A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PATTIE McPHUN

Sunday, March 25

* 9 p.m.--Pattie McPhun has already worked 13 hours helping with the statewide Karate Championships at Ventura Community College. The baby-sitter calls to cancel for tomorrow night. Unless Pattie can find a replacement, she plans to miss her math class to stay home with twins Lauren and Ryan.

* 10:30 p.m.--Bedtime. Pattie has made lunches, set the breakfast table and done her homework for tomorrow. Normally she tries to turn in by 9:30 so she can start the week rested.

Monday, March 26

* 5:45 a.m.--Pattie gets up and prepares to go to work.

* 6:30 a.m.--Wakes twins. Regular routine: breakfast, clear table, dress, brush teeth, make beds, separate the kids from playing.

7:40 a.m.--Leaves home in Oxnard.

8 a.m.--Drops off children at public school in Ventura.

8:15 a.m.--Arrives at work, “a crazy, busy department.”

Noon-1 p.m.--Eats lunch while studying and doing homework. (This Monday the Los Angeles Times calls to request an interview at her class that evening. Pattie scrambles for a baby-sitter and her sister Terri comes to the rescue.)

2:30 p.m.--The twins walk around the corner from school to baby-sitter’s house.

5:15 p.m.--Pattie leaves work.

5:30 p.m.--On Tuesday and Thursday: pick up kids at baby-sitter’s house, grocery shop, go home, make dinner, take baths and always read for 30 minutes. Bedtime for twins is 8:30-9 p.m. Pattie studies. On school nights, Pattie stays in Ventura, grabs a fast-food dinner and studies in the computer lab until class starts at 7.

Meanwhile, Pattie’s second baby-sitter, who works at a preschool near the first sitter’s house, picks up the kids and takes them home with her. Sitter No. 2 has dinner and then takes the twins to their home, where she prepares their dinner and oversees the evening routine.

7 p.m.--Math class begins.

8 p.m.--Six-minute break. Pattie has a cup of tea and calls home.

9:35 p.m.--Class dismissed.

10 p.m.--Pattie arrives home in Oxnard.