Amber Honeywell is the owner of Primal Skin Co., an all-natural handcrafted skin care line. She and her husband, Nick, a production manager at DocuScan Guys, live in Denton with their two daughters, 6-year-old Faith and 5-month-old Hattie, and their 2-year old boxer mix, Sam.
5AM I reset my over-ambitious alarm before melting back into my bed. One day I will get up at 5 o’clock, but today is not that day.
6AM The most wretched sound on this planet—my alarm clock—rips me from sleep. I deny the impulse to smash my phone into pieces and accept that the day must start. My daughter Faith, a 30-yearold woman in a 6-year-old girl’s body, is dressed, teeth brushed, making her bed and feeding the dog. #LifeGoals. One day I’ll have my life together like my 6-year-old.
6:15AM Faith’s friend Stryker arrives, as he does every morning. The kids decide in new names and which Power Ranger they are for the day. Stryker (now Lloyd) is the Green Ranger. Faith dubs herself Sarah (I have no idea why) and flops between the Pink Ranger and the Queen of Texas, which Stryker refuses to call her.
6:30AM I drink coffee and make breakfast, but most of my mental energy is dedicated to ensuring that the kids don’t break everything in the house with their ninja moves. Finally, breakfast is ready—turkey bacon and granola with blueberries. In between bites, Stryker explains why baby Hattie cannot possibly be the Dragon Warrior. Faith interrupts with a fascinating conversation starter: “Do you want to know what is unusual about my poop? There was a whole blueberry inside!” Stryker responds with his own fecal discoveries. I should teach them some manners, but I can’t help myself from laughing. Why do kids love all things toilet-related?
7:10AM Our journey to school is one of my favorite times of the day. It’s a full-on jam session, with music blaring (today it’s “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons), crazy dancing and singing too loudly.
8AM Back home. I tidy the house and spend quality time with Hattie. A spit-up incident (best not to elaborate) requires an outfit change for both of us. Whatever she’s left in my hair will have to wait until naptime.
9AM Naptime. (At last!) I quickly shower and go over my to-do list in my head.
9:30AM I handcraft a batch of citrus fresh scrub to fill customer orders. It’s one of Primal Skin Co.’s yummiest-smelling products. I’m revitalized both in the scent and by creating something. Whether it’s making products, building my business or crafting with my kids, I’m energized by creativity.
11AM Naptime ends and I cuddle with my squishy baby. Nowadays, I’m more aware of how quickly time flies, so I am intentional about appreciating the special moments in life. I soak up every second of cuddling, feeding and playing with Hattie.
12:30PM Hattie’s second nap begins. I fold laundry, pay bills, prep dinner and dive back into work. The afternoon is a blur of phone calls, emails, updates with my business partner and organizing tasks for the week.
2:30PM Hattie and I head out to school. I pull into the carpool line early, so I use the downtime to return emails, texts and phone calls. Hattie hates being in her car seat, and her quiet cries of discomfort soon turn into full-on screaming. Faith gets in the car and, completely oblivious to her sister, tells me that her classmate smashed her lollipop on the desk because he was mad that he can’t see his dad for three days. I’m thankful that Faith doesn’t understand that her story is actually very heavy.
3:30PM Home again. Faith and Stryker follow me into the kitchen to supervise my snack preparations. It’s raining outside, and the kids are crabby from being cooped up inside and they begin to fight. I give permission to play in the backyard and watch them through the window while I fold laundry.
4PM These kids crack me up. Faith asks if Stryker still wants to be friends when they’re grown-ups. “We can be spies,” she says. “I would love to be your partner.” Stryker says that he wants to be a spy and football player, and Faith assures him that he can do both. “That’s OK, I’m going to be a pen importer and a spy.”
5PM The time of day when everything happens at once. All hands on deck! (What, I only have two hands?!) Stryker goes home. I feed Hattie. Faith practices her spelling words. I cook dinner. Faith takes a bath. I put away laundry. Nick arrives home, and we eat dinner. Tonight, it’s chicken tacos, which Faith can’t eat without mutilating the shell. Kitchen cleanup. Pack lunches. Teeth brushing. Baby rocking. Baby changing. Take out garbage. Prayers. Kids are tucked in. Phew!
7PM Nick and I collapse on the couch and try to reconnect with the nonhuman- napkin part of our identities. Nick goes to the gym while I finish up work on Primal Skin Co. and strategize tomorrow’s tasks. I wrap up my to-do’s by updating the grocery list and steaming a tutu for Faith’s dance recital.
8:30PM Husband and wife time. We talk about our days and watch episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. After an hour, we get ready for bed.
10PM I slip into bed. Somehow, the baby senses my comfort and immediately starts crying.
11PM After soothing Hattie back to sleep, I finally return to bed and hope for rest of my own. Before snoozing, I set my alarm for 5am again.
