Sam W.

12:30am-1:45am

I lie awake in bed, unable to sleep. I am pregnant and uncomfortable. I finally fall asleep when my cat comes onto the bed and plops down right next to me. 

7am

My child wakes up and calls out to me “moooooom, can you come get me?” I go to his room and sit in his bed with him. I have to wake up quickly, as I’m usually met with the questions he has been holding in his brain all night. “Can you believe that outer space never ever ends?! Also, there are infinite numbers. Did you know that, mom? That there are infinite numbers? That’s too many.” 

7:45am

We eat bagels and talk about our plans for the day. My son doesn’t have school, so he wants to know what his line-up of activities looks like. We talk while we eat. My everything bagel is heavenly; it gives me heartburn later on.

9:30am-12pm

We have a play date with a new school friend. The friend’s mom was good company; I liked her a lot. The same cannot be said of all other moms I have met on play dates. We watch our kids have a tea party and then we go to the playground. I am supposed to be “the monster” and chase them around. I do not feel like running, but somehow, I end up doing just that. 

12:15pm

I meet with my mentor for clinical supervision. I am a clinical psychologist, and part of my work includes case consultation with someone who is much wiser and more experienced than I am. 

1pm-3pm

I see two clients virtually from my home office. 

3:05pm

I come downstairs and my child is in the kitchen with his babysitter, making several batches of sugar cookies from scratch. I am nothing short of impressed. 

3:45pm

The cookies are very good. Mine was dinosaur shaped.

5:30pm

My partner and I make dinner. My child eats macaroni and cheese for 65% of his meals. My partner and I make chicken, mac and cheese, salad, and a few other random things.  

7pm

My partner takes care of doing the bedtime routine with our child. I come upstairs and lay on my bed like a starfish. I am tired. 

7:30pm-9pm

I wash my face. My partner and I watch two episodes of Agatha All Along. I start nodding off around 8:50pm and fall asleep shortly after 9pm. 

11:37pm -11:59pm (actually 1:15am, but in the spirit of this project, we’ll say 11:59pm)

I lie awake in bed unable to sleep. I am pregnant and uncomfortable. 

Sam is a parent and psychologist living in South Philadelphia.