A Day in the Life: Erin (Adjusting to Life with a Newborn, a Toddler and a Preschooler)
Written by Erin, Contributing Writer
When Stephanie first gave us the “A Day in the Life” assignment, I thought: “By that point I should have a 6 week old, and we should be starting to get into a new routine.”
But life happens, and Baby Girl came almost two weeks late. So, as I write this, I’m still less than a month postpartum.
After suffering PPD after my second, I’ve been determined not to overdo things this time around. I firmly believe that postpartum women shouldn’t just “jump back into life” if they can help it. Our bodies desperately need a time of postpartum healing.
All in all, I took it easy my first few weeks postpartum, napped a lot, re-learned how to nurse a newborn and used my List PlanIt membership to work on building a new homemaking notebook to help establish our “new normal.”
But even in the midst of trying to maintain a restful postpartum period, when you have 3 very small children–ages 4, 22 months and a newborn, there will always be what I call a “crazy day” here and there.
Today was one of those days. Disclaimer: This day is not typical*, but these days do happen, and it’s important for other homemakers to see that we bloggers have all been just as humbled as you.
Thursday, Sept. 20:
4:30 a.m.: I nurse the baby. We snuggle and drift back to sleep.
6:30 a.m.: My husband leaves for work. I nurse the baby again and read my devotional.
7:00 a.m.: Little Girl enters my room. I tell her she needs to go back to sleep while Mommy takes a shower.
7:15 a.m.: I get out of the shower and get my toddler out of her crib. I pull her into the bed with me and the baby, who I nurse again. I ask my 4 year old to dress herself with the outfit I had set out the night before.
7:30-8:40 a.m.: I change and dress both the toddler and baby and fix my two older girls’ hair. I dress myself, pop in a flexi clip and decide to put on make-up today since I am going out in public. While I’m getting ready, my toddler pulls a thermometer out of the bathroom cabinet and sticks it in her ear. She starts crying–loudly. We have a doctor’s appointment today anyway, so I make a mental note to ask the doctor to look in her ear. I hold and soothe and and pray aloud: “Jesus, please help her ear feel better!”My 4 year old watches me dress and says: “Mommy, your tummy looks squishy!” Mental note: I must work exercise into my new schedule.
My mother calls from South America. She left a week after my baby was born to accompany my sister and her three small children back to Argentina, where her husband is from. My mom is there for a month, and my dad is leaving today to fly there as well. My mom tells me that my dad was supposed to pack insulin for my sister–who is type 1 diabetic–but he left it in the refrigerator. He works almost an hour away and won’t have time to come back. She asks me if I can get it and meet him somewhere halfway.
I know I don’t have time today, but I do it anyway.
I load the girls and their breakfasts up in the van (my parents’ van–mine broke down the day before) and head 15 minutes in the opposite direction of where I need to be.
9:00 We are now leaving my parents’ house after securing the insulin.
9:15 a.m.: We arrive at preschool. The doors to the building are now locked, and the car line has ended. I knock on the door, but no one answers. I walk around the building until I find a classroom window and knock on the window until I get someone’s attention. The director comes and unlocks the door. I apologize for being late and kiss Little Girl goodbye. There is a parent brunch today at 11. I tell the director I hope to come but that the younger two girls have doctors’ appointments, so I may be a little late.
9:30 a.m.: I stop back by my house because a lady from my local Mommies Network is bringing me a new mom snack pack. I had told her I would be home by 9:15, but by now she has come and gone and left the bag on the front porch. I feel rude. I grab the bag off the porch–grateful that it included a protein shake because all I’ve eaten this morning so far is a banana. I head down the road to meet my dad.
9:50: My dad meets me at a gas station. I give him the insulin.
10:00 a.m.: I arrive with my two little girls at the doctor’s office. We’re in the waiting room for quite a while.
10:30-11:55 a.m.: We have an incredibly long well-baby check-up. The baby isn’t gaining enough. I need to eat more. (A banana is not enough for a breastfeeding mother to have eaten by 11 a.m. Yes, I know this, but I have three kids I need to feed, and I forget about myself…and we all ate breakfast in the car today anyway.) She tells me to cut dairy, and I may need to cut gluten. She tells me Toddler Girl needs to cut gluten because of some digestion issues. That’s OK–Little Girl’s been gluten free for over a year. We can totally deal with that.
