Per usual, our days are full.
Summer has it's own way of being full but is full none the less.
One of the first things I got into my head when I became a mom is that a routine that everyone can rely on is a major tool for peace and stability.
When the kids and I are on a good working routine we are all better rested, better exercised, better socialized, take better care of our belongings, and life is just smoother.
Perfect? No, of course not.
Don't let the lie of perfection creep in here.
Genuine peace and stability, though? You bet!
Here is what our 2018 summer routine looks like for a dad, a mom, a 5 year old girl, a 4 year old girl, and a nearly 3 year old boy...
7 dad and mom awake*
8:30 out of bed, eat breakfast, Adam leaves for work
9 put breakfast things away, brush teeth, get dressed if needed**
9:30 playtime or run errands
11:30 clean up or go home, wash hands, prep lunch
12 lunch, clean up, cartoon or kindle time
1 naps
3 up, eat a snack, playtime
5 daddy home: tackle him
6 clean up toys one last time, dinner, baths, watch a movie together if we stay home
7 boy goes to bed
8 girls go to bed
10 mom and dad go to bed
* I am not necessarily up. I'm terrible at getting out of bed before 8. I tend to stay put, read my bible, pray, and think about stuff till I can hear the kids get restless in their beds. They stay in bed till we let them get up.
** The kids don't wear pj's. The girls just wear stretchy shorts with a T shirt or cotton dress. Malachi wears a onesie or romper most days. All is comfy enough to sleep in and play in. If the clothing isn't visibly dirty, the kids stay in what they've got on. I think the longest run in the same outfit was three nights and four days. This also helps keep laundry waaaay down.
We don't follow this routine legalistically though.
For example, today we had our home inspection during our usual nap time hours, we kept a friend's baby for the day, and I went to a group exercise class.
So we picked up baby, made it to the class, went home for short, early naps, then ate lunch, went to the children's museum during our normal nap hours, and finally went home for chill time till dinner.
Those main hours of the day were all jumbled but we made it through.
On days like that I just try to make sure everyone alternates active times with a time of rest.
If we keep that pattern throughout a weird day, it's still a relatively peaceful day: minimal whining, fighting, sassing, clingyness.
When we keep our very real limitations in view, we can use what we do have and enjoy all the freedom that comes with it.
Summer has it's own way of being full but is full none the less.
One of the first things I got into my head when I became a mom is that a routine that everyone can rely on is a major tool for peace and stability.
When the kids and I are on a good working routine we are all better rested, better exercised, better socialized, take better care of our belongings, and life is just smoother.
Perfect? No, of course not.
Don't let the lie of perfection creep in here.
Genuine peace and stability, though? You bet!
Here is what our 2018 summer routine looks like for a dad, a mom, a 5 year old girl, a 4 year old girl, and a nearly 3 year old boy...
7 dad and mom awake*
8:30 out of bed, eat breakfast, Adam leaves for work
9 put breakfast things away, brush teeth, get dressed if needed**
9:30 playtime or run errands
11:30 clean up or go home, wash hands, prep lunch
12 lunch, clean up, cartoon or kindle time
1 naps
3 up, eat a snack, playtime
5 daddy home: tackle him
6 clean up toys one last time, dinner, baths, watch a movie together if we stay home
7 boy goes to bed
8 girls go to bed
10 mom and dad go to bed
* I am not necessarily up. I'm terrible at getting out of bed before 8. I tend to stay put, read my bible, pray, and think about stuff till I can hear the kids get restless in their beds. They stay in bed till we let them get up.
** The kids don't wear pj's. The girls just wear stretchy shorts with a T shirt or cotton dress. Malachi wears a onesie or romper most days. All is comfy enough to sleep in and play in. If the clothing isn't visibly dirty, the kids stay in what they've got on. I think the longest run in the same outfit was three nights and four days. This also helps keep laundry waaaay down.
For example, today we had our home inspection during our usual nap time hours, we kept a friend's baby for the day, and I went to a group exercise class.
So we picked up baby, made it to the class, went home for short, early naps, then ate lunch, went to the children's museum during our normal nap hours, and finally went home for chill time till dinner.
Those main hours of the day were all jumbled but we made it through.
On days like that I just try to make sure everyone alternates active times with a time of rest.
If we keep that pattern throughout a weird day, it's still a relatively peaceful day: minimal whining, fighting, sassing, clingyness.
When we keep our very real limitations in view, we can use what we do have and enjoy all the freedom that comes with it.
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