This is the third in a series on what mom does all day. Morning and afternoon can be found at the links below. Here is an evening of motherhood.


Child needs a book to read and has a Barnes and Noble gift card he would like to use. She takes three children to the store, leaving one at home to do homework. She also finds a book, and child lets her use the three dollars left on his gift card. They return home from the bookstore. It is late and time to get ready for bed.

She asks children to unload their lunchboxes because this is the first time they’ve been home since school ended. She helps children with their homework. She signs papers. She straightens up quickly and asks her children to do the same.

Her daughter is tired. She skips the night time showers (only one child showers in the morning) for the little ones. She helps her daughter get into bed. She reads a book and says good night.

She tells her sons to wrap up their night time routines. She reads to the third grader. She tells a child to take his allergy medicine. She tells the children to pick their clothes up off the floor, put away their clean laundry, and load their backpacks for the next day.

She takes third grader to his room. She reminds him he is to turn off his light at 9:15. She sings a song to him. She checks on her older boys. She takes the laundry from the laundry room to her room. She tells older boys to get in bed for reading. She tells them again. And again.

She starts to fold laundry. She watches a TV show while she is folding. She checks on third grader who is still reading and did not turn off his light. She reminds third grader to turn off his light and, no, he cannot “just finish the chapter”. She is happy her children like to read, but they also need to sleep.

She finishes folding laundry. She looks at her to do list to see what she has forgotten. She moves those things to tomorrow’s to do list. She writes a few thank you notes. She checks on third grader. He is asleep with his light on. She turns off his light. She checks on her older boys. They are in their room, quiet with the lights off. She puts away the laundry and climbs in bed. She checks email (a habit she is trying to break) and reads her book. She goes to sleep so that at 1:00 am when child comes in, she will be somewhat rested. The day is “over”.