The Day of A SAHM

Last week, as mum-in-law went for a one week holiday, i had to take leave to look after the little munchkin. It was then that i realised how being a SAHM (aka stay-at-home-mum)was like. Strangely, it wasn't the first time i took long leave to look after my baby, but i totally felt different this time round. There are many misconceptions about stay home mummies. First and foremost, i do not have the luxury of time. The day goes like this:

8.00am-9.00am: The little terror wakes up crying (9 out of 10 times). Console and cuddle her for about 15 mins to settle her.

9.30am: I brushed my teeth and wash up before making her cereal to eat. Went after her in order to feed her while she uses her boundless energy to play.

10.00am: Bring her out for morning walk downstairs, sometimes to the playground (if weather permits).

10.45am: Shower her and dress her (dressing her takes a toil too). Prepare ingredients for maid to cook lunch.

11.00am: Engage in playing toys or ball or sings to her.

11.30-12.00pm: Make her milk and feed her. Continue with play.

1.00pm: She takes her nap which i rejoice much. Yippee! I sort out bills that need to be paid, and whatever that needs to be done. Cut the little girl's nails(bcos she doesn't let me do it when she's awake), take my lunch, shit, rest by indulging in some TV watching or surfing the net and taking a catnap if the little one still hasn't wake up.

2.30pm-3.00pm: (depending on the duration of her sleep) Wakes up crying (again 9 out of 10 times). Make her milk and feed her.

3.30pm: Playtime again. Bring out her box of toys for her to explore and play. She roams round the house with me stalking her. I also start preparing her dinner.

4.30pm: Bring her out for nature walk in the park near our house, and to the playground. She runs, climbs, goes down the slides, looks at the water in the drain (i don't know why she likes it so much) and whatever she wants to do, all with me chasing after her!

5.30pm: Bring her home and clean her up lightly.

6.00pm: Feed her dinner (with cajoling).

6.30pm: Shower and change her.

7.00pm: The family goes out for dinner and do a bit of shopping.

9.30pm: Come home, make her milk and feed her. Sometimes the little girl falls asleep after finishing her milk, otherwise she roams the house with or without toys till she feels sleepy.

10.30pm: Tuck her into bed and change her diapers. She usually falls asleep by 11.00pm to 11.30pm (depending on how active she is).

11.00pm: I do whatever chores that needs to be done such as washing milk bottles, measuring out milk formula into container and packing up the toys left behind by the little girl. Wash up to prepare to go to bed.

11.30pm: Collapse into my beloved bed. Lights out.

2.00am-4.00am: Awake by her sudden cries (not all times). Get up to settle her cries , otherwise the following continue.

6.00am: Make her milk and feed her while she is sleeping.

6.30am: I go back to bed and the whole cycle repeats.

I used to think that a SAHM can do anything they like becos they have all the time at home to do what they want to do but i was so wrong. And to think that i have already minus off the housework and cooking becos i have a helper, if not i think i would end up dead.

Till now, i am sure that i am not ready for this 24/7 kind of committment yet. I am always trying to be a good mummy but how to define a really good mummy, i seriously don't know. So being a working mum is still a better choice for me. SAHM maybe when i am rich enough to be a tai-tai or morphed into an "obasan."


However her cheery smile takes away my fatigue at the end of the day :)