From the Office to the Oven: A Real Mom’s Day of Work, Homework, and Heartwarming Moments

5:00 AM. The alarm clock buzzes, and just like that, the day begins.

Welcome to the glamorous life of a working mom — and yes, that glamour comes with a heavy dose of sarcasm. As much as I’d love to sleep in and snuggle my babies a little longer, I’ve got a mortgage to pay, two kids to feed, and responsibilities that don’t take a sick day.

The return to the office has been no walk in the park. After almost three years of remote work, adjusting back to early wake-ups, long commutes, and a stricter schedule has been a challenge. But like many parents out there, we do what needs to be done. Every single day.

Clocking Out Just Means Clocking In (Again)

After work, I come home to what I jokingly — but truthfully — call my second job: Mom Duty. And let me tell you, that job doesn’t clock out.

The moment I walk in, I’m checking the crockpot. I had ribs slow-cooking all day (spoiler alert: they came out amazing), and I needed to make sure they were on track for dinner.

Next up: helping my 8-year-old daughter with her homework. This week, they’re learning how to tell time, which is ironic considering I feel like I never have enough of it. After walking her through a few analog clock exercises, I squeezed in time to clean the cat's litter box, vacuum, and wipe down the bathroom.

To top it off, I gave the house a good spray with Lysol — because wouldn’t you know it, my daughter’s coming down with a little bug. Tissues, coughs, and all the lovely things that come with kids and their super-sharable school germs.

Pokémon, Ribs, and Real Conversations

Later in the evening, I cuddled up with my 10-year-old son, who wanted me to watch Pokémon with him. He was excited to teach me all about Caterpie evolving into Metapod — and you know what? I actually loved watching his eyes light up while explaining it all.

While we were watching, I started prepping the kids' dinner plates. Ribs, veggies, and some warm rolls — nothing fancy, but it hit the spot after a long day.

Then came a hard conversation. I asked my son about football. We were still waiting to hear from the commissioner of the league about whether they’d move him to another team.

Here’s the backstory:
At practice last week, a coach’s son made fun of my boy, calling him autistic in a mocking, demeaning way. As any mother would, I reached out to the coach, hoping for a mature conversation and a solution. Unfortunately, it was met with silence and excuses. So I escalated it — contacted the commissioner in hopes of switching teams.

I am not going to force my son to stay on a team where he’s being bullied.

When I talked to him tonight, he looked at me with such clarity and said, “I just have a bad feeling about this team. I’d rather sit this season out.”

Oof. That hit hard. But also? That’s courage. That’s knowing your worth.
So I made the call: we’re sitting this season out. It’s sad, yes, but I know I made the right decision.

From Football Fields to Fabric Folds

With no football practice tonight, I used the time to pour into my small business: Tina’s Tiny Things — where we just dropped the cutest new baby girl collections. Ruffled dresses, soft mittens, tiny socks — all made with love and attention to detail.

As I worked, my son came up to me — still a little bummed about football — and asked,
“Mom, can I help you with the business?”

Be still, my heart.

So there we were: mom and son, packing orders together — sorting socks, folding outfits, and sealing up little bundles of joy for our customers.

And then came the part that melted me.
“Thanks, Mom, for letting me help with the business. I love the time we shared.”

Talk about full-circle. I started this business to chase a dream — but in doing that, I’m building something even more important: bonding time with my kids. It’s a win-win.

Local Mamas — Come Visit Us!

May 4, 2025 from 10am to 2pm come join us!

If you’re anywhere near 3490 Madison Street, Riverside, CA 92504, come say hi! We’ll be showcasing all of our adorable baby girl clothes, accessories, and new arrivals. It’s a family-run operation, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

Because whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or just someone who appreciates thoughtful, handcrafted baby items — we’ve got something special for you.

Thank you for reading.

If you’re a busy mom juggling work, home life, and maybe even a side hustle or two — I see you.
We’re in this together. And we’re stronger for it.

Until next time,
A tired, proud, coffee-fueled, and love-filled mompreneur