Mum's
Fab Five By Jo Ford and Lauren Williams
E
very mother has a story to tell, and Lauren Williams’ isn’t much different than your or mine or someone else’s…except that her day probably encompasses all of our days combined. She is mum to five friendly, happy little people aged between 18 months and 13 years who are each individual and delightful. Life in the Williams’ household can, at times, be described as chaotic, and it certainly is never short of live entertainment. So what does a typical day look like for this Dromana mum?
7.00 AM - I wake up to three alarms and a small foot nestled under my chin. I kick my husband under the doona; he keeps pressing the snooze button rather than getting out of bed. My 18mth old, sandwiched between us, stirs and I realise an extra five minutes of sleep is out of the question. I tell myself every night I’ll go to bed earlier but there is just not enough time and most nights I see the clock strike twelve. Often I’m still sitting on top of a pile of washing that I wish the ‘folding fairies’ would see to. My husband and I have four girls and one son. My son is the eldest and has started Year 7 this year so he catches the bus and I drive the two older girls to school. (I know if I’m not ready by the time my son leaves at 8.15 am I’m going to be late! This happens more than I’d like to admit but I am trying..… ) I jump in the shower with my 18mth old shadow. Any ‘alone’ time in the bathroom is a distant memory.
8.07 AM - Once my husband has given me a quick kiss goodbye I recite the following, often a bit too loudly! “Has everyone had breakfast, packed their lunch, washed their faces, brushed their teeth, packed everything in their bags and made their beds?” I live in hope that one day I will not have to ask any of these things and magically they will all be ready on time, looking pristine in their uniforms. One day.
8:35 AM - Finally, I manage to get all of the girls in the car. I reverse the car out of the driveway. 8:36 AM - My four-year-old informs me that she isn’t actually wearing any shoes. Back inside I go, looking for where she took her shoes off the day before (would be so much easier if she put her shoes away!) I find the shoes, lock the door and head back to the car. Despite the fact that she has been happily wearing these particular shoes for weeks, today is a different story. “I don’t like those ones; I only wear blue!” I haven’t got time for this but I am in luck as I spy a stash of her shoes under the drivers’ seat (note to self… must clean the car). 66
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2017