Being a stay at home mom is like the movie “Ground
Hog” day with Bill Murray. You wake up to the same old people same old routine every day. You could change the routine, shake
things up a little and brush your teeth AFTER you’ve had your coffee, but that kind of excitement might kick the earth off
its axis.
Wake up, change kids, feed kids, change kids, feed
kids, put kids down for nap, fold laundry, change kids, feed kids, bath kids, read to kids and put kids to bed. This might
sound simple or even dare I say easy but it is far from either. You have to remember
that this routine is multiplied times three at our house and in between all those diaper changes and feeding sessions I have
to: break up fights, clean up thrown food, clean pee off the toilet seat 500 times, pull children off the curtains, turn overturned
furniture right side up, facilitate therapy appointments and maintain an atmosphere of relative calm lest I appear completely
insane.
Easy, I should say not. Easy would be going to work
each day after dropping the kids off at a sitter. At least I would get scheduled breaks and a quiet lunch hour and some other
poor soul would be doing ¾ of my changing/feeding/refereeing duties.
“Oh, but you wouldn’t have wanted to miss it!” beg
pardon? Miss WHAT!? I’m so exhausted I can’t recall what happened yesterday let alone the first step, first word, first tooth
or first solid poop of any one of my five children. In theory having ONE child while you are a stay at home mom would allow
you to savor and videotape each exciting milestone in said child’s life, but when you have three little ones you are too busy
preventing serious injury to life and limb to take notice or pictures.
As busy as I am there are bright moments that stand
out like shiny new pennies sprinkled throughout each day. They are so distinct and brief that I can easily share each one
with you. When I pick up Steven from preschool and his face lights up like a Christmas tree when he sees me as he runs towards
me full Stevie speed ahead and hugs me tight when we meet.
Bath time is another highlight; the children are
contained, smiling and fresh. We sing happy songs and play “this little piggy”. When I dry them I hold them close and press
their damp curls against my cheek in an effort to imprint the moment on my heart and in my mind forever.
Story time is another fave of mine. The children
still smell fresh from their bath; they cuddle expectantly on my lap ready to be whisked to some imaginary destination filled
with fairies, superheroes and magic talking trains.
Lastly, when they are all tucked away in their beds,
their long lashes dusting their firm, chubby cheeks and their quiet even breaths breaking the evening silence I sigh a heavy
sigh and thank God for each moment I am given in the presence of my children. As difficult assignment as it is, it’s the only
one I want.
