Here is what my “ordinary” day looks like as a home schooling mom of five.  It is slightly humorous but very much a real portrait of my day.

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  • 7:30am Wake up to arguing, screaming and crying
  • Untangle the fighting mess
  • Hit the shower, hear more crying
  • Get dressed head to toe, forgoing the makeup for the time being
  • Change and feed the baby
  • Change the (usually) wet toddler, give her a bath, then get her dressed
  • Attempt to make my bed before anything goes too wrong
  • Make breakfast
  • Get everyone fed, and hopefully cleaned up before 9am
  • Put the baby down for her morning nap
  • Start school with the older kids while occupying the younger ones
  • Repeatedly tell the kids to focus on their school work
  • Take the toddler potty when she comes up to you and says “POTTY BAD!”
  • Read out loud the history lesson
  • Phone rings
  • Toddler comes running to you saying “POTTY BAD!”
  • It’s 11am, like clock work, the baby wakes up.
  • Feed the baby while having the toddler play on the floor next to me
  • Look at the clock…hubby is home in 30 minutes and I have no clue what I’m serving for lunch
  • Put the baby in the spinning seat
  • Have the toddler help prepare lunch
  • Phew! Made it! It’s noon and hubby comes home for lunch
  • Sit down for lunch, pray and the toddler says “POTTY BAD!”
  • Just sit down again and the phone rings
  • Then the doorbell rings
  • I sit back down to finish my lunch when the baby is inconsolable.
  • Nurse the baby and get her down for her afternoon nap
  • Hubby helps put the toddler down for her nap
  • Older children are instructed to play and study quietly. Don’t answer the phone or the door.
  • I sit down to the computer to check my email
  • Start to fall asleep when the phone rings
  • It is almost 3pm and the baby gets up from her nap
  • The house looks like a bomb has gone off
  • Hubby comes home in 30 minutes and the kids and I attempt to pick up beore he comes home
  • Hubby comes home and it is time to pack and ship Ebay sales
  • Run around like crazy people trying to make it to the post office before 5pm
  • 5pm and dinner is no where in site
  • Search the refrigerator for left overs
  • Hope for the best
  • Kids getting loud and rammy
  • Baby getting fussy and toddler hollars “POTTY BAD!”
  • Hubby is trying to help reheat leftovers (his famous 20 course meal!)
  • 6pm dinner served. Not gorgeous by it’s food.
  • Just sit down to eat and it’s “POTTY BAD!” once again
  • 6:30pm and the baby has lost it
  • I disappear upstairs to change and nurse her
  • 7:30pm The baby is in bed
  • Time for family devotions
  • Wake up to the room dark and realize that I fell asleep in the chair while hubby was doing devotions. Oops!
  • 9pm Find hubby playing chess with my oldest son while the rest of the kids are cranky and losing it
  • Attempt to corral the kids and get their PJ’s on and brush the teeth
  • 9:30pm Everyone is finally in bed
  • 9:35pm Hear pitter patter of steps…”POTTY BAD!”
  • Finally collapse onto the couch
  • Take a few minutes to check emails
  • Get ready for bed when the baby wakes up to nurse
  • Nurse the baby and finally crash into bed at 11:30pm
  • 1am and wake up to finding someone is sick.
  • Up all night, tending to the sick