So, the other day at work, someone asked me what I do on my days off. Since I work odd hours, I guess she was curious what kinds of things I do when everyone else is sleeping. I mentioned how I sometimes will go to the 24-hour grocery store and get the weeks' supply of food/supplies (Shelly LOVES taking all 5 kids shopping!). I also mentioned how sometimes I will prepare 4 or 5 meals and put them in the fridge or freezer so Shelly will just have to warm them up at dinner time. This very astute individual immediately recognized my huge contribution to the family and asked, "So, what does your wife do?"
I was a little flustered for the moment, so I had to think of something. I said, "Well, I don't make dinner every day." But, it got me thinking. "If I pre-make dinner a couple of times a month, what DOES Shelly do all day?" So, I decided to observe Shelly on one of my days off to try and figure out exactly what it is that she does. Unfortunately, I accidentally mentioned this to her. As a result, I got several pictures of her
pretending to do things all day. In fact, the only thing she really does, I think, is in the very last couple of pictures.
Anyway, here are some things she pretended she does every day:
There is a recurring story that Ava awakened at some early hour (usually around 5:30 or so) and begged for food. I'm pretty sure Shelly is just lonely, and maybe a little scared, during the night and goes in to get some company.
Shelly first directs Kailyn to get some breakfast. This morning was cereal, but 99% of the mornings she gets pancakes. Shelly will have pancake batter in the fridge, and Kailyn cooks herself pancakes. Sometimes, if there's enough time, Kailyn will make the batter herself.
While Kailyn is eating breakfast, Shelly will fix her hair. It's not unusual to have other little monsters hanging on her legs begging for food and attention.
She packs the girls' lunches. Not an easy task when you have a Jordan and a peanut free school district. Jordan lived for apples and peanut butter last year. This year, she's losing weight (can you say picky?).
While packing lunch and snacks for the girls, Caden presents requesting his morning oatmeal (yuck, IMHO).
Caden's pretty good at watching the oatmeal boil over in the microwave.
Shelly making flash cards for Kailyn's vocab and spelling words.
She found a few dishes that needed to be put away.
She acts as Jordan's alarm clock.
No snooze on this alarm clock.
This is Jordan's usual breakfast--one bowl with cereal in it, one bowl with milk. She'll take the cereal from the one bowl and dip it in the milk bowl before eating it.
Jordan looking at the homework she was supposed to have done but hasn't finished yet, wondering if her mother will help her get it done sometime soon.
Cleaning Chase's mess. She'll give Chase a towel and have him clean it up as well as he can, then she finishes cleaning it up.
The clean dishes got put away; time to refill the dishwasher.
Here's some laundry that needs a little attention.
While taking care of the laundry, Caden "touched" Jordan, leading to an all-out feud.
Then Ava woke up with some wild bed head.
Ava helping Mom finish Jordan's hair.
Ava still helping Mom finish Jordan's hair.
Now she's holding Mom's leg up.
Caden devastated about . . . something (can't remember what, exactly).
Well, the girls have made it to school now, so Shelly does her almost-daily routine of making homemade bread.
Another favorite way to pass time.
Unfortunately, I fell asleep and lost about 7 hours of Shelly's pretending. She decided to do a re-enactment of her trip to the library. She had 3 full book bags, her purse, and 3 coats hanging on her shoulder. Of course, she also had to carry Ava. Chase collapsed to the ground, crying, and Shelly had to help him along. Caden, thankfully, was good for the moment.
Several other activities of the day: exercising at the gym, making lunch for the boys, getting Caden to preschool, putting Ava and Chase down for naps, changing multiple diapers, shopping (kids' clothes, food, etc), and picking up Caden from preschool.
After school:
Directing Jordan in getting her chores done. We often hear, "Mommy, I need help. It's too hard." Jordan still needs step by step instructions on doing her chore. Sometimes Shelly writes it out for her, sometimes she stands over Jordan and tells her what to do next.
An all-to-common sight in the home. Everyone needs a little more Mommy attention.
Vacuuming up a couple of spots Jordan missed. Ava, a constant, there to help.
The floor doesn't clean itself, you know.
Directing the kids in practicing the piano.
Helping Kailyn with some of her homework
Random picture of the boys playing with each other--using books as their sliders for the floor.
Reheating one of the meals I made for her (of note, most days I don't have anything ready for her, and she's making dinner by herself).
The dishes need attention again. Like usual, after the unload, there's plenty more dishes in the sink waiting to be loaded.
Jordan got hurt, and Shelly has to inspect it and kiss it better.
And now, at bedtime, Jordan suddenly remembers the homework assignment that is due the next day.
Bathtime. We didn't have any decent pictures of Shelly helping Jordan with her bath.
Gotta do the finishing touches on brushing the teeth.
Stories before bed.
Remember that nice clean living room?
Helping the kids say their prayers.
Reading a little to Kailyn (trying to get Kailyn interested in books other than the fairy princess books she has been reading since kindergarten).
Don't look now, but I think Jordan is listening, too.
Once the kids are in bed, Shelly spends a little time recovering. Then she does more dishes, more laundry, more cleaning, and more preparing kids' lunches.
So, as you have figured out by now, all of the above is staged. Now we get to see what life is really like for a mother of five.
Manicures, foot massages (go, Ava!), palm leaves fanning your face, chocolate in hand, drinks brought to you complete with a straw, and someone reading you your favorite books.
Kinda makes you jealous, doesn't it?
