Routines

6:15AM Braden and I wake to the sound of Baker’s coos through the monitor. Braden grabs Baker and I turn on the coffee pot. Let’s do this. 6:20AM Coffee and baby snuggles. Braden and I discuss agenda. The boys are home with me today, and Braden is heading into work. 6:30AM Start on pancakes. Winston will wake up any minute and he will be hungry. 7AM Braden heads out. I catch up on morning emails while listening for Winston to wake up. Baker is right next to me and giggling over his new book. 7:30AM “Old MacDonald had a shark …” I hear Winston singing in the monitor. I bring Baker upstairs and greet Winston with his favorite song, “Good Morning to You.” 8AM Dress both boys and head down for the now-cold pancakes. Winston argues for more syrup. I decide it’s not worth a battle and give him the freedom to pour more on his plate. 8:07AM I step directly into a puddle of syrup. Maybe I should have fought that syrup battle. 9AM Winston is now painting. I check emails while the boys are both occupied. I send out a blog that I wrote last night and start writing a list of to-do’s for the day. 9:30AM Baker starts to rub his eyes, the first sign he is ready for a nap. Winston is now occupied via Kinetic Sand, and I hope it will buy me

Emily Morehead is a therapist and co-owner of The Couch, a team of female therapists who provide in-office appointments, telehealth and in-home services. Morehead also serves as clinical curriculum developer for Gladney

Center for Adoption. She lives in McKinney with husband Braden, who works at Toyota Financial Services, and their children: Winston, 2, and Baker, 6 months. Between helping clients and chasing kiddos, Morehead enjoys time on her yoga mat.

a monday in the life of

enough time to get Baker down without Winston “helping.” 10:10AM Kinetic Sand for the win. Baker is down. 10:30AM Yoga time. Winston does the Old MacDonald version, and we giggle about his horse pose. I walk to the kitchen to start dishes but hear “Mama, join me.” Done deal, buddy— I’m coming. 10:33AM Baker is up. I tell Winston to keep up the pig pose and that I’ll be right back. I snort as I walk away to disarm the frustration he has about me having to go get brother. 11AM Start on lunch. Today it is bean-and-cheese Trader Joe’s taquitos for Winston, while Baker and I get sweet potatoes. 11:45AM My neighbor drops by a Play Street Museum dinosaur bank that I purchased for Winston to paint. I hide it away for a meltdown day. 12PM Time to transition upstairs to Winston’s room for stories. We read The Rabbit Listened, Grumpy Monkey and Pig the Stinker. Baker loves storytime with big brother and coos. Winston thinks this is cute, and we all giggle. I feel tired but at peace. 12:30PM We sing bedtime songs. Winston reminds me that “Mama not sing it as good as Dada.” I lay Winston down and then go to Baker’s room for his turn for naptime. 1PM Tiptoe out of Baker’s room. Both boys are asleep, which always makes me feel like I conquered the world. 1:05PM It’s dedicated work time. I start working on our upcoming edition of Gladney Center’s reFRAMED podcast. I develop questions and send them to my producers. This podcast is about the neurobiology of healing. 2:30PM Trial run of telehealth with my private practice partner Monique. I hear Baker in the monitor, and that officially wraps up our time. 3:05PM Winston is up, and it’s time to get him a quick snack before the ENT. He tells me that he had a bad dream about a whale and wonders if a whale lives in his house. I reassure him that we live far from the ocean but that his dream sounded scary. 3:20PM I need to get the boys in the car for Baker’s doctor’s appointment. Winston wants to wear his rain boots and I’m rushing him, so a meltdown ensues. 3:35PM We pull up to the doctor at the exact appointment time. I remind Winston that we don’t touch things in the doctor’s office. I’m prepared to whip out my iPhone for some screen time if needed to keep the germ touch at a minimum. 3:37PM Into the doctor’s office. I’m drenched in sweat working to keep Winston from touching all the things. 3:45PM Screen time commences. “The Ants Go Marching One by One” is playing in the background as the doctor and I agree Baker needs tubes. 4:15PM I get the boys home and put Daniel Tiger on the TV. It’s time to start dinner.

WHAT SHE’S READING Untamed by Glennon Doyle WHAT SHE’S WATCHING The Real Housewives of (any city)

My monthly dinner with my lifelong best friends

RETAIL THERAPY West Elm. We just moved into a new house and I am having fun decorating and making it feel like home. FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT Harvest restaurant on the McKinney Square GUARANTEED TO MAKE HER LAUGH My boys—kids are silly! GUARANTEED TO MAKE HER CRY The photos of me during my infertility treatments to get pregnant with Winston NO. 1 ITEM ON HER BUCKET LIST African safari WORDS

SHE LIVES BY “Keep the earth below my feet”—Mumford & Sons MOM BAG

CONTENTS So much Germ-X, wipes, diapers, Tylenol, snacks and a spare pair of my contacts SHE’S INSPIRED BY Brené Brown MOTHERHOOD IN FIVE WORDS Connection, attachment, attunement, nurture and grit the fine print

4:30PM Braden is home and pasta is boiling. I check email as he connects with the boys. 5PM Braden and I eat pasta, and Winston chooses a granola bar. Braden steps in a new secret syrup spot from this morning and we laugh. 6PM Baths, stories and bedtime. I take Baker to rock him, and Braden covers Winston’s song requests. 6:05PM Baker starts drifting to sleep holding my shirt. I focus on his little fingers clinging so tightly to me. I was in a hurry to get downstairs and catch up on emails, but those tiny fingers ground me into slowing down. 6:15PM Dishes and a quick sweep of the house. Braden and I tag-team the rooms that need tidying, and he starts a load of laundry. 6:30PM Time to get back to work. Tonight I’m writing curriculum for an anxiety group that we are holding at Gladney. 7:15PM A new client appointment comes through for The Couch. Monique and I staff the clients presenting needs and determine who is the best therapist for each individual. 8PM It’s time to catch up with Braden. He reminds me he missed us today. We laugh about things the kiddos did and turn on a reality TV show to wrap up the day.

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