Kelli Hauser is a sixth-grade reading teacher at McMath Middle School. She lives in Denton with her husband of six years, Eric Hauser, assistant principal at Billy Ryan High School, and their daughters, 3-year-old Kinley and 2-year-old Khloe.
5:30AM My phone alarm goes off. I hit the snooze because I have it in my head that in eight more minutes it may be easier to roll out of bed.
5:38AM My phone alarm goes off again. Once again, I hit snooze, but then after a minute or so I feel guilty and force myself to groggily drag my zombie-like body into the restroom to get ready before I have to wake the ladies up.
6:30AM Once I’m completely ready for school, I go into Kinley’s room to lightly try and wake her. She’s not a morning person either, and it takes her a bit before she’s ready to fully get going. I leave door open and head into the kitchen.
6:35AM Now I have the girls’ Frozen school bags packed with lunchboxes, fresh milk cups, extra changes of clothes and panties for Kinley, who is now almost fully potty trained but still has an accident here and there, Pull-Ups for Khloe, and their Frozen blankets and dolls. I head to Khloe’s room to get her up.
6:36AM Khloe is already awake and has pulled books from her shelf and started her morning off with some light reading. She smiles at me and tells me she had good dreams and would like a Pop-Tart as she gives me a morning hug. I promise the Pop-Tart for when we load the car and she’s content with that. We change her and head toward the bathroom.
6:40AM Khloe climbs onto a stool and begins brushing her teeth. I peek into Kinley’s room to remind her it’s time to get up again. She rolls over and pulls the blanket over her head. I return to the bathroom and fix Khloe’s hair into pigtails — her current favorite style. I do a “tooth check” and brush her teeth in places she may have missed, and then she puts on some “lipstick,” which is bubble gum flavored lip-gloss.
6:45AM Kinley climbs out of bed and comes to the restroom when she hears me tell Khloe to go show Daddy how beautiful she looks. Khloe heads into the bedroom to wake her daddy, who always makes a big deal about how lovely the girls look each morning. I already have Kinley’s clothes ready and sitting on the counter. Kinley changes quickly and, because she’s a big girl now, steps up to the stool and brushes her teeth and hair. I do a quick tooth check and put a clip in her hair and we’re ready to go.
6:50AM We all head to the car. Eric gives the girls hugs and helps strap them into car seats and we head to day care. I give the girls their promised Pop-Tart and we listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers and then Veggie Tales (strange mix I know, but they beg for the Chili Peppers in the mornings) on the way.
7AM We arrive at day care. I let each girl out of their car seats and they walk to the front doors as I grab their bags. I take them each to their classes and before I leave we give hugs and knuckles. I tell them to have a good day and leave to head to work.
7:30AM I spend my day educating young minds at the middle school.
3:30PM I hold cheer practice in the gym at the middle school. I love coaching, but by 5pm, I’m ready to head home and be with my little ladies and my hubby.
5:15PM I arrive at day care and pick up the girls from their classes. They show me their paintings and drawings and, as we load the car, they tell me all about their day. On the way home, we sing and talk about their school days. Kinley reminds us of who’s turn it is to sit in the rocking chair when we get home, and then Kinley and Khloe play “I Spy” as we get closer to home. Kinley says she spies Daddy’s car.
5:30PM Eric comes out to the car and helps take the girls inside. They come in and watch an episode of Little Einsteins while Eric cooks dinner and I do the dishes and start preparing lunchboxes and clothes for the next day.
5:45 We all sit around the table and talk about our days. The girls make us laugh and we enjoy having some family time. When we are done, we clean up the kitchen and the girls take baths. We put on their princess nightgowns and drench the girls in Baby Magic baby lotion — not only does it make their skin soft, but I love the smell and it reminds me of when they were babies. I blow-dry their hair and then we head toward their beds.
6:45PM Each of the girls gets a story read. We tuck them in and say our prayers. They thank God for all of the people in their lives … sometimes this takes while. Then we give kisses and turn on their nightlights and they are down for the night.
7PM While I’m getting ready for bed, I hear Kinley calling me. I go into her bedroom and her covers have shifted. I tuck her back in and she wants another kiss and then she closes her eyes. Eric and I have some adult time together. We watch one of our favorite shows we have recorded. Then we head to bed and talk and read from our Kindles until falling asleep, hoping to get a full night’s rest for all of us until we start again tomorrow.
Published April 2015
