Paulina Magdaleno works from home as social media coordinator for SuperLatina, a Fort Worth-based TV show. She lives in Fort Worth with her husband of four years Todd Zombar, a project manager at Steele and Freeman Construction, and 21-month-old daughter Ariana Marie.
6:15AM My daughter Ariana wakes up and starts growling. That is her way of saying, “I am up. Please come and get me.” I bring her to our bed and breastfeed her for a while. I kind of start making a mental list of all the things I have to get done during the day. When Ariana is done with her first milk of the day, she is ready to go. I am still trying to open my eyes. “Dada, Dada!” Ariana runs to the kitchen. She knows Daddy is already having breakfast.
6:30AM I follow my daughter to get my coffee and my croissant, so I can start moving and think clearly, especially since it’s a school day. I feed our Beagles Enzo and Major and turn on the TV to see what’s going on in the world. Five minutes of WFAA is all I can get: Ariana needs her Vme Kids (PBS Kids in Spanish) morning fix. Priorities!
6:45AM After Ariana plays with her Legos and draws some interesting pieces of art with crayons, Daddy changes her diaper before he leaves for work. I turn my computer on to check emails and all the entertainment websites I have to monitor because of my job: People magazine? Check. Us Weekly? Check. E! Online? TMZ? Check. You get the idea.
7:30AM It’s time for my second cup of coffee and to start the breakfast routine for Ariana. Some days she is into scrambled eggs, quesadillas or oatmeal. Today she wants organic chips. She’s not a big fan of fruit anymore. Sigh. Thank God for fruit pouches.
7:45AM. Let the morning rush begin. I pack lunch for Ariana and put on whatever shirt and leggings are available in my closet. I reply to a couple of emails, check Facebook, monitor our TV show’s Twitter account, say hello to my sisters in Mexico via Whatsapp and let my husband know via text message what my plan is for the day.
8AM It’s time to put Ari’s school bag in the car, take a last look at my inbox and check the weather. Am I forgetting something? Oh yes, I have to have the battle of the clothes with my daughter. She gets excited about going to school, but she is really not into getting dressed, especially during cold weather. She kicks, hits, screams and cries like a dramatic actress as I try to put on all the layers she needs to stay warm.
8:15AM We’re off to Montessori School at Camp Bowie. Our drive to school is somewhat quiet. Ariana likes to enjoy the view from her window, watch the cars and feel the sun on her face. I get her attention, and a smile, by playing some music and singing along.
8:45AM I drop Ariana off. While I walk her to the school gate to meet her teacher, Miss Sue, my heart already starts to miss her. But I have to drive back to the house, so I can formally start working, have another cup of coffee, breakfast and, if I have time, clean a little bit.
9:30AM Work, work, work. I touch base with my boss, update our show’s website with the latest Latin celebrity gossip, schedule some tweets, monitor more entertainment websites, reply to emails, check our YouTube channel activity, try to eat something else and figure out our dinner menu.
12PM I didn’t have the chance to take a shower this morning. This is the time to do it; otherwise I lose my window.
1:15PM I’m off to pick Ariana up from school. I miss her already.
2:15PM Back home. I put Ariana down for her nap before she gets distracted with the dogs, while I decide if I am going to take a nap as well or call Salma Hayek’s publicist and ask if she is available for an interview on our TV show.
4:30PM Ariana wakes up from her nap grouchy. She wants Mommy to breastfeed her and all I can think is why I haven’t received a response from Salma Hayek’s publicist and why I didn’t lie down for a minute while my daughter was sleeping.
5PM I enjoy early dinner with Ariana. Our menu includes pasta soup with quinoa. After we eat, we step out to the backyard with Enzo and Major to play in the sandbox, run, kick a ball and watch birds fly. She loves birds.
6PM Todd arrives from work hungry and tired. I didn’t have time to clean the house or make him dinner, so he reheats whatever he finds in the fridge. He is not a big fan of leftovers. (Or a dirty house.) Oh well.
7PM Bath time is approaching. That means I will have a little bit of “me” time. Todd plays with Ariana while I wash dishes. We talk about our day and I brief him on Ariana’s day at school.
7:30PM The bedtime ritual starts. Ariana likes to play for a little while, cuddle with Daddy while he watches a hockey game and play with the dogs.
8PM It’s time to say “night-night.” I breastfeed my daughter and enjoy these last minutes of the day with her. Her room is dark and quiet. I can hear her breathing. That helps me relax and unwind as well. As soon as she lets go of my boob, I give her a sweet kiss and put her in the crib. Sweet dreams, pretty baby. Please sleep through the night.
9PM Todd is already in bed and snoring. I work for a little bit — no reply from Salma Hayek’s publicist yet. I guess I should turn off the computer and watch last Sunday’s episode of The Good Wife. I deserve it.
Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the Fort Worth area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by FortWorthChild. Send your diary to editorial@dfwchild.com. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.
