8:15 I’m standing up eating oatmeal as I slice cheese, pack crackers, remember the yogurt, and put bread in the toaster. I’m scrambling because David slept in until 7:15. Did you hear me? 7:15! This is unheard of. He’s never slept so late in his life. Usually, my gig starts at 5:30, and David and I share the oatmeal sitting at the table. But with the time change, he has gone straight to cinnamon toast. John asked me to do school drop off this morning, so I have to get my shower, pack lunch for me and David, and eat breakfast all before 8:30.

9:30 I have a bar in the car, driving to the Children’s Museum. The museum has become our regular Tuesday morning gig, and it’s working great. (Infinitely better than the zoo.) David agrees to sit in the stroller from the parking lot up the hill. I give him undivided attention, and there are tons of toys—painting, driving a real bus, driving a fire engine, shopping for plastic food, playing with balls, playing with boats. We’ve really been having fun.

11:45 Driving home, I start my caffeine intake (Diet Vanilla Coke) and eat my tofu spread and pickle sandwich. You’d think it would be more relaxing to get home and sit down and eat. No. I need the energy now to make it through the food prep and diaper changing negotiation that is being home. In the car, I get to eat uninterrupted.

12:15 Having gotten up so late, David is still in a jolly mood and I can join him at the little table for lunch part 2: butternut squash, miso soup, and eggplant with capers. I grab a mint on my way up for naptime routine. David doesn’t catch me.

2:15 David and I have both had a nap, and he still has a half hour to go. I make myself faux apple pie—cut up an apple and nuke it. Add brown sugar and buttermilk. I should sit down and eat this reading a book, but instead I take bites in between unloading the dishwasher.

4:15 David and I have successfully gotten to Aunt Julia’s house. We have successfully loaded up the car with all the children and made it to Rose’s swimming class. My sister is watching the big girls swim, and I have taken David and Ariana out to the park, which is not too cold, but unfortunately, wet. The kids have started to get cranky, so I have sat everyone down on the bench for a snack. Last week I got insane with hunger after swim class, so I vowed to eat protein for snack, voila the tofu spread. We all share it with crackers.

5:00 Driving home I’m insane with hunger, yet again, and eat my apple.

5:30 I eat dinner sitting down. Really. John does all the hopping up to get the kids more milk, more cheese, a cloth, a different plate, and I eat delicious leftover chicken and rice with steamed broccoli. I sneak a mint when the kids aren’t looking.

8:45 John and I eat popcorn and watch t.v.—the best meal of the day.

P.S. A normal day includes half a bar of lindt chocolate.