Jenny Kraemer is the mother of four children: Elizabeth, 9, Ian, 7, Jessamine, 4, and Gretchen, 2. She teaches part-time at her children’s private school, and her husband Mark works as a technology consultant. They reside in Dallas.
5:01am It takes all my will power not to hit the snooze button. My back is killing me. Surely I’m too young to start deteriorating? Maybe it’s time to get a new mattress? I take two Tylenol and swab Mentholatum on my back. Throwing on workout clothes, I head for the den.
5:10am Begin the The Firm Abs, Buns, and Thighs video. I wonder why I don’t look like the instructor, yet, since I’ve been doing this same workout for four years.
5:20am My husband Mark comes through the den to inform me that he’s off on his run.
5:45am Exercise is over. I shower and get ready for work.
5:55am Wake up Libby (Elizabeth) who has to be at school early this morning. She gets dressed while I eat my cereal and check personal e-mail.
6:10am Libby eats breakfast. Jess (Jessamine) wakes up and comes into the kitchen.
6:20am Wake Ian and Gretchen. Gretchen is potty training and she’s stayed dry all night. I take her to the potty and then help the younger kids get dressed. I do the girls’ hair and make lunches. Mark comes back from his run and begins getting ready for work. He combs and gels Ian’s hair.
7am Mark and Libby leave for school. While the rest of the kids eat breakfast, I clean up the kitchen and run the dishwasher.
7:20am Do my makeup while the kids tidy their rooms and brush their teeth.
7:30am Load into the car.
7:50am Arrive at school. Drop Ian and Jess off at the front door, then park. Gretchen comes in with me and we get my room ready for the day. Her preschool starts at 9 am, and my first class comes in at 9:30.
8:50am Leave school to drop Gretchen off at preschool. While there, I pick up a brochure for my sister-in-law. I drop it in her mailbox and return to my school.
9:30am My first class arrives. My allergies are raging. I can’t remember if I took my medicine this morning. At least my back feels better.
10:25am Class number two — I head upstairs to teach this one, stopping in the workroom to check my school mailbox.
11:15am Class number three arrives.
12:05pm Go back downstairs to meet my fourth class.
12:50pm Eat lunch in the teachers’ workroom and visit with other faculty members.
2:15pm My last class is over. I can see Jess playing with her friends on the playground from the classroom. I leave school to pick-up Gretchen. We stop at the grocery store to grab a few things. It’s amazing how easy it is to shop with just one child.
3pm Pick up Libby, Ian and Jess from school and we head to the allergist’s office. Libby has shots today.
3:30-4:28pm It’s a minor miracle. We make it in and out of the doctor’s office in less than an hour. We only have to pay $1 in parking. Everyone celebrates.
4:45pm Back home, the older kids start their homework. I check the answering machine and the mailbox.
5pm Gretchen potties on the big potty. I know from experience with my kids that potty training will be a six-month process. For now, I’m happy when she actually makes it to the commode.
6pm Make “dinner.” Mark is working late tonight, so I serve the kids toast, bacon and scrambled eggs. They think they’ve won the dinner lottery — no vegetables!
6:25pm I sing in the church choir, so we’re off to rehearsal.
8:40pm Return from church. Gretchen’s pull-up is wet. Oh well. Mark is home and he helps me get the kids into bed and says prayers with them.
9pm Mark and I unload the dishwasher and talk. We’re both tired and decide to get into bed early.
9:30pm Finally in bed, reading a book.
10:30pm Lights out. Fast asleep.
