It’s day four of the Mini Blog Challenge with Joi of Rx Fitness Lady. Four posts in a row – I’m getting tired. But I committed to the challenge, and I’m going to complete it! Today is Throwback Thursday – a day in my life ten years ago.
{Cue Wayne’s World time dissolve. Fingers waving up and down, saying “doodly doo, doodly doo, doodly doo”}
September 19, 2003 was a Friday. It was a decade ago, a lifetime ago, just yesterday. My daughter Gwen was five years old and a new kindergartener. My son James was two years old and went to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Both kids wake up around 7-7:30. Gwen walks into my room to announce that she’s up; James yells, “I awake” from his crib. Gwen is in afternoon kindergarten, and on Friday mornings we have a playgroup with other moms and kids from James’ preschool. Who would guess that ten years later those moms would still be close friends and still meet every week for a grown-up playgroup?
At 12:30 we walk the block to Gwen’s bus stop. She kisses me at least three times before she climbs up the steps, and James and I wave to his big sister as the bus drives away. He pushes his toy lawnmower as we toddle back home. It’s nap time for James and two hours of quiet time for Mommy.
At 3:00 we head to school to pick up Gwen. We stay to play on the playground for a little while, then we go home for a snack and a quick cartoon – probably Arthur. The kids play until dinner- chasing each other around, playing with Barbies or trains, and waiting on Mommy at their pretend restaurant.
After dinner we play a rousing game of hide and seek with Daddy, limiting hiding places to upstairs. The kids settle down with a bath, and then read stories with Mommy and Daddy before getting tucked into bed at 8:00. Gwen falls asleep buried under the covers with all her stuffed animals, and James sprawls out with his pacifier in his mouth and a few extras in the corners of the crib.
As the parents of two young children, Matt and I don’t last much later than the kids, even on Friday nights. We pop in the VCR tape of West Wing and Will & Grace that we recorded earlier in the week and begin our wild and crazy evening.
I would post a cute picture of my kids at ages 5 and 2, but my daughter is uncomfortable with having too many photos of herself online. I’m going to respect her wishes, even though they were stinkin’ adorable with all those little baby teeth and chubby cheeks. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
What was a typical day like for you a decade ago?
Wow… ten years ago. I hadn’t even met my husband. I was just getting out of a terrible relationship. I was just starting a terrible job. I weighed 40 lbs less (and not in the good way). I’ll hang out in 2013, thanks. 😉
But the real question is, what did your hair look like? 😉 Glad you are in a better place now, Deb.
MY HAIR WAS WAY BETTER! 😉
What great memories, Dana! Wish we could see the pics but totally understand the need to respect your daughter’s wishes. How time flies, eh?
It certainly does. Sometimes I feel like it was yesterday that I was 15 years old myself!
i wish i could see pics of your adorable children!!! it is so weird to reminisce on 10 years ago! i can’t even imagine. well i can, but it’s hard to remember since i was getting drunk every night in business school. the making of a true professional!
They were cuties, Catherine – trust me 🙂 Clearly your party days in business school didn’t do any lasting harm – I bet it was fun while it lasted!
Wow! What a big difference between having little kids and teenagers! Crazy! It sounds like the most picture-perfect life the way you describe it. You must have cherished that time! 🙂
I did – but it wasn’t as picture perfect as it sounds! I skipped over the less than harmonious parts. Fortunately those little annoyances fade from memory and I only remember the good things.
What a fun post and a great little view into your life. For me, 10 years ago would have the the beginning of my last year of law school. I would have spent most of the day in class or studying, probably treating myself to lunch next door at the student union (my favorites were Chik Fil A or the new sushi place) even though I usually brought my lunch to save money. A Friday night early in the semester probably meant a night out sponsored by one of the student groups, which inevitably meant the same cheesy bar (The Vu) that must have given us cheap beer prices! I would have gone with my husband, who always had fun with my law school friends even though he was older and working full time. We drank some beers and danced until around midnight, when I would be exhausted and leave before most of my friends.
That sounds like a great day – and you have an excellent memory! And Chik Fil-a or sushi both sound like excellent lunches – it would have been hard for me to avoid them everyday!
These are some sweet memories of a peaceful and exciting time. Children going off to elementary school is a milestone! I bet your heart was full of emotions sending her off. I was boring in school right about this time of year trying to figure out if I still wanted to get married.
Yes, this was a good year to pick for Throwback Thursday, Joi. Things have changed so much since then!
