A Day in the Life of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Philly

Welcome to our new series, Seller Stories! Where GBG customers and parents walk us through a typical day. We ask real parents how they balance their busy lives with kids and they give advice on managing life’s most important role: being a parent. 

Today’s guest: Autumn Romano 

• Age: 34
• Location: King of Prussia, Philadelphia
• Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom and Content Creator 
• Kids: Elani (4) and Emi (1) 

I originally studied international studies and Japanese, but my love for teaching pushed me to work toward my master's degree in elementary education. I started creating content through YouTube, Instagram, and my blog shortly after having my first daughter. It has become a fun and rewarding creative outlet.

My husband, Evan, and I have two daughters. Elani is four and loves anything that sparkles. Emi is one-and-a-half and enjoys climbing and dancing. We love traveling and enjoy exploring new places, but we also try to make it to Disney World every year.

This is my dream job. Like any job, it can be stressful and hectic, but I absolutely adore the toddler years. They have such big personalities and it's fun to watch them discover themselves and the world around them.

My biggest tip is to get certified in child and baby CPR/first aid. It was always required of me as a caregiver and it is a simple step that can make an incredible difference. My other tip is to ask for and accept help. Even with all of my childcare experience, I did not realize how much additional help I would need and I'm glad I had and have support. 

I want my children to take pride in their attempts and accomplishments. It is not about getting it right the first time. It's about learning, adjusting, and persevering. We celebrate "small wins" on the way to bigger goals and accept that mistakes happen. It’s important to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them.

I rarely go anywhere without my double stroller and a good diaper bag. I have owned four strollers, but my personal preference is my modular stroller because it works great when I just have one of the girls or both girls. Backpack diaper bags are my go-to because I always need my hands and arms to be free. 

Another thing that has been essential for my family is a reliable baby monitor with a good zoom feature. It gives me peace of mind to have a clear view through the monitor. 

We don't have a separate playroom, so spaces to contain toys and homeschool items are essential in my home. Bins, baskets, and containers help me to tuck items away, but still, keep them within reach. Let's be real, my home is rarely spotless with two little ones, but everything has a designated area and the girls are involved in cleaning up and putting items in the correct spaces.

5:45 - 7:00 AM - I wake up before everyone else to work out and get ready. On a day that I’m selling with GoodBuy Gear, I take this opportunity to organize my items to sell. I set them up in our downstairs foyer before Elani and Emi wake up so they won’t rediscover the toys. If there are a lot of toys, large, empty diapers or wipes boxes hide them well! 

7:00 - 10:30 AM - Our early mornings are filled with breakfast, homeschool activities, and then free play if we don’t have a playdate on the calendar. 

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Elani and Emi have a morning snack and then more playtime. In nice weather, we prefer to get outside for playtime. My recent GoodBuy Gear two-hour pickup window was during lunch and naptime so I chose to set the items outside during this time.

12:00 - 3:30 PM - Lunch and naptime fill this portion of our day. After lunch, we read books and sing songs in preparation for naps. During naptime, I received a notification that the driver was on the way. Such a great feature! Once the girls are down for their naps, I use this time to tidy up and get work done. Sometimes, I remind myself to just take a break! My GoodBuy Gear items were picked up during this time without any extra effort on my part.

3:30 - 5:30 PM - When naptime is over, the girls enjoy a snack and television show. Before dinner, we work on any additional homeschool activities, complete a craft, or get back outside. Once my husband finishes work, he either helps with dinner or plays with Elani and Emi while I prepare our meals.

5:30 - 7:30 PM - We enjoy dinner as a family. My girls don't always eat the same foods as us, but we like to give them what we're eating along with foods that they enjoy. This way, they are exposed to a variety of foods. After dinner, we divide and conquer. I take over Emi’s bedtime routine and Evan helps Elani. 

7:30 - 9:30 PM - Sometimes, one or both of us has work to do after the girls’ bedtime, but normally we take the time to watch a show or play a game together. I’m a morning person so I don’t like to stay up too late. 

Yes! Check your township website or children's hospital for car seat check events. A professional can check that your car seats or booster seats are installed properly. 

Also, do not be too hard on yourself. You’re doing your best and even when it feels like things aren’t going well, your child thinks you are a rockstar!

For more Seller Stories, check out: A Day in the Life of a Mom of 3 Boys Under the Age of 3 or How Two Dads Find the Fun in Parenting 

This series is meant to provide an inside look at an individual’s experience. Parenting is personal. All opinions and thoughts are their own and do not necessarily reflect GoodBuy Gear’s point of view. 

Interested in selling with us? Sign up here. 

Do you have a Seller Story you’d like to share? Contact us here. 

Bio: Autumn Romano is a former preschool and elementary teacher (M.Ed.). She uses her blog, YouTube channel and Instagram to share family travel tips, product recommendations and educational resources, including her homeschooling journey with her daughters, Elani (4) and Emi (1).

Website: http://autumnromano.com/

Social: 

• Instagram: @autumn.romano 
• YouTube: /autumnromano