I nurse the baby, not even bothering to cover up. I look at the nurse: “I’m sure you see boobs all the time, right?”
“All the time,” she laughs. “All the time.”
I get antsy when I see the clock at 11:40 and realize I need to pick Little Girl up from preschool in 20 minutes–and it takes me at least 25 minutes to get there. We are waiting on results from a UTI test for Toddler Girl, and I step out in the hallway: “I’m not trying to rush you,” I tell the nurse. “But I have to pick my other daughter up from preschool.”
Toddler Girl fusses the entire time we are at the doctor. She wants to watch Dora on my phone. I wish I had never introduced her to Dora–OR Netflix on my phone.
11:55 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: The receptionist and nurse help me get the girls in the van. I try calling the preschool to let them know we are running late, but no one answers the phone. We’ve obviously missed the parent brunch. Toddler Girl cries the entire drive. Mental note: Budget WAY more time for well-baby visits.
12:20 p.m.: I pick Little Girl up from preschool. She runs away from me and giggles. I finally get her in the car.
12:30-1:30 p.m.: I decide to forgo my caffeine fast and swing by the coffee shop drive-through and get myself a chai. The thought of making lunch–even a quick and easy lunch–wearies me at this point. I cringe at the thought of what I’m about to do but then yell to the backseat: “Girls, we’re going to Chick-Fil-A.” I think about the MSG we’re about to consume…but then I remember that real food is our norm–but it’s not our god.
While in the drive-through line, I text Stacy (Makes Cents): “I totally now get why people feed their kids processed foods.”
She had a new baby herself 3 weeks ago.
“AMEN to that,” she texts back.
At Chick-fil-A, while I’m fumbling for correct change, the worker starts humming the Jeopardy theme song. Evidently I’m taking too long. I then can’t get the van to go from park to drive. I nervously laugh and look at the two workers in the drive-through window. “This isn’t my car.”
I know I must sound delirious. “I’m borrowing it.” My irrational mom thought at the moment was: “What if they think I stole it??”
1:45-2:15 p.m.: We arrive back home. I climb to the back of the van and unbuckle the “big” girls. Little Girl hops out but Toddler Girl wants to be carried. I balance her on one hip and the Chick-fil-A bags in the other hand. I stuff my chai in one of the bags.
When we get to the front porch, my chai spills out–all over my shoes.
I start laughing.
Little Girl asks: “Mommy, why are you laughing?”
My answer: “To keep from crying, honey. To keep from crying…”
The girls and I eat lunch, and I nurse the baby.
2:30 p.m.: I tell Little Girl: “We are ALL napping today!” I put both girls in bed and lie down on the couch with the baby and nap myself.
5:00 p.m.: I wake up out of a deep sleep. Little Girl is yelling for me, asking if she can come downstairs. A few minutes later, my husband gets home.
“What’s for dinner?” he asks.
I answer: “Um, pizza?”
And this is why I should have made myself more freezer meals while pregnant.
The rest of the night follows our usual routine. We bathe the girls after dinner, and we read a Bible story together and pray as a family. After the girls get to bed, I work on this post…in hopes that Stephanie won’t fire me for consuming both Chick-Fil-A and a take-out pizza all in the same day. 😉 (Remember…I just had a baby?!)
Do you ever have crazy, unproductive days?
*If you want to read about a more “typical” day at our house, I’ll be posting our daily schedule over at my site soon. I had drafted it here, but I couldn’t give up the opportunity to share with you one of our chaotic days. Because that’s real life. And humbled homemakers, if you have have days like this, too, you need to know you’re NOT alone!*
Thanks for posting this. As we await the birth of our third, I am days away from starting life with an almost-4-y/o, an almost-22-m/o, and a newborn. I couldn’t be more thrilled about welcoming our new little man into our family, but I know there will be some crazy days ahead!
Wow! Our kids are so close in age! My 4 year old is a young 4; she just turned 4 this summer. Congrats on your new baby! Give yourself grace for those crazy days!
