We want to hear how you do it, Moms! Are you a mom in Edmonton, a career mom, a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, something somewhere in between? Contact us (hello@urbaninfant.ca) to be profiled!
Tell us about you, your children and where you live
Elizabeth – mid thirties! Two kids – Emily age 6 and Sam age 2 . (And one husband who works in the oilfield). We live in Edmonton.
Do you have help? (incl childcare, housework, personal assistant)
Emily goes to Grade 1 and after school care and Sam is in an awesome dayhome so technically yes, I have help.
When Daddy is home the kids play with him but they are so used to asking me for things they seem to forget to ask him. I’m constantly saying from other rooms ‘ask daddy he is right beside you!’.
Best hobby?
If I can manage to scrap together more than 5 minutes to myself, I like to sew. I also like to read which I only manage to do at work during lunch.
Extracurricular activities for you?
I suppose this doesn’t include grocery shopping with young kids which is an activity to be undertaken only by those not faint of heart.
Extracurricular activities for your babe/children?
Emily loves swimming so she usually has lessons. Sam doesn’t have any structured activities – not yet anyway.
What does a typical family day look like to you (Saturday/Sunday)?
Wake up early with Sam and let Emily sleep in a little. Wake up Emily and make breakfast. Usually by about 10.30am I have already had to separate them once. I do the dishes and try to catch up on the pots and pans from the week that I didn’t do. Then there is the laundry that never got folded during the week. But honestly, I don’t get to laundry very often and things go straight from the basket to the person. With the weather still nice, both kids like to go outside so I’m usually outside supervising (we live in a townhouse-style apartment with an open backyard so Sam can’t be outside without an adult watching).
After dinner it’s usually bath time and then Sam’s bed time and then Emily’s bed time (both routines involve stories and songs). And then mine… Sam still wakes up in the night so I go to bed once everyone is asleep.
And then it’s Sunday and everything starts again. I’m trying to find things to do outside of the house that are either free or really cheap so we can all get out more. I don’t like being at home all day if I can help it.
We recently discovered how awesome the John Janzen Nature Center in Edmonton is and I definitely plan on returning.
Who cooks dinner?
I cook dinner, unless the lovely cooks at McDonalds do.
How does the grocery shopping get done, by whom, with the kids, and do you use coupons?
I do most of the shopping and I try to go without the kids as it takes longer. But I often have to take them with me and at least if they are there I can ask Emily what kinds of things she would like in her lunch. I do like coupons but it’s not a regular thing.
How often do you buy something for yourself?
If I can count a tea from Tim Horton’s then at least once a week, other than that not very often. I try to make a point of treating myself but I am really good at talking myself out of it.
Do you exercise and if so, how/when do you fit the time in to do that?
The only exercise I get is running after Sam in stores or when he is riding his trike around the neighbourhood.
Favourite movie?
Notting Hill.
Favourite nookie song?
People have time to put music on?
Favourite beverage special coffee, cocktail?
Tea!
Favourite pair of shoes?
My shiny red slip ons!
‘Cannot leave home without it’ item?
My cell phone.
Thank you for sharing with all of us Elizabeth! Thanks for being an Urban Infant reader!
