A Mom’s Day Off: From Toy Chaos to Crockpot Dinner – Expectation vs Reality

What Mommy Did on Her ‘Day Off’ (According to My 7-Year-Old)”

*"If you asked my 7-year-old what I do all day, he’d give you a very clear answer:

I sit on the toilet like his Dad 🚽 and watch cartoons all day (specifically 3 Ninjas)📺. 🤣 Fat chance, buddy!

Full disclosure: this wasn’t a typical day. This was a Tuesday off 🗓️, the day I thought I might relax…yeah, right. Instead, I ended up running a mini cleaning marathon 🧹💪 that deserves its own medal 🏅.

I started at the front door, wrangling shoes 👟 that had somehow staged a rebellion. One minute it was cute little boots lined up; the next, it was a pile of mismatched sneakers threatening to trip me at every step 😅. Then I moved into the living room, aka toy chaos central 🧸🪀. Sorting toys, figuring out what’s broken, and tossing a few things into donation boxes 📦 took up a solid chunk of the morning.

At some point, I threw Mississippi chicken in the crockpot, strategically planning it so the kids could come home from school 🏫 and eat right before heading off to soccer practice ⚽. And yes—I paused mid-cleaning to feed the bearded dragon 🦎 in between tasks. Multi-tasking level: expert 💪😂.

Next came the shelving shuffle 🪑. I moved a shelf from my son’s room into the living room to better organize the space. Vacuuming 🧽, clearing every couch cushion 🛋️, and general tidying followed…somehow it was already school pickup time.

Meanwhile, my little one was convinced I’d been “resting” all day 😆. Bless him. But here’s the truth: even on a day off, mom life isn’t glamorous. It’s moving 🏃‍♀️, problem-solving 🧐, cooking 🍳, animal feeding 🦎, and sometimes performing stealth ninja skills 🥷 to keep the house under control.

What this really teaches us:

  • Kids see life through their own hilarious lens 😂. They imagine moms as either superheroes 🦸‍♀️ or couch potatoes 🥔, sometimes at the same time.

  • Even a “day off” can be productive 📝. You might not do your normal routine, but a little extra decluttering 🧹, organizing 📦, and planning meals 🍲 goes a long way.

  • Humor is a survival skill 😅. Laugh at your kid’s imaginative interpretations—they make the chaos memorable.

  • Multi-tasking is a superpower 💪✨. If you can clean, cook , feed a lizard, and prep dinner for soccer practice ⚽ all at once, you deserve a medal 🏅.

So, next time your child tells you they think you do “nothing all day,” remember: even a day off can turn into a full-blown organizational adventure 🏡. And yes, cartoons 📺 and toilet breaks 🚽 are optional—but elbow grease 💪, crockpot chicken, and occasional reptile feeding 🦎 are mandatory 😉.

If you want to see my full “Expectation vs Reality” video montage 🎥 of my Tuesday chaos day, check it out below. Spoiler: it’s messy, hilarious, and totally real!"

Mississippi Chicken

Expectation vs Reality

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