I love it. I had 4 babies in 4 years and we totally had and still have those days! Remembering when the 2 youngest had blowouts twice during the older ones’ gymnastics session…. one hour, 2 naked crying babies, tired big boys, and laughing to not cry mama later; we left there and grabbed wendys on the way home because the thought of preparing even a freezer meal was enough to send me loco. The oldest is 5 now and the youngest is about to turn 1 and we are pretty much in our routine, but still some crazy days. I broke down 3 mos. ago and bought frozen chicken nuggets and boxed macncheese for emergency lunches. Throw in a veggie/fruit tray and it cancels the bad out, right? 🙂 We try our best to eat real food and also to remember that nourished hearts are better in the end though.
I’m sure we have some unproductive days that don’t go as planned in our future… sometime in March or April we will have a 2 1/2 year old son and a newborn! The Lord gives us grace, and if the worst we do is eat pizza and Chick-Fil-A in one day, one time, than I am sure we will all survive 🙂 Congratulations on the new little one!
I love how your post is just keeping it real! You know we all go through seasons of weariness, and less than perfect eating habits, and dropped chai….we get it and don’t fault you for processed food twice in one day 🙂 Take care of yourself during this transition time. You will get back on track soon!
I love it Erin!
We’ve all been there! Glad to know I’m not the only one who has these kind of days. Just keep laughing! 🙂
Oh you sweet thing, you! Days when we have to run all over Timbuktu are the WORST. And to be postpartum too? That just puts you over the top… Thank you for sharing your day. It probably wasn’t one you wanted to “re-live” in writing either! 🙂
I teared up and laughed with you… Having 3 under 4 myself (well, not now, my oldest is just over 4 and the baby is 8 months now), I totally totally get it. We have all had those days. Thanks for your raw honesty. 🙂
Love this! Add a few more meltdowns (my own and my toddlers) and you have our normal! Thanks for being honest…sometimes reading blogs can be discouraging because its always perfect and raw food and healthy. You are doing a great job!
Wow, I admire you girls. I’m a grandma and a great grandma now, and still remember how those days were. It does get better/easier – but there are days that wrinkle the skin and gray the hair (just look at me). Hang in there. You’re doing God’s work.
Oh how I needed to read this. I laughed and cried along with you bc I COMPLETELY understand. I have a 2 boys (4 in Nov & 23 months) and a 2 month little girl and since my husband left at week and a half postpastum. Seems like I’ve been going non stop it seems. Only by the grace of God have I gotten through these days. Just now finally starting to make real food and getting my kiddos back in cloth diapers (which is a big deal to me) again… We have not been eating fast food mainly due to $$ but have had “convenient” processed food made at home a ton 🙁 but they are alive, happy, and healthy so I’m not beating myself up over it.
Thank you for posting! I have three girls, ages 4, 2 and 11 weeks. My youngest even came two weeks late, just like your little one! I know all about crazy days and I am so thankful for God’s grace on those days (and every day!).
Thanks for sharing! I have had more than enough of those crazy days 🙂 I also had 3 under 4 and the baby was extremely high needs. I was going crazy and sleep deprived for over a year. We are now expecting our fourth, so we will see how it goes 🙂
I remember having anxiety about picking up my oldest from preschool on time and looking like the “bad mom”. When I was 7 months pregnant with #3 I brought #2 to a doctors appointment while #1 was at preschool. It ended up being a long appointment and I had to stop at Target to fill a prescription. While driving to Target I realized that I was dangerously low on gas, since I had already pushed it to it’s limit not wanting to be late to the appointment. A gas station was just across the street so I decided to get the prescription and head over. At this point I am running late for preschool pick-up and don’t really have time to stop for gas. As I am crossing the intersection the car putters out and I manage to roll it into the gas station, but 15 feet shy of the pump. I ended up having to put the car in neutral and get out and push it up to the pump. Would you believe that nobody came over to help this pregnant woman! I ended up getting gas and I was only 10 minutes late for preschool, but boy was I frazzled. I may have shed a few tears on the drive 🙂
Sorry this was so long, but I wanted to share because we all have been there!
