Send Help! What a Day in the Life of a Mum of Two Looks Like
You’ll be grateful to yourself in the future (with a cup of coffee and a frazzled, but triumphant face). It takes a lot of mental preparation to take care of two little humans. The knowledge that you are not alone.
From newborn nights to toddler antics, the key to surviving a day is a combination of routine, resilience, and those fleeting and magical moments.
Here’s a painfully accurate, laugh-and-cringe-worthy diary entry from a typical day in our household.
New Mum Resolutions: The Real Deal
Here are some resolutions that I made to ground myself for the day:
I won’t:
- From 10 pm until the morning, you can expect to completely rest.
- Wear your pyjamas to work.
- You may have forgotten to bring the baby with you (like at the butcher shop–oh, I forgot the toddler).
- Toilet-train your toddler without wasting time.
- Remember which breast the baby was last fed (left? right? Oh dear).
- Just because I am tired, let the toddler cover the whole house with toilet paper.
I will be:
- You don’t have to be disappointed if your child wakes up at night. They do not come with a manual or a switch that is silent.
- Look presentable to maintain a thin illusion that “I have this” (even though it is just a pair of nice yoga pants, but let’s face it, no one will be fooled).
- Toilet training your toddler will help reduce the number of accidents.
- Keep a breastfeeding journal so that the battle over boobs ends with mutual agreement (or, at least, mutual exhaustion).
- Every day, do a craft with your toddler. I need to justify my existence.
4:55 a.m. – Brutal Awakening
I am woken up by the sound of screaming coming from the room next door. Who would do this at such an ungodly time? Ah, a baby.
I am groggy-eyed when I enter, but the instant I open the front door, the baby stops crying. She smiles and laughs, as if she thinks I’m a hero. This is the moment of guilt-approved parenting. I pick her up and feed the infant from one of the boobs.
6 a.m. – The Baby Necklace
I awoke with the baby draped over my chest like an odd plush necklace. She’s sleeping blissfully, so I let her be and lie still. Let me stay under the blankets a little bit longer.
6:30 a.m. -Toddler Invades Paradise
The alarm of my husband nudges the baby away from me. This is a blessed relief, because that gas smell coming off her nappy chain was deadly. The husband lugs her to the changing table, while the toddler, who is grumpy and sleepy, toddles into the room.
He gets into bed and suddenly springs awake, ready to play peekaboo or some other early morning torture. He blows cold air under the covers to get maximum effect. Naturally, I lay there frozen, hoping that my husband would notice the biscuit-scented hazard”.
Breakfast and Sanity Check
All of us head to the kitchen. Bless the husband who makes coffee. Baby snoozes in the rocker. Toddler wants something blue and edible (color obsession still strong). I mix some cereal and milk in a bowl. Mischief follows: spoon clanks and milk dribbles.
As soon as the coffee is cool enough not to burn my tongue, I sneak a sip. It tastes like sanity.
10:35 a.m. – Cafe Showdown
I meet up with a friend who is childless at a cafe in my neighborhood. The big sister is needed, but the toddler won’t stay still while watching from her pram. A toddler wearing a baby’s diaper as a fashion item. Baby is poked in the eyes. When I’m at the end of my sanity thread, a friend texts me: “Running for 10 more minutes?”
We’re going. One glance at the toddler, teetering atop a cafe chair that is rickety and wobbly cafe chair, confirms my decision. I am calm, but firm. “We’re out of here.” We gather our daughter in arms as she sobs, and we leave.
Potty Trickery Starts at 12:41 PM
Baby naps at home. Toddler insists that he wee-wee on the potty.
Alarm Bells
We sit for 20 minutes. Toddler alternates between singing ‘Hot Potato’ on loop, and screaming “nopee–only sing!” He has turned potty time into his karaoke. The song is at its third verse with no results.
Curse the creativity of his mind. I curse my patience. Potty training is a painful experience.
1:56 p.m. – Sweet Quiet (Temporary)
Delight!!! Toddler falls asleep in bed and is napping for safety. Both the baby and toddler continue to nap. Bliss.
