Seriously. Cut Me Some Slack, People.

Back in the Married with Two Really Young Kids days, I didn’t work and had full time help. Let that sink in. Full. Time. Help. Actually more than that because I had a nanny to help me with the kids, a separate housekeeper and a husband. The nanny often prepared meals for the kids and for the family for dinner. She did the kid laundry while the housekeeper did the adult laundry. I had help picking up and taking the kids to different activities or someone to stay with one while they napped and I took the other out or vice versa. Sometimes they both went out with the nanny and I napped. That was awesome.

After the divorce, even with both kids in full day school, I retained the full time afternoon help. I slowly transitioned to very full part time but was still well supported by staff. There were plenty of times when the kids were off on playdates and it was the nanny and I at home, together, getting some quality time in. You know, with each other. It was even more awkard on the day the housekeeper came also. So when the nanny quit, I didn’t look for a replacement. With both kids at the same school this year it became less complicated in many ways, though they’ve taken on different activities in the afternoons. And, honestly, I was sick of having someone always in my house. First world problem to be sure but I hated having to spring into action and look productive when she arrived out of guilt.

Gone are my leisurely afternoons with one kid at a time. Now they look like this:

2:15 Leave my house to get to school (5 minutes away) super early to secure a parking spot.

3:00 Pick up both kids. Have a snack.

3:30 Have older child change into baseball clothes and drive to the park.

3:45 Drop older child at the park for baseball practice. Circle for more parking.

4:00 Play with younger child at the park

4:30 Walk over together to baseball field to watch start of older child’s game

4:45 Change younger child into basketball clothes and walk to the gym

5:00 Basketball practice drop off and walk back to field to watch more baseball

6:00 Retrieve younger child and walk him back over to finish watching baseball.

6:30 Take both kids out to eat

7:15 Home to attempt homework and bathing.

8:30 Bedtime