It’s really hard to do this sometimes- but Day 17 Put Yourself In Their Shoes gives us moms a little insight into how crappy it can be to be a kid some days. Because when you think about it, it’s not all sunshine and suckers that low to the ground. And even though it’s all a little funny, sometimes being a better mom is as simple as remembering that everyone faces daily struggles, even your children. No, they don’t worry about making the mortgage or which doctor to choose, but for them, it feels the same.
A Day In The Life Of A 3 Year Old…
8:00 am – Yay! It’s time to wake up…Waaaiiittt…IS IT time to wake up? I have no idea…I can’t tell time and sometimes it’s light out and sometimes it’s dark but I’m not sure I am supposed to be up. I’ll lay here for a minute because I know Mommy wants me to sleep in.
8:03 am – Okay, I really think it’s time to get up…even if it’s not my pull-up is SOAKED…and kinda smells weird. I’m going to get up, yep, I’m doing it. Let’s get this day started.
8:05 am – I’m up! (clears throat)…um, I’mmmmm Uppppp! Okay, where is everyone? Is no one excited to see me? Where’s my mom? Dad? Hannah? Oh man, Dad’s left for work, I hate when I only see him at night for an hour. Oh man, Hannah’s getting ready for school. She’s my best friend but she’ll be gone for most of the day. Mom? Oh she sees me! I love my mommy. She is my most favorite person in the world.
8:30 am – Breakfast! I love cereal but I stink at eating it…spilled it again. My pants are wet a little..I really hate that. But mom says it’s fine and we don’t have time to change. We are running late to get Hannah to school. It feels like I peed on me.
9:00 am – We took Hannah to school and NOW it’s me and Mom time! What? Oh, Mom’s working out again. Guess I’m in childcare for the next hour.
10:00 am – At the grocery store. Already regretting this decision I made to not ride in the cart. I’ve been hit in the face 3 times by somebody’s pocketbook. Why can’t people design handbags that don’t come right at my face level?? Do they not even see me? Each time, Mom said I was “fine”…don’t I get to decide that? Oh well, she bought me some goldfish so I guess I’m fine.
11:00 am – Finally, mom and I are home. Just the two of us. Can’t wait to play baby dolls with her. And color. And ride bikes. Best Day Ever….What?…Mom?…You have to vacuum? Unpack the dishwasher? Take the dog out? Okay, she’s going to play in a few minutes.
What IS a few minutes? People keep tossing this term around but sometimes it seems like a really LONG time…
Noon – Yay, mommy can finally play…I’ve got all my babies set up. We are going to dress them up, and give them bottles and take them to the doctor and…huh? It’s lunch time…maybe we can play after?
12:15 pm – I REALLY hope mommy made me turkey and cheese. I just loooooove turkey and cheese. Let me just wrangle myself up on this stool…man! PB&J! Mom said some mess about you get what you get and you don’t get upset. But I think that’s because she got turkey and cheese.
1:00 pm – Playtime with Mommy! This is my most favorite time of the day. No phones, no chores, just me and mom. I love how she’s always kissing me and hugging me and telling me I’m her favorite little person. I just love her.
3:00 pm – In the car again…no one ever asks me if I want to leave. If I want to get in the car and get buckled in some contraption where I can barely move. The whole time Mommy keeps asking me what I see out the window and I want to tell her I have less than 1/4 inch peripheral view so…not much I guess.
3:30 pm – BAM! I just whacked my head into the bar-height counter…It should be called toddler height because I hit it about twice a week. Now I’m crying….
4:00 pm – OOPS – I broke Hannah’s jewelry box. Now she’s mad. I really didn’t mean to…she just has so many pretty things and I want to be just like her. Dress like her, wear shoes like her, fix my hair like her. I hope she forgives me soon. It makes me sad when she’s mad at me.
4:10 pm – Hannah just gave me the best hug. I love her. I think she remembers what it’s like to be 3.
5:30 pm – Dinner – Cheesy Chicken Roll Ups! I love these! But what are these green trees all over my plate? Mom says I have to eat 2…I didn’t hear anyone tell her what she had to try today.
6:00 pm – Daddy’s home!!!! I miss him so much…I want to stay up late but mommy tells me I’ll be cranky..whatever that means. I love you Daddy.
6:30 pm – Bath time…trying to decide if I tell anyone I just peed in my water. I think I won’t but it’s kinda gross sitting in your own pee.
SOAP IN MY EYES!!! SOAP IN MY EYES!!! Alert the troops! Major crisis here!!! (1 min later)…Okay so apparently a cup of water fixes that. Hope I remember that tomorrow…
7:00 pm – Bedtime – My favorite part of the day. We all pile in Hannah’s bed, read books, and snuggle. Mommy says a special prayer for us and she lays with me in my bed. She sings Amazing Grace and tucks me in. We give special kisses and she tells me she loves me. I love her too.
Being 3 has it’s ups and downs I guess but with these guys by my side,
I’m pretty sure I’ll make it to 4.
If you have missed any in the series 31 Days & 31 Ways To Be A Better Mom, catch up here:
INTRO TO SERIES:
INTRO TO 31 DAYS & 31 WAYS TO BE A BETTER MOM
DAY 1: OUR BEFORE SCHOOL RULE
DAY 2: UNPLUG AND PLUG IN
DAY 3: STEP AWAY FROM YOUR CHILD
DAY 4: EMBRACE YOUR CRAZY
DAY 5: BE A REBEL
DAY 6: DO AS I SAY
DAY 7: FIND YOUR VILLAGE
DAY 8: DIVIDE & CONQUER
DAY 9: ONE SMART COOKIE
DAY 10: CREATE YOUR OWN FAMILY TRADITIONS
DAY 11: STOP COMPARING YOUR CHILD
DAY 12: TAKE CARE OF #1
DAY 13: DATE YOUR CHILD
DAY 14: THE MEAL TIME RULE WE DON’T BREAK
DAY15: GIVE THEM KISSES LOTS OF KISSES
DAY 16: IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM, BE THEIR CALM
DAY 17: PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES
DAY 18: QUIT BEATING YOURSELF UP
DAY 19: RELAX…YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO FINISH
DAY 20: NURTURING YOUR MARRIAGE AFTER CHILDREN
DAY 21: WHEN THEY ARE HARD TO LOVE, LOVE THEM HARDER
DAY 22: FAMILY DINNER SHMINNER
DAY 23: REBELLION IS A CRAZY THING
DAY 24: TELL THEM IT WILL GET BETTER
DAY 25: YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOVE YOUR KIDS THE SAME
DAY 26: IT’S OKAY TO WISH TODAY WAS OVER
DAY 27: BE A GOOD DAUGHTER
DAY 28: QUIT TRYING TO BE THAT OTHER MOM
DAY 29: YOU CAN’T BUY THEIR HAPPINESS
DAY 30: TELL YOUR KIDS YOU ARE A FAILURE
DAY 31: LEARNING TO LET GO
Such a cute post! It really does remind us to try to look at things from their perspective and how different things are. All the things that seem tiny to us are just huge to them. If we don’t listen now, they won’t feel comfortable telling us later when it really is something big!
This post is adorable!!!
Thanks for stopping by Heather!