Sadly, I don’t even remember. That time frame was a blur. I had three kids under the age of 6.
I can’t imagine why that time would be a blur 🙂
Dana, ten years ago I was EXACTLY where you were ~ right down to Arthur and the VCR. It all went way to fast, huh?
It certainly did! I really did love Arthur…
What a wonderful reflection! I always post pics of my kids. They have no say. LOL! Actually, my youngest rarely lets me take a picture. It’s amazing that when you think back 10 years in terms of kids it’s totally different. It’s like they are a measure of time.
Absolutely! And it’s much more pleasant to look at pictures of them from 10 years ago than pictures of myself! They didn’t get any wrinklier.
What a great flashback – pop in a taped Will and Grace in the VCR! Maybe head to the movie store to rent a video! Oh time flies. I enjoyed your stroll down memory lane:)
Thanks, Leah!
10 years ago my typical involved waking up late to attend my college classes, collecting a ridiculous amount of speeding tickets, meet and greeting, partying, and somehow managing to squeeze in some studying and a wee bit of sleeping.
Wow, can I have what you were having? I’d settle for just waking up late!
Sounds perfect!
We’re out soon after the kids too.
Oh how I loved Will & Grace. I miss that show!
Oh, me too. Sean Hayes (Jack) is on a new sitcom this fall – I may have to check it out. Love him!
Wow… 2003. I was a sophomore at a college I was unhappy at. Working at a golf course and dating a boy who was at another school two hours away cheating on me. I lived with one of my best friends and only saw my family a few times a year because they lived so far away.
Yuck. Sounds like your life is much better now! You got a clean slate 🙂
Great post!! (and you are over 1/2 way through the challenge!!)
10 years ago I had a 2.5 year old and an almost 5 year old – please don’t make me go back!! It was good but life is so much better now!!!
About the same ages as my kids! I won’t make you go back, Kim – I wouldn’t either 🙂
10 years ago I was beginning my last year of University. I was preparing to put my big girl pants on and conquer the world!
I hope you are still conquering the world in your big girl pants! Just don’t switch to granny panties anytime soon – there’s plenty of time for that.
I’m tired just reading about a typical day of yours back in 2003. My daughter is only 3 and this post is that constant nagging reminder how it’s all going to fast and I really need a PAUSE button. #mbc
When you find that pause button, let me know. And find it quick! My babies are so big. Really. My son is about an inch from making me the shortest person in the house.
Find x. totally made my day! #schoolnerd LOL #mbc
Ha – love a fellow nerd who can appreciate a good math joke!
Awww, I don’t know why I wanted to cry while reading your post. I guess it’s because my daughter is one and I am reminded that time with her at this age is sooo precious. I remember being a child and it seems like in a flash I am a grown up with responsibilites. I want to make sure to hold on to her childhood and make sweet memories.
Absolutely hold on tight, Veronica. That time is precious, and goes by so quickly.
I feel like I will blink and the boys will be 14! I don’t want that to happen too fast!! I’m enjoying YOUR typical day ten years ago right now..preschool, naps and hide and seek. Unfortunately the same Friday nights as well only we have DVRs now!!
Love the Wayne’s World reference and The West Wing was a great show!!
Yep, you are living the life now, Allie, but the DVR makes Friday nights much more exciting. So much easier to get past the commercials than it was on a VCR. Yes, your boys will be 14 before you know it – enjoy every second. And stock up on groceries because they are going to eat you out of house and home!
Awww I loved the flashback. Did your eyes well up at the memory? Or did you feel some relief that that time is behind you. I definitely remembering popping in the VCR tape of whatever it was we were going to look at. I wanna say I was very close to having Tivo in 2003 if not already.
I’m losing steam too. Don’t know what I’m writing about for the next three days. 😉
A little of both, Kenya – some tears and relief. I love my kids as they are now, but I loved them as little ones too. But mostly I got teary eyed because West Wing is off the air.
Ten years ago! Oooh, I even know what this would be. I was 23 and working as an Inside Sales Rep at a hardware/software reseller. (quite different from now, huh?) Around September 19th, I would have been fatefully switched at the last minute to a higher-powered account, after the guy previously in that job yelled obscenities at his boss. I owe him a drink these days, because the accounts I was switched onto? Held my future husband.
Awww – that’s so sweet. And you are so young. Bleh. Good thing I like you anyway.
Sept 2013 I was wondering when the heck was this pregnancy thing going to end. It was about then that I realized you had to finish that 9th month of pregnancy bringing it to 10 months. Other myths about pregnancy quickly vanished around that same time.
