What do you do when your day with your toddler is chaotic and tiring

I finally got my leave approved. I was grateful because it meant I would spend quality and fun time with my children and take charge of my house. Immediately, I started my leave I released the relative who was holding up for me was more of a bother than a helper.

She had mood swings that I could not cope with and tantrums so big even for my young son. She only performed selected house work when she decided and under her terms and conditions. I gave her some little pocket money and sent her back to her mother to continue with her shenanigans.

So here I am with my two children ready to spend some super fun three weeks together. Day One of my leave started on a high. I woke up at 9am, made breakfast for the children leisurely as they were still sleeping.

By 9.30am I was washing clothes and I was hoping by 10.30am I would be done so that I can wash the house then prepare lunch peacefully as Tasha watched her Nickelodeon cartoons while Troy played with his toys. True to my prediction, Tasha who is almost eight, woke up, came to the kitchen, had her breakfast peacefully and went to watch her cartoons.

“Mum, I will help you later with the dishes, just let me watch Power Puff girls,” she asked and I agreed.

When Troy, who is in his terrible twos woke up, things took a drastic turn.

The fussy baby woke up just before 10.00am and the programme changed completely. I had to stop washing clothes to attend to him.

First, he did not want the delicious uji that I made for him and feeding him was war. He refused for the warm drink to go down his throat and demanded for ‘tamu’.

Mark you that was the same porridge he has been faithfully and lovingly taking every morning as he was fed by his nannies.

“Does he always do this when auntie was feeding him?” frustrated, I asked my daughter.

“Nope... Kwanza he finishes in record speed,” Tasha confirmed to me.

But what is it with children that when its mummy feeding them they become stubborn and picky and unleash some sweet cheekiness?

They just want to play and cuddle with mummy. I fell into that trap and when I jolted from this mum-son stupor it was noon.

Because lunch was more urgent, I decided to prepare a quick lunch and sort the clothes later on.

Thanks to Troy’s drama as I prepared lunch, it was ready at 2pm and he ate till 3pm. The clothes were forgotten about and dinner that is usually eaten at 7 pm, was served at almost 10pm. Thanks to Troy, that is now our daily schedule.

I do not know how house girls manage toddlers and perform other duties on time and still stay sane. I am the mother but I am overwhelmed.