What We Do

Ben works at Rockbridge Academy. He is the 7th and 9th grade history teacher there, as well as one of the debate teachers. During the summer he takes painting jobs and does various projects to keep himself busy. All year round he reads, rides his motorcycle, writes poetry and writes, plays and records music.

Frequently, we get asked what exactly the girls and I do when Ben isn’t home to keep us busy. I admit, sometimes being a stay at home mom can be tedious, but we’ve worked up an arsenal of activities to keep us productive on days when going out isn’t an option. To be honest, though, child training (tender loving care) still ends up being the main thing  I work on during each day.

I get up with Ben between 5 and 6 to make him breakfast and pack a lunch. Afterwards, I try to drink my coffee in the glorious quiet or sometimes I just go back to bed. Ophelia gets up between 8 and 9AM. In the morning we always snuggle on the couch to eat our breakfast, drink our juice and coffee (or pero or ovaltine for Ophelia.) Sometimes we read during this time, or watch the news. Other times we just sit and talk. Miss Mira on the other hand doesn’t have a predictable schedule yet. All of my “Ophelia Time” is punctuated by feeding and changing Mira.

We also try to get our household chores done before noon. This would include any dishes from the night before, cleaning up the kitchen, livingroom, bedrooms and bathrooms. Ophelia really is a wonderful helper, but her helping means it takes us extra long to finish. ;-) We also try to do our exercises, usually pilates on the living room floor, but sometimes we’ll walk to the park or grocery store instead. We shower and dress and by that time, it’s usually almost noon.

At 11:30 or 12, we head to Ophelia’s room to read her favorite book, sing a short song and pray. Whenever Ophelia goes to sleep she must have her babydoll with a diaper for it, some water, and her blankets. During nap time, she’s allowed to listen to music and play in her room quietly. She usually fusses for a couple minutes, but then contents herself to playing and resting. Nap or Quiet time lasts until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. This allows me a good 3 or 4 hours to have some mom time. For me, this means concentration time if I need to plan meals, pay bills, read, sew, organize, bake, sort photos, catch up with friends, do laundry, finish more complicated chores or rest myself. I usually end up starting dinner before the end of our alone time periods. And of course, it depends a lot on what baby Mira is doing. My mom time is sometimes really mom time and other times is Mira time.

At 3 or 4, we have snack time, and read some books or color, or make lists together (we both love writing lists.) If I haven’t started dinner yet, we do that during this time. Ben usually comes home between 4 and 5. At which time we have some family time together. Ophelia gets some Dad time and I get some real conversation in. Sometimes we’ll go for a walk to the park or to the store. Around 6 we try to eat dinner. Ben reads to us at the dinner table. After dinner Ben and Ophelia play while I clean up my kitchen, or sometimes, Ben will clean my kitchen while I rest or snuggle the girls.

Between 7:30 and 8PM is when we prepare Ophelia for bed. I change her into pajamas, Ben brushes her teeth and sings to her. Ben reads to her usually. Once again, we provide her babydoll with a diaper, water and blankets in her bed. After Ben prays with her, that’s it. She’s off to sleep and Mama & Papa have an hour or two to try and get Mira to sleep before we sneak some shut eye ourselves.