What a wonderfully encouraging read! Thank you for sharing a crazy day! It is good to read about other mommies going through it, too. Honesty is so refreshing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for being so honest! I nearly cried while reading this just because I can relate. I have felt so much guilt the last couple of weeks because we’ve eaten out so much. But I’m in my first trimester of my 5th pregnancy and I have a 13 yr. old on the school cross country team, an 11 yr. old on the school volleyball team, a 9 yr. old who plays community soccer, and a 3 yr. old who just runs me ragged. 😉 Between the nausea and constant running to and from practices, games, and meets (not to mention our varied church commitments) I’m just too exhausted to cook a decent meal. My friend tried to comfort me yesterday by reminding met that food is not a moral choice. Your post made me feel so much better! Thanks for reminding me that there are seasons in life and we just need to do the best that we can at the time. Congrats on your new little one and best wishes on a speedy recovery!
Thanks,
Tara
This is so funny Erin! I’m still wrapping my head on this roller coaster of a schedule… homeschooling, working, newborn, family, housekeeping, cooking, etc… Throw in errands and getting out to the mix… eesh! Yeah… we had chick-fil-a for our first time a few weeks ago and have made a few Wendy’s and Pizza nights as well. You know, this is a season and we got to roll with the punches 😉 Thanks for being transparent and genuine! God bless, sista!
I think we can all admit to doing that once in a while. I know that we have had our fair share of take-out sushi, greek food and this fresh (no msg) chinese food place that my hubby loves over the past two months, while we’ve been in a crazy busy season. Not to mention when Kepler was first born. Sometimes that’s just real life, and Diana’s right… it’s a season and you roll with it. I think pretty much any writer on our team would admit to having days like these and making concessions regarding what we eat. And it really is ok, when it’s a once in a while, and not our whole lives, you know? 🙂
I love that you ate Chik-fil-a and pizza in one day! I try so hard to make real foods our main diet, but I am hopelessly disorganized and it is difficult sometimes. It makes me feel like I’m not the only mom who cannot get dinner on the table every night. And I also think about the MSG whenever I can’t muster the strength to make lunch. 🙂
Great post! I laughed out loud when I read the part where you laughed when you spilled your chai on your shoes to keep from crying. Been there many times!
i feel like my life has already been a comedy of errors lately and i don’t even have the baby yet. (i do have three kids 8, 6 and 4) i am in trouble…
thank you for your honesty…it’s nice to know i’m not alone! now to make more meals so that we have some food to eat after baby arrives in the next 2-7 weeks!
Thank you thank you thank you for being honest!! We just moved (We have a 2.5 year old daughter and an almost 3 month old daughter) two weeks ago and my husband started a brand new job last week, and life has been CRAZY here! Most of my real food planning has gone completely out of the window for convenient, and I feel like I will never get the boxes unpacked or the laundry caught up…and my older girl has been watching WAY too much tv! I have been feeling so guilty and awful, thank you so much for reminding me that we ALL have times like this!
WOWIE! You’re such a sweetheart, and you melted my heart with your honesty. Every woman on the planet has these days, more frequently than we’d like to admit to ourselves or anyone else for that matter. But you took it upon yourself to write just exactly how your day went. And it’s very refreshing! LOL How great it is to feel NORMAL and know that others have those DAYS, those long, never-ending, crazy days….
I must say I was so proud when you laughed at your spilled chai….very admirable, I would have probably bawled at that point : ) Cherish these days, because one day our babies will be grown, our houses will be empty and spotless, and we will be wandering around wondering what on earth to do with ourselves….right? ! take care, enjoy those baby snuggles!
Thank you for sharing your perfectly imperfect day. It is encouraging to know that it’s okay not to be perfect, because, after all, we are forgiven by our Savior! I also have three girls (what a blessing they are!). Mine are further spaced apart than yours and I still have a hard time keeping it together on most days. I am relatively new on my journey of feeding my family real foods. I have been interested in learning more for quite some time and over the Summer while my children were at vacation bible school, I struck up an interesting conversation with a very nice and wise older lady who gave me the link to Keeper of the Home. I have been reading since, taking in small bites at a time and praying. Thanks again for this post. It was a blessing to read!
I’m glad you found KOTH! Yes–praise God for our Jesus and His forgiveness! How neat that you have 3 girls as well! I love my girls!
Oh, Erin! I had SO many days like this after Little Peanut was born.
