I should probably note that I don’t adhere to a strict schedule (I start feeling confined) so this is very much an “average” sort of day. And everything goes out the window when the bigger kids (or Kerry) are off.
5 a.m. I grudgingly wake up (whyyyyyyy) and stumble out to my living room. Most days I’ve remembered to program the coffee so it’s waiting for me and I settle down on the couch with my mug and chocolate (if I’m doing chocolate that week). I usually peruse Facebook: I’m on different selling groups so I like to see what’s going on.
5:30 a.m. I make sure breakfast and lunch and coffee are ready for Kerry, who is now walking to work. My part of our “journey to health” is preparing the food, which means we have a healthy if somewhat boring diet (I cook because it’s cheaper/healthier, not because I want to).
6:00 a.m. I go back to my “social media blast”, going through Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and writing blog posts if need be.
7:00 a.m. I get the kids up and we get ready for school. My level of helpfulness varies dependent upon the day/mood; my kids do not wake up well and it can take up to 10 minutes to convince the youngest that clothes are needed when the temperature is in the teens.
8:15 a.m. Workout time! I can adapt to working out at any time but right now this is what’s working for me and if I miss the session it doesn’t happen later (exception would be the weekends, because I usually go for a jog if need be). I only choose workouts that are around 20 minutes, and attempt to get in 2 yoga sessions, 2 cardio sessions, and 2 weight-lifting sessions a week. This is progress for me: I used to compulsively exercise, and the fact that I’m truly ok with only doing a 20 minute session is testament to my better mental state.
8:40 a.m. Work time! I set up the youngest with a show and start with a quiet time during which I read my Bible and whatever non-fiction title I’m currently studying. Then I fulfill whatever orders I have open and segue into creating. Right now I’m concentrating on journals and Valentine’s Day items.
10:30 a.m. T.V. is turned off (by this point in the day it’s not being watched … my youngest is usually playing in my studio) and we prepare for lunch. This is a new habit, but this is also the time I prep the crockpot for dinner and clean the kitchen up a bit (our dishwasher/pipes currently are in need of repair so this step is somewhat crucial or we are overrun with dishes).
12 p.m.ish I make a post office run if I have orders, otherwise it’s back in the studio while my youngest plays quietly. This used to be naptime, and occasionally still is, but that part of our lives is being phased out (cue sobbing on my part).
2 p.m. I wrap up what I’ve been doing and the toddler and I clean/play/whatever. We actually play throughout the day: it is one of my rules that if the toddler needs a hug or starts integrating me into whatever scenario is cooked up I stop and participate. Since my youngest prefers playing solo most of the time this works extremely well.
3:20 p.m. Big kids are home, all technology is put away, and we talk about the day/relax/start getting homework done. I attempt to keep the T.V. off but sometimes the day calls for 30 minutes of veg time.
4:30 p.m. Whatever dinner prep is necessary and then we go to pick up Kerry (walking works out in the morning but takes too much time in the evenings).
5:30 p.m. Dinner, cleaning up, and prepping for the next day: lunches, coffee, and whatever else might need to be done.
7:00 p.m. Kids are off to their rooms, and the adults do whatever. Usually that means I’m back in the studio creating something, because that’s what I find fun. I will have my shows on because the kids can’t see me watching hours of T.V. (while crafting, but still, it feels like a bad parenting move haha).
9 p.m. Hopefully we’re asleep by this point because otherwise the next day is going to be rough.
And there you are. I love reading how other WAHPs juggle their schedule-it’s inspiring and sometimes incredibly helpful or freeing (you watch more T.V. and your kid is a genius??? Let’s watch more!!! No parent guilt!). Remember that however your day might look to Art On-the world needs your vision.
Wordsremember 