Having a house full of kids is both exhilarating and exhausting. Our daily schedule is packed with activities and doctor’s appointments. The hustle begins at 5:30 am during the week, getting our kids up, dressed, and ready for the school bus. Then it’s time to load up the preschoolers and take them to Head Start, while our little toddler explores the world at home.
Let’s dive into the daily routine:
- 4:30 am: I’m up, starting my day with coffee and some aimless scrolling.
- 5:45 am: The kids are up, getting ready for school.
- 6:15 am: The older kids are on the bus.
- 6:30 am: The preschoolers are dressed and fed.
- 7:00 am: We head off to preschool.
- 8:00 am: On some days, Kate is still at home, but on other days, she’s out the door.
The chaos continues.
We also have a little guy at home who spends his day playing at my feet or in my lap while I manage my tasks. By 4:00 pm, everyone is back home, full of energy, tackling their afternoon chores, and getting ready for dinner and bedtime. Around 6:30 to 7:00 pm, my amazing wife walks in the door from work, and together, we ensure that everyone is bathed and tucked into bed. Finally, we collapse and doze off while catching up on the latest series we’re binge-watching. Just in time for our adult sons to call us with their daily issues. It’s a whirlwind of organized chaos, but somehow, we manage to navigate it every day.
Life Changes
Amidst the controlled mayhem of our family life, I always make sure to set aside time for Kate. I retired at the age of 39, relying on a thriving business that, unfortunately, suffered from the “great resignation” trend. We lost over 1.5 million dollars in contracts in just 16 months. I tried another business venture this past year, but it didn’t work out. Kate then took a job, and I took on the role of staying home, raising our 9-year-old daughter, and fostering five kids full-time. It’s a real whirlwind, as evidenced by a recent incident involving a child and a carpet cleaner, which I’ll leave to your imagination.
She worth it
In this whirlwind, it’s crucial for me to honor Kate’s hard work outside the home. So, I’ve become intentional about dating my wife. The challenge is finding someone to watch the kids – a task that’s, well, challenging. Therefore, I’ve resorted to having dinner dates at home, each one different from the last. Last month, I surprised her with a month of meal boxes, which was exciting to try something new, though it did get a bit repetitive after a while. This month, we’ve set aside some money to order some delicious Mexican food, a throwback to our younger days when we lived next to an amazing taqueria in Sacramento. Sometimes, I’ll have cheesecake from her favorite bakery ready for dessert. Last night, we enjoyed chicken and au gratin potatoes, using a recipe from https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/simple-au-gratin-potatoes/.
The key is to plan something special just for her and me that goes beyond watching TV. It’s not about what you plan; it’s about taking time during the day to think about her and show your appreciation. Take a moment when the kids are napping, figure out the details, and, if needed, make a quick trip to the store. Take the time to woo her as if you were dating all over again.
What ideas do you have? Feel free to share in the comments.
Chronicles of a at Home Dad 
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