Don’t feel bad for giving yourself a break on the food every now and then. I quickly realized that my boys saw the occasional corn dog dinner as a HUGE treat and it kept me sane!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! I’ve recently introduced my girls to hot dogs–the “not-so-bad” “natural” ones from Applegate Farms. The bad part? They LOVE them! Oh, boy! It was better when they didn’t know they existed! haha!
Thank you for the encouragement!
You are so welcome! 🙂
Your post made me laugh and cry! THANK YOU!! This is wonderful. I know you had a terrible day and I am sorry (really I am) but its just so great that this is so real. I have had quite a few days like this lately (we’re trying to sell our house, I’m on my own all week with my kids, and we’ve had one thing after another happening to it while its on the market…) its been crazy!
I’ve been doing a lot of laughing too, to keep from crying. Yesterday I went for a nap and the baby woke just as I drifted off to sleep! Going to try again today! 🙂
You’re doing great. Keep up the good attitude and know that its also normal to not always have said good attitude so give yourself some grace. 🙂
Enjoy your 3 girls I also have 3 girls! 🙂
Thank you, Nola! I am glad I’m not the only one…and I LOVE having 3 girls!
Ahh… what a day!! Sure made me giggle! I also have three girls – 5, 2 and 3 1/2 months. However, I’ve never made a post-partum recovery alone. WIth my first we were living with my husband’s grandparents. For the second, my sister was visiting from Australia and basically took care of the house for me for a good month after the baby was born, and helped out for two months thereafter. With number three my husband was deployed, but the girls and I were living with his parents and sisters (18 and 14), who were VERY helpful. Sometimes I wonder how I’d cope doing it alone. Other times I know I’ll just have to hire someone to come live with me for at least a month after any future babies are born!!
I have to say that I wasn’t alone the first couple weeks–which was a HUGE blessing! My father-in-law came for about 10 days and spoiled me! But, yes, this week I was on my own! I can’t convince my FIL to move in and be my nanny. Ha!
I love you girl. 🙂
You, too! 🙂 Can’t wait for our road trip with the babies in a few weeks!
love the fact that your sister lives in Argentina…my in-laws are missionaries there and my husband was raised there. These days will soon pass and you will wonder where the time has gone…I have 4 kids that are 10,8,6,and 5 so I have been exactly where you are. What a gift from God they are!
They are such a gift! My sister met her husband at my brother’s wedding. His wife is from Argentina as well! My brother met my SIL while doing mission work there. We have a lot of missionary friends who live in Argentina! It’s a beautiful country with a beautiful people!
I could have written this myself only I have 4 little girls, 7, 4, 2, and 7 mos. Only thing different is I would have cried instead of laughed. I also struggled with ppd after 2 of mine. Always nice to know I’m not alone in that!
I think I cried a lot more after my second when I had ppd….I would LOVE to have a 4th girl. We will see!
Awwww, bless you! This brought back a flood of memories…I left half full shopping carts a Target a few times because of meltdowns or a screaming newborn. I don’t even want to think about how much processed food we ate! Hang in there!:)
Oh yes–I’ve left shopping carts before!
This was so refreshing to read as I enjoy the silence rare while my 16 mo. old and 2 mo. old nap today. It can be so challenging and I am relieved to know I’m not the only one who breaks down for Chick-fil-a sometimes! Thank you for sharing!
You are definitely not the only one!
Oh my goodness Erin, what a day! But probably, more accurately…what a life of days 😀 Love what you shared here, keeps my days in perspective! Looking forward to hanging out at allume!!!
Oh yes–what a life of days! I’m looking forward to meeting you soon! 🙂
Thank you for a wonderfully honest, true to my life post 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I just had my third child in February. I’m glad to know others have days like I have sometimes. Oh, and I was so glad that I had stocked the freezer with meals while I was pregnant. I may have gone crazy without them! Now, 7 months later I wish I had some of those meals left 🙂
You were so smart to make so many freezer meals!
So so sorry about your day but I did lol at the end! Thank you for posting this!i struggle with just one toddler! God knows exactly what we need to stretch us and teach us more about Him.
I always remind myself this is just for a season, not forever.
Thank you for sharing!
