scream)
She would decide NOT to brush her teeth.
So I would bring her to the shower area and give her a quick soap + shower.
One hand holding the shower head whilst another lathered with soap, trying to make sure she doesn't start running / fall on the floor.
Her screams are ear-piercing (any person would think she's being abused!)
Once done, I'll bring her to the sink again to brush her teeth.
She insisted on taking her bath towel.
So I'll start opening the door.
She then decides she wants to brush her teeth.
So she's stopped crying at this point.
I playfully squeezed the toothpaste onto her toothbrush so that she stays calm.
She laughs and brushes her teeth.
I'll stand by her side to make sure she brushes every surface.
She even shows me that she brushes her tongue.
Once done, after saying "Good job!" to her, bring her into the room to get dressed.
She decides NOT to wear her diaper and starts crying "Don't want diaper!"
I try to persuade her and took her favorite dress (which she wore the previous day and only decides to wear it again today).
She cried a bit and upon seeing the dress, grabs it from my hand.
I attempt to put on her diaper and she grabs this from my hand too, insisting to put it on herself.
Luckily she merely positioned it under her bum so I'll just need to secure it.
I apply the Yu Yee oil and powder, she co-operates.
Still holding the dress, I persuade her to put it on.
Sometimes she'll want to wear it herself, at times she'll ask for my help.
"Would you like me to help you out so that I can prepare milk for you?"
She'll reply, "OK" and sits quietly while I button her dress.
I don't brush her hair at this point yet as she will most definitely run off.
So I prepare her milk in the milk bottle where she'll help too.
At this point, she's already on top of the kitchen counter and have already taken down the big container where we store her milk powder.
Once I've filled her milk bottle with warm water and opened the container, she'll put in her small hand to grab the scoop.
A 1-minute task turns into probably 2 or 3 minutes to ensure the formula doesn't spill, that she takes the correct amount and that the formula actually GOES INTO the bottle.
There are the occasional mishaps so I'll pass her the kitchen towel where she's eager to wipe off the residue from the counter.
She'll help put back the container in the cabinet and goes her merry way onto the sofa to enjoy her milk.
I take this opportunity to prepare our breakfast.
A slice of cheese and toast + butter for the little one, cut into triangular shapes downed with a small bottle of fruit juice (either grape or orange).
I'd prepare my sandwich / toast and coffee.
Once she's done with her milk, I'll place her breakfast on the table.
Before I get to sit down and enjoy my breakfast, I put the laundry into the washer.
I noticed clean socks on the floor (must have fallen out of the cabinet in hubby's morning rush to work).
Any dirty laundry on the floor, I'll chuck it in the laundry basket.
Fold any clothes lying around the house.
Pick up toddler's toys and place them back in the toy chest (not that she won't play with it but just wanted to make sure the floor was clear of toys since she tends to run around and at times, step on her toys and fall).
Grab the vacuum cleaner to vacuum the rooms + living area + dining area and kitchen.
Finally sit down to enjoy my breakfast, go on the Internet to check for any updates or read the news.
Think about what to cook for dinner as lunch was from dinner the previous day.
One of the days where I also switch on the TV for toddler as I don't want her to heavily depend on the iPad.
Toddler will come running to me once in awhile if she doesn't like the show on TV so we would be switching channels between Nick Jr., CBeebies and BabyFirst.
Toddler decides she wants to poop.
Another round of drama in the washroom.
Resume listening to online lectures and take notes.
About to read the first line, toddler says "Ummi, want tu-tu" (formula milk).
So I'll collect her milk bottle as she didn't finish drinking from her previous session.
She now contemplates whether to drink on the carpet or on the floor.
I place her pillow and milk bottle on the floor.
I use the pillow on the sofa to prop her comfortably.
She decides she wants the pillow which is currently on the floor.
I replace the pillow and she takes time climbing the sofa as she then decides she wants to jump on it.
I had to tell her "Ummi wants to start working, dear", as if on cue, she positions herself properly on the sofa and takes her milk bottle from me.
Try to resume my lecture when, 5-minutes later, she comes to me with an empty milk bottle.
I bring it to the kitchen for a wash and to give her vitamins.
She'll hesitate and try squirming out of my grasp as she resists.
I'll have to coax her to swallow her vitamins.
I'll then take my vitamins and she'll want to help.
She'll want to play with the pills too!
So I'll tell her that she can't play with the pills.
So she'll start crying again.
I'll store the bottles away and change her TV channel.
Yes! Bubble Guppies is on!
She'll cry a bit and when I tell her Bubble Guppies is on TV, she'll step down from the kitchen counter and watch TV.
I'll look around the kitchen cabinets to ensure nothing dangerous is within her reach.