Ha! You’re right. Forty weeks is TEN months. I never made it to 38 weeks either time. So you were about to be a mom ten years ago…little did you know what was about to hit you!
10 years ago my husband and I were newlyweds! My husband was finishing his engineering degree, so we were living off my measly salary. It was nothing, but we felt rich after surviving on Ramen for years! We were renting a one-bedroom house in Blacksburg. It was a total dump, but the rent wasn’t even $300 a month! We brought a puppy home for our first Christmas as a married couple, and MacAfee has been our steadfast companion for almost 10 years now. It was a great time in our lives!
How great that despite your humble home (nice way of saying dump), it was still a great time in your lives. You’ve come a long way in ten years, Nicole!
Ten years ago? Seriously I can barely remember a year ago 🙂
Ten years ago I was working for a woman that owned a dog kennel/dog grooming/dog training/ business. It was one of the more rewarding jobs I think I’ve ever had. Taking care of dogs and cats, and learning how to groom them was awesome. The bad part of the job was cleaning the kennels. But it was actually a fun job that I enjoyed going to daily.
That does sound like a fun job (except for the kennel cleaning). See, you remembered, Susan! I admit I had to consult my scrapbooks to jog my memory about the specifics.
Wow – ten years ago today??? My oldest was barely 1 yea old. I was still adjusting to the SAHM life feeling rather isolated and alone. We were in a different house and my hubby was in a different job. My how time flies!! 🙂 And how cool that your group of moms still gets together every week!
Time does fly. And yes, our “playgroup” is such a fabulous group of friends – I’m so lucky they are still in my life.
OMG…what a great post… so sad how time flies.
A decade ago, I was only married two years and trying to get prego for the first time…wow…how different life was then.
Almost a completely different life, right? Sometimes I can barely remember what married life was like without my kids.
Dana, I remember your kids from 10 years ago and you’re right, they were really cute! I cherish our play group “family” and am so glad we are all still so close.
Me too, Melissa! I had an adorable photo of the kids reading together, but it got nixed. Amazing how the kids have aged and we haven’t 🙂
Ten years ago I had new baby – so all I remember is a lot of cuteness, almost no sleep, loud crying, whispering so as not to bring on more loud crying, and even less sleep.
I’m surprised you remember anything at all about that newborn period, Tracie!
I loved your walk down memory lane here and will say that 10 years ago Kevin and I had only just met in the summertime and were just dating close to two months. We saw each other everyday though at some point and I still remember how much we really just liked each other’s company. We still do, but now so much more comes into play being the parents to two small girls. I think we are more like you described you both in 2003 now about not outlasting the kids much longer. But sure did give me a chance to reminisce a bit here and thanks for that!! 🙂
Yes, I guess I’m about ten years ahead of you in terms of kids, but funny how I’m still only 29 🙂
Wow! I was 9 months into my first ever job, at full daycare. I would be up at 6.30am and there by 7.30, ready to set up and open at 8. The day would consist of following the planned activities for the kids, trying to keep on top of the cleaning and maintenance, filling out daily diaries of how their day had been, changing a million diapers, playing a little, going into different rooms to relieve other staff members for their lunch breaks, at some point having lunch myself (maybe in two half-hour blocks, say 9-9.30 and 4-4.30) before trying to pack everything away and entertain the kids and conduct appropriate, breezy, professional hand-overs to the parents as they came to pick up their kids, and do a final clean before the place closed at 6. Might be out by 6.30 or 7, home for dinner, in our new house, with (now) just Mum, and try not to fall asleep in my food. Then collapse into bed, ready to do it all again the next day. And the next day…
I do NOT miss that.
Full time daycare? That’s a job for saints. I can’t imagine why you don’t miss it! (that’s sarcasm – hard to get that from the computer screen)
By ‘saints’, you mean ‘suckers’, right? It was a stopgap that turned into a 9 year career which landed me in the awfulness of middle management.
The FREEDOM I felt when I left is indescribable.
I bet!
Wow…September 2003! I was starting my senior year of high school. I can remember going to school…walking…we lived about 20 min walking distance away. I had a boyfriend that I met in the summer before…we were still dating at this time. He wasn’t in school. He graduated I think in 2001. But I was in several dance classes senior year since I had taken pretty much all the classes I needed. I had AP English with my favorite teacher that year 🙂
So you were Class of 2004 – next year’s a big reunion year for you! It’s my reunion year too, but not the 10th. I suddenly feel very old…