Long days

JR didn't get home until 9:00 last night. While I am happy about the paycheck that will be coming, I miss my husband. I get so worn down. I get tired of people telling me how lucky I am to be a stay at home mom and not have to work. Ummm - I do work and I work really hard, and I am damn good at my job! So here is a little run down of my day:
(mind you I will probably leave some things out)
6:30: Wake up and run
7:00: Strength training and stretching/yoga
7:30: Cook breakfast
7:45 - 8:30 eat and spend time on the computer
8:30 Landry wakes up - I change her, feed her make her some milk
8:45 Logan wakes up - I make him a bowl of cereal
8:45 - 9:00 clean the kitchen from breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 play time with the kids
10:00 Laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping - depending on the day
10:30 snack time - I eat some yogurt and fruit, and make some for the kids as well
11:00 clean up
11:15 we do a color station...I let the kids color or paint
11:30 story time
12:00 Landry's nap...Logan and I work on letters
12:30 Lunch for Logan and myself
1:00 Clean up
1:30 Landry wakes up - gets changed and eats lunch
2:00 clean up
2:15 Logan gets computer time - Landry and I sing, or dance, or point to letters, or body parts, or animals
2:30 this is usually when the kids get another dose of cheerios
3:00 I try to finish up chores then clean up after the kids
3:30 PLay time with the kids
4:00 Landry takes a nap Logan gets computer time I usually go outside to sand the book shelves
5:15 I shower and set out ingredients for dinner
5:30 I start dinner...feed and change Landry
6:30 dinner is done - I start cooking the next days lunch
7:30 Eat dinner
8:00 pack JR's lunch and snack for the following day and clean kitchen from dinner
8:30 JR get home, I heat up his and Logan's plate - put Landry to bed
(This of course is every OTHER night...because on the other nights I have to start dinner earlier so that I can give the kids baths at 7:00)
8:30 - 9:00 I talk with my husband about the day while he eats
9:00 I clean his plate and start the dishwasher
9:15 - 9:45 - Shower
10:00 time for bed...I usually read for about 10 to 15 minutes then I wake up and do it all again.
While this is very tiring, I love my job...but I need a little break here and there. It's easy to get run down, but I am really proud of myself for making an effort to do some household chore every day. I vacuum Mondays and Thursdays. I sweep and mop on Tuesdays and Friday's. Laundry on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I do the dishes after each and every use and I clean up the kitchen and any mess after every meal. Now I really sure dust on Sundays...but usually that is my day to go to the grocery without the kids, or to finish up whatever I need to do, or to lock myself in the room for an hour of ALONE TIME. This system has been working for 2 weeks...my house has stayed perfectly clean - and I never have to worry about panicking if someone was to stop by. I love having a clean house...but it takes a lot of work...especially with two little ones that are constantly begging for food or drink as if I never feed them...Also keep in mind that this little schedule doesn't include the days where we need to run to the grocery because I can only buy 3-4 days of groceries at a time, or when we need to run to Wal-Mart, or to pay a bill, or go to T-ball practice, or go to the doctor, or any other errands we might have.
My point is this. My husband is gone to work by the time my kids get up, and on some nights doesn't even get to see his daughter because of her bedtime and the time he gets home from work. I work ALL day long. I am an excellent mom. Please remember that we are not "JUST stay-at-home moms" that get to sleep in late, watch tv, snuggle with our babies...its WORK - granted its the best work I could ask for, but it doesn't mean its easy breezy. It's also a heavy weight on the shoulders to know that when your kids screw up, or make a bad decision - you can only blame yourself. Its a big job, so please dont look at stay at home moms as if we have it so much easier!
Now - on the other hand...you mom's that have jobs outside the home!!! WHEW! You are BRAVE women. I dont say all this to complain about my job...I have the best job in the world...I say it because I got irritated with someone today who let me know how easy I have it...and to let others know that we get tired to. So let me also say this...(Of course - this is your world through my eyes...it doesn't make it true - just opinion) You wake up, make breakfast, get yourself ready for work, get your kids up - feed them, and probably try to spend some quality time with them before loading up and heading to daycare and your other job...It is hell for me to get my kids dressed and ready to go somewhere when we have errands so I can NOT imagine having to dress them every morning - especially when they are cranky..so again - you are BRAVE. You probably have some mommy guilt when you drop off your child even though you know your doing what is best for them - you love them and you wish you had more time to spend with them. But you say your goodbye, you give your hugs and kisses and you head off to work. You work hard all day long, looking forward to 5:00 then you go pick up your baby which you cover in kisses and head home. You still have dinner to make, eat, and clean up after. You still have the time you play with your kids. You still have bathtime, for the babies and for yourself, somehow you have to squeeze in some time with your spouse, or some alone time. You have to get things ready for the following day. And of course this doesn't include when you have to go to the grocery store, or run errands, or pay bills, or play dates, or any of the other things moms are in charge of. (Please note that I apologize for any major things I left off)
The moral of this rant is - the grass is always greener on the other side...well that's BS! Being a mom is hard, and its a lot of work, and its also the most wonderful thing in the world. Just because I get to do my job in my pajammas doesn't mean that its easier than yours. We are all moms. As a mom who's only job is being a mom and a wife...my job runs 24 hours a day sometimes, but usually 16 - 17 hours a day. Your Job is pretty much the same...except that you have two of them...but just because you go to a different job doesn't mean your aren't a mom...you work 24 hours a day somedays and 16-17 hours a day most days. I honestly dont think that because you go to work outside of the home that you have it any easier or any more difficult than I do. I think the only difference is you get a paycheck and I dont! LOL And I also dont believe that just because I dont get a paycheck and that I stay at home my job is any easier or more difficult than yours. We are all just doing the best we can! So let's celebrate the miracle of being moms! Lets not judge other moms until we have walked in their shoes...literally - just because you are a mom doesn't mean you can judge another mom, because EVERY child is different and has to be parented differently. Let's be uplifting and supportive. Being a mom is tough - we could all use some good friends in life who dont judge us when we make a mistake, but instead hug us and say- it's okay, lesson learned. Sometimes when I make a mistake, I just want someone to say...hahah don't worry, it's not as bad as when I...and then tell a story about how they screwed up! LOL