I log my breastfeeds on my phone, then get distracted by a compilation of ‘Cats Being Dramatic’ videos on Facebook. Next comes a video called ‘Monkey Runs Free.’ It’s too much. I sobbed in the middle of my bedroom floor and then fell asleep.
3 p.m. – Circus Reboots
Toddler wakes me up first, and then the baby begins to cry. Toddler sings “Hot Potato” while the house is alive. Great.
The baby’s diaper is changed–a victory for the open-waist base and stretchy side. Praise tech! She appears to be happy. The toddler needs to be distracted.
Craft time!
4:00 pm – The Origami Box Loop
I put out colored paper and crayons. We’ll make boats. Toddler sits himself down and creates: An infinite stream of balls. Pour them into a box of nappies, dump them out, put the box on his back, and sing “Hot Potato”. Repeat.
The baby laughs. I smile. I laugh. It’s the purest, heartfelt sound that I’ve heard. These embarrassing acid reflux moments were sweet as AF.
We laugh – maybe a bit too much. Through the exhaustion and tears, joy is still present.
6:30 p.m. – Dinner…Eventually
Dinner is an obstacle course. The toddler wants half of the sauce on the spoon and scrapes the rest. He refuses to eat anything green, but will eat yogurt. “Yes, sweetpea, you’ll get a bowl”, says the baby, while I spoon cereal to the toddler and convince myself it is okay to have mac and cheese for dinner tomorrow.
He comes in with a bigger cup of coffee and more hugs. He knows.
8:30 pm – Bedtime Ritual
We read Hello Zoo twice, because the toddler selected the surprise dog again. Baby feeds left or right? I don’t mind) and snoozes in peace. Toddler finally falls asleep after “one more story” and a million cuddles.
The house is quiet. I collapse onto the couch in my yoga pants, nursing top, and still wearing them. The milk has stained it. I texted my mum, “Remind me that this is fun.”
10 p.m. – The “Good night…Ha!”
My husband tucks in. I’m relieved…until another cough comes from the baby’s room.
Take a deep breath. Another feed — right boob. How many times has that been the case tonight? The log is blank. Left? Right? Crap.
I am tired, but also full of mind and soul.
2:17 A.M. – Repeat
Another wake-up. The baby is crying. I feed my baby while sleeping. I stare at the darkness, feeling that familiar ache of exhaustion and love.
The house is asleep. The husband snores. I have a tender and tired chest.
Another round. Another night.
What is the Importance of a Day in the Life?
Looking back at days like these (and there are many), I see that they were more than just blurry chaos. These days are an anthem to the many parents who do the same.
- How elusive is peace when you’re out in public with two children?
- The amazing quiet after naptime is followed by sad social media scrolls.
- The loop of “Hot Potato”, crafts, diapers, and sleep sessions.
It’s often not glamorous. It is often unappreciated. It’s often thankless.
What I’ve Learned from the Front Lines: What Saved My Sanity
- Reduce your expectations. Your bar does not need to be set high.
- Do not feel guilty. Request help. A break can reset your mind.
- Celebrate small victories: Empty Diaper? One craft that worked? One successful craft? That’s gold.
- Be present. The scream of a toddler or the peaceful moment of a baby will never be repeated.
- The night may never be quiet, but rhythms change.
Last Reminders
- It’s not just you. It’s hard. It’s messy. It’s emotional and magical at the same time.
- You are not failing. You’re not failing. They’re normal.
- Our actions are important, and they go beyond coffee stains and sleepless nights.
- You’ve kicked when you survive “a normal day”.
So here’s the takeaway: hospitalization-ready toddlers apart, glorious baby smiles included, messy pyjamas present thereafter, you’re doing it. Every day, imperfection is beautiful. That’s more than enough.
What About You, Then?
What about your everyday mum (or father) life makes it seem like you are a comedy act? Or a sudden moment of sweetness? Share your stories and let’s laugh (and maybe cry) about it. We’re in this together.
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