I remember struggling with one as well….God gives you new grace for each season!
Thanks so much for the post. We will be receiving our second child into the world in 2 months, and reading your day in the life has helped me mentally prepare for the changes to come. It will certainly be a new experience now that our 2-year-old will be a part of the postpartum period. God Bless and God be with you during this blessed time.
Thank you, Erin–and congrats!
I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear about the challenging days on a blog! I’m a mom of four (ages 7, 6, nearly 5, and 1 year) and it sure is a roller coaster some days! Just remember, crackers, cheese, and whatever fruit you can find in the house make a perfectly acceptable meal option! 🙂
Thank you! One reason I started blogging was to try to show the life of a real mom who has been so humbled and is not perfect but redeemed. But you know? I think sometimes it’s so hard to show that….We have to get vulnerable and put ourselves out there sometimes to bless others!
Wow, my life is starting to feel a little bit more normal! I have a 5, 3 and 1 year old now, and this was us (minus the preschool) a year ago. Thanks for your honesty, and the reminder that “mama says there’ll be days like this.” 🙂
Haha–yes….I forgot about that song, but it makes sense in a whole new way now!
Crazy unproductive days?! Yes. 4 boys. 10, 4, 3, and 4 1/2 months. I thought I’d have this down pat by now. It’s 1:30 pm. All my laundry baskets are full of clothes (at least they’re clean), the kitchen is still a disaster from breakfast (and the kid who’s supposed to be cleaning it is in the bathroom… again…) the three year old has felt letters and shapes strewn across the living room, the four year old has every toy they own scattered across their room, the baby is in the play yard and keeps getting on all fours with belly up, but lies flat every time I point a camera at him, and I’m still in my sweaty workout clothes (workout day 2, but meant to start a month ago). At least today is a lot calmer than most, and the core subjects were completed and checked this morning. So even though I still have no idea what to make for dinner, I call this day much better than yesterday (which was same as today but with a migrane and little ones screaming). 🙂 I’m not sure any day will be “typical” ever again!
Oh as I look at my basket of unfolded laundry right now…I am right there with you!
Oh how I can relate to this post! I have four young children(5,4,2,1) and I’m 15 weeks pregnant with my 5th. Just today I put a frozen pizza in my shopping cart, and felt a twinge of guilt b/c that’s definitely not healthy! I appreciate your insights that real food is our normal, but it’s not our god. Thanks for being real, I really enjoyed this!
Thanks, Jessica….and congrats on baby #5!!
Thank you! I did laugh and cry and totally relate to your day! I have a 5, 3, and 1 year old and especially since my husband left for deployment there have been quite a few days like this, but we are holding on and doing the best we can. Hugs to you!! Also, I know that if you have an iphone you can dissable all the video apps. I did that so my kids would not watch videos I didn’t want them to when they wanted to get on my phone.
Wow–you do all this with a hubby away?! I admire ladies like you so much! I need to check out that app!
I told you everyone would love hearing about your crazy day. Thanks for sharing so vulnerably. You’re amazing. 🙂
Thanks so much for the opportunity, Stephanie! It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought! 🙂 I hope we do this next year as well…it’s been so much fun!
I have to say I really appreciate everything about this post. Thanks for sharing in such an authentic way.
Thank you, Jacqui! 🙂
Yay for a mama who naps and eats fast food! You almost seem….normal =) That of course makes me feel normal. I know that we all are not perfect and probably have rediculously high expectations for our days. I really appreciate these days in the life. I am currently living in Europe and am far away from other mothers. I often wonder what a typical mothers day looks like. It is encouraging to hear the ‘stress’ and ‘busy ness’ of your day and the fact that your children don’t always obey or comply with your wishes. My days are so full of little stresses throughout them. I hope that your little family has some calmer days to look forward to and that you are able to get some more food into that mama’s tummy! At least you got a nap which is vital to bf too! Thank you for your ‘day’!
Thank you, Monica! Yes–I am quite normal and as Jo from Little Women said: “I am hopelessly flawed.” Good thing I have a Great Redeemer to fix me!
thank you for your honesty. 🙂
I hope it blessed many!
