Kate Wilke lives in Rockwall with her husband of 23 years, David. They have three boys: Ben, 15; Will, 13; and Andy, 10. David works for Bank of America from his home office, and Kate is a stay-at-home mom. In her free time, she does volunteer work and travels. Last summer, she and her sons went on a three-week, 4,500-mile road trip up the East Coast and through Canada. They’re looking forward to a West Coast adventure this summer.
6:30AM My alarm goes off. I lie in bed to check emails, texts and Facebook.
6:45AM I let the dogs outside and go upstairs to wake up Andy, my 10-year-old. I rub his back and try and convince him to get out of bed. Then I go into Ben’s room, my 15-year-old, to make sure that he is up and in the shower. (He is, thankfully.) I go back into Andy’s room and rub his back a little more, and he finally gets out of bed. I get dressed and make Andy’s breakfast and pack his snack, lunch and backpack.
7:15AM Ben comes downstairs and makes his own breakfast.
7:30AM I go back upstairs to wake up Will, my 13-year-old, but he’s already awake. Time to leave to take Andy to school. He’s in fourth grade, and this is his first year to be in school without his brother. He’s had a tough adjustment so it’s always a battle.
8AM Back home to pick up Ben. I listen to Rachel Hollis with the Chic Site on her livestream while I am driving. I drop Ben off and head back home to get Will.
8:15AM Will is eating breakfast and watching YouTube videos about Logan Paul (some internet guy). I let the dogs in and out again.
8:30AM Will and I leave. He has to be at school at 8:45 and is totally fine sliding in as the bell rings. I hug and kiss him goodbye.
8:45AM Back home I make breakfast (English muffin with peanut butter) and stand and eat while I clean up the kitchen.
9AM I take the cover off Ben’s bearded dragon’s cage and give her a little love. My husband, David, starts work for the day. My housekeeper is coming so I pick up all the stuff the kids throw on the floor and straighten up.
9:30AM The housekeeper, Angelica, is here. I get her started and go about my day.
10AM I take my dog, Teddy, to the vet. He’s been limping. The vet says he has a torn ligament. Surgery is the best option, but the vet doesn’t recommend it because Teddy is a bit overweight. Hopefully Teddy doesn’t give us too much trouble about cutting back on his food.
11AM Back home, I take the clothes that I washed last night out of the dryer, sort them and then start some more laundry. I chop up veggies for the dragon and Will’s hamster and feed the dragon her crickets. Back downstairs I switch out the laundry again.
NOON My husband comes out of his office, and we chat while he makes some lunch.
1PM After finishing up the laundry, I sit down to eat lunch and watch General Hospital. Ahh—it feels nice to sit.
2PM I let the dogs in and out for the 900th time today and put away the laundry.
2:30PM I pick Andy up early from school for his weekly allergy shot. Afterward we have to wait for 30 minutes to make sure he doesn’t have a reaction.
3:15PM We leave the doctor’s office, and I go to the high school to pick up Ben.
4PM Ben comes out and we head home. Will also gets out at 3:45. Even though it’s very close and he should walk home, I pick him up when I get back into the neighborhood.
4:15PM Finally home for the day! Is it bedtime yet? I let the dogs out again. This time I sit outside with them for a bit—it’s a nice day.
4:45PM The neighbor’s dog starts barking and my dogs bark, so we are back inside. I go upstairs and give my kids options for dinner. They pick spaghetti.
5PM I watch the news while I clean up the kitchen from after-school snacks and start making dinner.
6:45PM After eating, the boys go back upstairs and my husband goes back to his office while I clean up the kitchen.
7:15PM Time for a family walk. Andy and Will go willingly. Ben fusses a bit, but he comes. After, David and the boys go upstairs.
8PM Time for Andy to shut off his electronics. I supervise his bath and brushing his teeth, and then he gets in bed.
8:30PM Time for Will to shut off his electronics. I stay upstairs while he showers and brushes his teeth, feeds his hamster and gets into bed.
9PM Time for Ben to shut off his electronics. He’s pretty self-sufficient so I get to go back downstairs.
9:15PM After letting the dogs out one last time, I tell my husband goodnight (who is back in his office working), brush my teeth and get into bed. I turn on Gilmore Girls. It’s my favorite show, and it’s mindless TV for me.
9:45PM Lights out for me. Good night!