I decided to re-organize everything to make sure the kitchen is safe, to a certain extent.
I remembered the laundry in the washer and transferred the clothes into the dryer.
We can't hang our clothes on the balcony due to the construction going-on next door and tons of yellow debris would probably get stuck onto the clothes.
Every now and then, she'll come over to ask me to change channels or look at what she's doing.
I'll focus on her and when she's done or occupied with another activity, no longer requiring my attention, I'll get back to whatever it is I was doing.
Prepare for my prayers and at this point, she would be interested to perform the ablution as well.
Yes, her clothes would be damp from all the face and feet washing.
As I prepare to pray, she'll want to set the space for her to pray too.
Even after donning the attire, she won't sit still and run around, jumping on the bed with the praying attire.
On a lucky day, she'll stand in front of me (so I'll have to wait for her) or she'll step on my head or she'll climb on my back or try to get into my praying attire or just lie down in front of me so I won't be able to do anything.
After prayers, I'll continue with reciting some verses from the holy book and she'll want it too.
So she'll climb onto the shelf to grab a copy (smaller version, easier for her to carry) and she'll plop herself right in front of me.
She'll try to distract me, grab a bookmark from my book but then return it within a minute.
She'll move onto the bed and try reading it or playing with it.
Although I'm reading, I still keep a watchful eye so that she doesn't start stepping on the book or throwing it around.
She'll then decide it was too boring so she'll keep the book back on the shelf.
She'll then run in and out of the room or jump around on the bed, but won't disturb me.
Once done, she'll say, "Ummi, milk" to indicate that she wants to breastfeed and she wants to take a nap.
"Don't you want to mamam (eat)?" I ask.
"No mamam, milk!" she'll reply.
"Ok, drink your water first and let's go babam (lie down)" I would instruct her.
"OK!" she replied and gleefully grabs her water bottle to drink and places it back where she would swiftly run to the room, wait for me by the door so she would close it.
I would spend an hour breastfeeding her while she dozes off to sleep.
I'll use this time to browse recipes / surf on my mobile.
This would normally be the time for me to fold the laundry or do some house chores ie wash the bathrooms / mop the floor / wipe the windows, etc as I'm able to concentrate without bumping into her and possibly endangering her.
Sometimes I use this time to do research for a project or resume my learning.
She wakes up to find me in front of the PC or doing house chores.
She'll request to bf and bring me into the room so I can put her back to sleep again.
At times, I would end up dozing off with her or just cuddle or she'll hang on for 45 minutes to an hour then decides to wake up.
I'll go into the kitchen to prepare her snack.
I would sometimes eat with her, to make sure she eats.
We'd either have pasta / bread / cheese / nuggets / fried chicken with juice.
These are the only things she is interested to eat.
There would be the occasional porridge too.
If she doesn't want to eat, she'll ask for "tu tu" (formula).
I'll perform my prayers while she's having her "tu tu".
I'll be in the kitchen preparing dinner whilst she eats away or plays with her toys.
She would visit me in the kitchen and decide to stand by the counter or if there is space, sit on the counter and watch me cook.
If there were to be a laundry basket by the side, she'll drag it along with a stool in front of the TV.
She'll climb onto the stool and into the basket, obviously getting comfy with the clean laundry.
Or she'll decide she wants "tu tu" (again!) so I'd tell her either play with her toys or we'll have a shower.
She would obviously go against shower.
Once I'm done with cleaning the kitchen / boiling water / re-filling empty water bottles, we'll have some downtime before we go for a shower (Battle of the Shower!).
Daddy would normally be home around this time so we'll have dinner together.
Prep Daddy's lunch for him to bring to work the next day.
Short chat with Daddy before he sits in front of the PC till late.
Toddler would be watching her iPad / sit next to Daddy.
She would also come in search for me to bf.
Or we would sometimes go out to grab our favorite drinks or buy groceries at a nearby sundry shop and making a pit-stop at my mom's place for a short visit (normally toddler would throw a tantrum within 10-minutes and once we're out of the house, she'd be OK again).
Or we'd catch our favorite series amidst TONS of noise and active movements our toddler makes, obviously wanting attention.
Daddy would end up sleeping in front of the TV.
We'd retire by 10pm or so ... and I'd have to bf toddler so that she goes to sleep.
Sometimes it's another battle to get her to sleep ... which is a whole different drama altogether!
And oh ... I blog coz this is my only avenue to share this with other moms or stay-at-home dads.
Just in case you have something similar, or perhaps, more bogged down.
Don't worry, I totally understand and just disregard what others say about you.
NO ONE is more superior than the other.
We try our level best at what we do as we sacrificed our career to take care of our child.
May God bless you and grant you and your family goodness!