Thank you so much for sharing so honestly! This brought back a flood of memories from my second child’s first year of life and I needed this very authentic reminder as I am 6 wks away from welcoming our 3rd 🙂 When I am in the midst of “one of those day” I will surely think of you
Congrats on your 3rd!! 🙂 And, do think of me…I’ll be in the trenches alongside you!
Thank you so much for your honestly! I have a small blog, but I have friends and family that read my blog and assume that we always make everything from scratch and never eat fast food. I just had a baby, too, and I’m comforted to know that another blogger mommy has “those days”, too. Knowing that you cut yourself some slack makes it seem a little more approachable to the rest of us. 🙂
Yes–I hate that assumption….and we have to give ourselves and others GRACE!
I loved this post. I have three kids that are right now 3, 4, and 5. Our daughter in the middle was adopted two years ago and so I had a 17 month old, 24 month old, and a 3.5 year old. It was something else. 🙂 It still is something else with three kids within 25 months of each other.
Wow–I am sure your days can get quite crazy as well!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series of posts but this has to be one of my favorites. I have a 3 1/2 yr old and 18 month old and expecting my third in the next few weeks. I have a feeling this will look like a few days after baby arrives around here.
Erin, I love how you began laughing at the the tea falling and not crying as your first response :). I wish you the best!!!
Blessings,
Megan
Thank yo so much, Megan! Congrats on your third baby!!
Wow, by the time you got to 9, even I felt like I had to take a nap! Makes me grateful for my mostly quiet days….
LOL! Yes–it’s quite crazy! I’m glad I had a nap that day! I got one today as well. 😉
Erin, I love this one! Some weeks, it feels like all my days are like this, haha!
Thanks, Anne! Yes–there are some weeks where this *is* more typical than not!
Love it! It makes last night’s Wendy’s run for dinner not feel so guilty!
You know…I’ve heard Wendy’s has some great salads. 😉 I’ll have to check them out….lol! They are closer to my house!
Loved this! I can totally relate … after the birth of my 2nd child (almost a year ago!) it has felt like so many of our outings or errands somehow wind up with us at Chick-Fil-A. It is also an easy place to let my daughter run around inside in the play-place, which is another reason we go there (more often that I’d like to admit)! I’m so glad you got that long nap though … those first few days postpartum, even if things are going great, are still so very tiring, recovering from birth.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has CFA days! 🙂 And naps…oh naps are so wonderful! 🙂
I love it. Thanks for being real and not pretending to be someone you aren’t. I have a four year old, 2 year old and 5 month old, so I totally get the season you’re in. I am THERE, sister!
You are there! I am afraid it will be even more challenging when my baby becomes mobile. Ha! I remember when my second was born, I thought: “Oh, I have a good 8 months before she crawls.” The child started crawling at 4 months! I looked one day and she was moving across the floor, and I thought: “What in the world?!”
Awesome! My youngest is 3 months, and I have two other preschoolers. We all have those days. I’ve had days where I’ve lain on the floor and cried – you do what it takes to survive.
Oh I’ve definitely had those days on the floor in tears as well!
What a great post!! I’m also a SAH/Homeschooling mom who is currently 18 1/2wks pregnant & have a 6yr old, 5yr old & 3 1/2 yr old. So I can completely related to this on every single level. Each one of my kiddos was 19 months apart. Some days are so crazy and hectic that it takes all you can just to get through it. Thanks for your honesty. Praying the Lord gives you (and me!!) the endurance to make it through those crazy first month or two of having a newborn and settling into the new “normal”. God bless you!
Congrats on your pregnancy! You sound very busy….I am glad you can relate! 🙂
thank you for writing this I have felt so guilty for not giving my two eldest (4 and 2) the same nutrisional start I am giving my 6 month old due to lack of information but also after having that information choosing on hectic days to resort to fast food also love laughing so you dont cry
I feel the same way…we can’t go back, though, and we just have to make good choices based on what we know now. 🙂
*nutritional*
Gotcha. 🙂 Don’t you have it that there’s not an “edit” button when you make a typos on comments?! I do it all the time!
