HoneyKids writer and dedicated auntie, Sheralyn, has been quizzing some of the mums in the office about their daily routines to find out how they stay on top of their parenting game...
As an auntie, it’s always been absolutely baffling to me how the HoneyKids mums (or mums in general) handle such full days. Taking care of people besides yourself can be a literal handful. But my colleagues at HoneyKids seem to speed through the morning, rock up to work, get the job done and head home in time to make bubba dinner, seemingly without breaking a sweat. How do they do it? Of course their wonderful helpers are a huge, well, help! But without a good routine, even the best helper would be lost. That’s why I asked these supermums to share their daily dossier to see how they spend their daily 24…
JANA
HoneyKid’s writer, Jana, has just returned to work after maternity leave. With two kids under three, she’s still living the #pumplife, trying to rediscover the meaning of sleep and digging up her abs after two pregnancies. Impressive? We think so, considering she’s gets through a full day on hardly any sleep but still maintains a healthy dose of mum humour, while using exercise and cake to keep her going. It’s not all been roses of course, but with great mum groups to turn to for help and advice about handling the terrible twos and that jello belly, she’s plodding (or pumping) on just fine.
Working status: Full time
Kids: Alsonso (2) and Luis (7 months)
Number of helpers: one
Jana’s Day
03:00-07:00: Wake up every hour to breastfeed/deal with Luis (what is sleep?).
07:30: Get Alonso ready for school, change Luis’ nappies and feed kids.
07:45: Get ready for work.
08:00: Take Alonso to school.
08:30: Travel to work.
09:30: Pump.
12:30: Lunch.
13:00: Pump.
14:00: Travel home.
14:30: Breastfeed Luis.
16:00: Breastfeed Luis.
18:00: Breastfeed Luis/ end work.
18:00: Exercise/ hang out with babies (I try to exercise at least three times a week).
18:30: Cook dinner
19:00: Eat dinner
20:15: Bathtime! I shower with Alonso, my husband bathes Luis.
20:30: Storytime and bedtime, breastfeed Luis.
21:00: Sleep (I pass out).
03:00: Luis wakes up for breastfeeding and my day begins.
KATE
Our newest addition to the team, Kate, is coming up to her second month at HoneyKids (read all about her glorious comeback!) with a brand new routine in place and still going strong! With organisational skills that could rival air traffic control, she’s divvied up responsibilities and child-minding between her and her helper so all three kids get cleaned, dressed, fed and sent to school on time. All that and she manages to go on some seriously epic adventures with her kids. From exploring every inch of her own neighbourhood, Watten Estate, she’s conquering green spaces and hiking trails in Singapore and beyond. It’s off to Bali and its beautiful beaches next!
Working status: Part time
Kids: Alfie (6), Camilla (4) and Gabriel (1)
Number of helpers: one
Kate’s day
06:15: Wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, quick makeup
06:30: Wake the kids up (ideally only the older two), give them breakfast and get the oldest one dressed. While this is happening, my helper will be making the lunches.
07:00: Put the oldest on the bus to school, get the middle one dressed, give the youngest his milk. Play with the kids. Prepare and drink my morning smoothie.
07.45: Head to work via MRT.
08:00: My helper walks the middle one to school, with the baby in the pram.
17:00: Leave work.
17.45: Arrive home. Help finish up kids’ dinner and dessert.
18:00: Put all three kids in the bath.
18.15: Dress three kids, brush hair, give baby evening bottle, watch TV for 30 minutes.
18.40: Take baby up to bed. Turn TV off and read the older two stories.
19:00: Bedtime for older two kids – toilet and teeth routine.
19:05: Shower.
19:10: Cook dinner.
20:00: Relax! Watch TV, look at my phone, read, sometimes go out with friends for a glass of wine.
23:00: Bed.
01:00: Wake up to put baby’s dummy back in.
03:00: Check on kids.
TRACY
Once you’ve got past the baby stage and the kids are independent enough to attempt their own little field trips, you’re finally past the point of surviving motherhood on less than two hours sleep. The schedule gets a little less packed when the kids start school, and they won’t be needing your help so much with shower time or feeding. This is, however, the time that other problems pop up like puberty and handling teenagers (which require tons of communication and a whole heap of patience). But being in full time work doesn’t mean being a part time mum… Weekends are full of adventure with the kiddos (and dogs!) and the whole Tristram clan can often be found trailing all over Singapore in the quest for fun. Don’t believe us? Follow our instagram to check out just how packed-with-awesome all of the HoneyKids mums’ weekends are!
Working status: Full time
Kids: Jack (16), Angelica (10) and Rafferty (6)
Number of helpers: one
Tracy’s day
06:00: Wake up time, make packed lunches, get Angelica ready for school, feed dogs.
07:00: Leave for Angelica’s school run (2km away) and drag the bigger dog along for the walk.
07:45: Back home, quick breakfast with Raff.
08:00: Shower, make up, clothes (Raff helps pick).
08:15: Leave for work. Read on the MRT (hurrah!).
09:00: Arrive in office.
18:00: Leave office for home.
18:45: Arrive home to be flattened by kids and dogs. Listen to the three kids complaining about one another.
18:50: Hang out with younger two. Get spelling, homework done. Theirs not mine.
20:00: Teeth, bedtime stories and a snuggle with Angelica and Rafferty.
20:15: Dinner with husband, teenager (and generally the dogs!).
21:00: Lazy days = TV, downtime, jacuzzi with husband and teenager. Not so lazy days = walk the dogs with husband and/or teenager.
22:00: Catch up on any work that needs doing. Nag the teenager to get showered.
23:00: Bed.
So whether you’ve got one kid or more, with a little bit of organisation (and a lot of help) those 24 hours will go by just fine. You’ve got our HoneyKids guarantee!
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