The Real Mom Chronicles, Pyschologist Mom

Age? 31

How many children do you have? Lillian ( 10 months )

Do your children attend school/day care? If so, what type? Lillian’s care depends on the day.  Mondays she is home with me, Tuesdays and Fridays she attends daycare for half the day, Wednesdays and Thursdays my father babysits her, and Saturdays she is home with my husband.  Sunday is family day.  (I love Sunday as family day…we do the same, when possible, although it is tougher as my kids get older with birthday parties, play date invites, etc. !)

Describe your typical weekday… It depends upon the day.  Lillian wakes up anywhere from 6 am- 7am, she sleeps longer if we co-sleep after her 5 am nursing session.  7 am we “get up” and go downstairs for some playtime, I usually have the Today show on in the background.  8 am I make breakfast for the two of us,she really loves exploring different types of finger foods, by 9:/9:30 am Lillian has her morning nap.  This is when I take the opportunity to shower, get dressed, get my work stuff together and pack Lilian’s daycare bag.  Lillian is up from her nap around 10:30/11 am.  I get her dressed, nurse again and then if it is a Tuesday or Friday off to daycare we go and then I go to work.  On Thursdays since I don’t go to work until late afternoon we usually do some errands or window shop at the mall before my Dad comes over to watch Lillian until my husband gets home from work.  I work until 9 pm usually so by the time I get home my husband has already put Lillian to bed and made us both dinner, he is such a good man!  We usually use this time to catch up on each others day and watch some TV together before we go to bed.  On Wednesdays I have to be at work by 9 am…so Wednesdays I meet my Dad at a park and ride (halfway between our homes/my job) and drop Lillian off with him before I go to work.  I usually then meet him at the same park and ride by 2/2:30pm, we go home, Lillian takes a nap if she needs one or we play until my husband gets home.  If it is a nice day out we will go for a walk, run, or bike ride as a family.  It is dinner, bath and bed for Lillian and then either relaxation time for us or working from home.  Mondays and Wednesdays is when I am home the most so I try to get as many chores as possible done during her naps.

What is your biggest daily struggle? How do you cope with it?   Finding balance for everything.  I started my new job (working for a private group practice) when Lillian was 4 months old, with it has come this varied work schedule.  As a result my husband and I work opposite shifts and our family time is very limited and precious.  It is easy to get very short with one another and feel as though the other is not respecting the need for us both to have time to “get things done”.  Trying to find time to be a good mother, wife, house keeper, psychologist all at the same time is challenging.  Many days I feel as though I am struggling to do each role well.  I cope by chatting on the phone and online with friends, making sure my husband and I have at least one date night each month, a good book/movie, and a glass of wine

What is your secret for finding a healthy balance between all of your responsibilities as a mother?  See above comments! My husband is also an amazing man, always showering me with positive regard which helps immensely.  I try to do the same for him.  Reminding each other that we are doing the best we can and tomorrow we strive for better is our motto.

What is your favorite mommy moment?  When Lillian first sees me when either she wakes up or when I come home from work…she gets so excited.  She gives me the biggest smile, bops up and down and then reaches for me.  Melts my heart.  I also love our snuggle time during nursing sessions, but sadly that will be ending soon as I will be weaning her by her first birthday.

What is your biggest indulgence/thing that you do for yourself? Meeting up with my friend Annie for sushi and getting my nails done.

What is one piece of advice that you would pass on to other moms? It doesn’t matter what the other Mommy’s are doing or not doing, you are good enough, your children love you for you.  (I love this…so true!!!)

And for fun…

If you are interested in being a featured “Real Mom” please email me at masteringmommybrain@gmail.com. Please note that we are now taking information for the August time frame!