I imagine “high-profile” 🙂 healthy-living bloggers could be fearful to share a day like today, with (gasp) two to-go meals (!!), imagining that readers might be tempted to lax on the healthy eating as a result. The irony is that honesty like yours ENCOURAGES other moms who want to be healthy. I feel less condemned, more “normal,” and even more resolute to keep eating healthy! Thanks so much for sharing your crazy day!
I really struggled with sharing this…but I felt like people needed to know! If we all “clean up” for each other and only show the “good” then it will be incredibly discouraging for someone else who is struggling! One reason I named my blog the humbleD homemaker is because I am NOT perfect–FAR, FAR from it!
That’s definitely real life! Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. And like my husband and I told each other the other day, “If you have to eat garbage, at least make sure it tastes good!” Chick-fil-a was a great choice! 😉
LOL–and CFA is some really good garbage! Ha!
I love this! Even with one kid when we have a totally crazy insane day I always feel so guilty to run through somewhere. Love your honestly!
Thank you, Beth! Yes, I remember trying to figure out how in the world I would ever get in and out of the store with my first baby! We have to get rid of this guilt!
Girl, this post made me laugh and smile and nod so much. I only have one baby (which must seem like a five-star vacation to you at this point!); I can’t imagine how crazy it must get with three kids! Your post was wonderful. Thank you for writing this.
A 5-star vacation–haha! I have friends that have 4, 5, 6 and more! But even one seems more challenging than when it was just you and your husband…you learn more with each one.
I also appreciate the honesty. I am 7 weeks pregnant and have had horrible nausea (not really morning sickness because it lasts all day). This past week I have fed my family frozen pizza twice as well as frozen corn dogs because I have felt too sick to cook. I am past feeling guilty. Thanks for keeping it real!
Don’t beat yourself up! My husband mentioned the other day that we ate out more than our fair share during both my first and third trimesters this time around. Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you so much for choosing such a day to post about. I appreciate your honesty, because we all have those days, but sometimes it’s easy to believe that we’re the only one! You’re doing great mama!
Thanks, Brandi! There have been so many days I have felt like it was just me…I think it’s important for us moms to be transparent with each other!
Oh my goodness! This made me laugh – not at you, but WITH you, because I’ve been there so many times. You’re right – you have to laugh to keep from crying and do the best you can. I also broke down this weekend on a very busy Saturday and fed my kids McDonalds. It grossed me out for about 10 seconds, but then I let it go, thankful that I didn’t have to make it! 🙂
Oh I laugh at myself all the time! ha!
Oh, I LOVE this … it is so good to know I’m not alone! Thank you for sharing!
You are most definitely NOT alone, Lacey! 🙂
I was laughing continually throughout this post – laughing with you, because everyone has “those kinda days” where things just can’t seem to go right! Haha Chickfila is a good pick-me-up on those days; I’m sure you were very glad the day was over. 🙂
Loved this, Erin! Enjoy the chaos while it lasts. Someday you’ll miss it. 🙂
You are amazing! I am so thankful for your honesty and “real” voice that comes through in this post! There are just days like this…and God gets us through! The fact that you were able to laugh over the spilled chai…fantastic! I spill my coffee (on myself, in the van, in my purse) on a regular basis, and most of the time my response is less than that good…! And sometimes I can’t even blame it on my kiddos! Saying a prayer for your encouragement today – and every day. 🙂
Bless you for this post 🙂 Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou 🙂
Thank you for sharing this. Some days, maybe many days, I feel like this. Your honesty is appreciated!!!
Thank you!
oooh, is this ever the truth! The only way to get through it is to accept it! Its all in stages and no one stage lasts very long. We have 3 children and 3 foster children…I am trying to convince hubby for one last baby! (our 4th) My only reasoning is that the biological clock is ticking one baby is still young so why wait and have to start over..but how to you convince someone that although you are about to burst at the seams, or into tears, that you are so busy you dont even have time to pee, or eat!, that you still desperatly want one more baby?! I guess it shows how much of a personal sacrifice we are willing to make for our babies when we willingly add to the chaos because we so desperatly want them.
I totally know what you mean! It is CRAZY here, but I so want a 4th one day!
you are so amazing and comforting to me. thank you because your day sounds like mine. i have three boys under three and a half. it is wonderful, exhausting and worth it! thank you for sharing you and your life.
Thank you, Emily! 🙂