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Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
cbmp06
member
Help, I need a routine!
cbmp06
member
I am a SAHM and I am finding it hard for us to fall into a routine. When I worked I was a creature of habit - I got up at the same time every day, got a shower, went to work, etc. When DD was an infant, I was able to work out a routine for chores and making dinner and whatnot because of longer naps. Lately I am finding myself at a loss and I think it is due to poor time management skills. I don't make the dinners I used to, I am way behind on chores. We play, we run errands, but it's all just kind of.. whenever. Luckily DD sleeps well and is on a pretty good sleep schedule BUT she is the lightest sleeper in the world and we have a teeny house. I feel like it is impossible to do chores while she is sleeping so not much gets done, and it piles up for the weekend when DH is home. ANYWAY what this long winded post is trying to say is, since you all seem to be so together, what is your daily routine like, and what are some tips to get this creature of habit back on track? Thanks!
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Re: Help, I need a routine!
No help here sorry, I find it harder being an at home mom when kids are Iittle and so needy, I am usually doing what "needs to be done" , stuff is always backed up... partly due to new pregnancy and the need to sleep when DS is.... similar to you not being able to clean due to space issues. I try and clean while DS is playing well, is eating lunch or snack in high chair... it's not easy that is for sure, every day is different esp with teething going on right now.
I'm just gonna post ours ; hope it hhelps
wake/breakfast /get ready
to the gym ( he goes to the childcare and i get some mommy time)or his gymnastics class
run errands(grocery,bank,mall etc) or the park if its nice
come home for lunch or pick something up while we're out and bring it home( a new favorite of his is picnics at the park down the street)
( while he eats I usually vacuum bc we also have a small house and a light sleeper)
nap time- while he's sleeping I shower, clean up the toys do a load of laundry and eat my own lunch while I allow myself to watch an hour of tv or computer time as my "lunch break"
when he wakes we usually go somewhere fun for him or the dog for a walk or play in his playroom, if we are home I get some things done around the house while he's playing and I just pop in between chores and play with him for Bits of time.
While i cook he sits in his booster and colors or I *gasp* let him watch tv for a little while then it's dinner bath bbed after he's sleeping I clean up again and then I relax.
It helps me if I do one bigger chore each day and all the little ones whenever I get a minute but I vacuum everyday and do one load of laundry each day and run the dishwasher even if its most full that way I never get to behind
Do you use a sound machine when LO naps? That helps drown out a lot of noises that may ordinarily wake them. I also try to do "quiet" cleaning chores while DS naps (dusting, sweeping, damp mop, folding clothes, cleaning kitchen since it's far from his room), and save the noisier chores for when DH is home or when DS is awake-he likes to chase me while I vacuum
Here's our "routine":
6:30ish DS starts making noises, I get up, make coffee, write down a list of what I need/want to get done that day, eat breakfast if time. DH leaves the house before 5am during his work week so he's long gone.
7am DS is now officially up and we have breakfast
7-8am We play, if I'm running errands or have somewhere to be I put him in the pack and play with some water and toys while I shower and get ready. He hates it, but you do what you gotta do. If I'm going to the gym that day, we just hang out and play, I'll start a load of laundry, clean up breakfast stuff
8:30-9:30am Workout at gym while DS is at gym daycare
9:30-11:30 DS has a small snack. This is prime time for errand running, play dates, outdoor play, etc.
11:45am DS has lunch, he cleans up his room, we read a story and he goes down for his nap at noon or a little after
12-?? I shower during nap time if I worked out that morning, eat lunch, do a quiet chore, if I can prep dinner in any way I do it now, and relax if there's any extra time for that!
Around 2:30ish DS is up and has snack, we play- I might put away laundry
4:30ish(or later/earlier depending) I start making dinner. This is DS's fussy time, so I turn on Play With Me Sesame on tv (which he watches for maybe 15 mins) while I cook. When he loses interest in it he goes in the pack and play since he is bound and determined to play with the stove
He hates it, but hey, we gotta eat!
5 or 5:30 we have dinner together, DS gets a bath immediately after, then I clean up as best I can while he plays/follows me around. I rarely get all the dishes done when I'm by myself.
Around 7pm I have DS clean up his toys, I brush his teeth, and around this time DH gets home. He eats quickly, helps out with any remaining dinner dishes and then plays a little with DS
7:30-8pm DS is down for the night and I pour myself a well deserved glass of wine
For me, the best way to stay on track is writing down my goals for the day first thing in the mornings. I am a big fan of lists, and it helps to see everything all laid out. Making a cleaning schedule has helped me too. DS works strange shifts, so my cleaning schedule wouldn't be helpful to most people, but basically I try to do as much as I can during his work week and anything that gets skipped gets done on his weekends. It sucks, but that's life. I don't even attempt to clean the bathrooms when I'm by myself with DS. It's too noisy to do during nap time and I certainly can't do it while he's awake, so that's a weekend chore for me always.
You will find your routine, it just takes time. No one gets the hang of it overnight!
I'm with you, not really having much of a routine now after I always had one while working. What I've been trying to do is roughly plan out our day and adjust as needed (like when a 1.5 hour nap turns into a 30 min. nap). I don't know about your LO, but mine loves to help with chores - vacuuming, putting laundry in, unloading the dishwasher, taking out recycling, etc. That makes it much easier for me to get most chores done while LO is awake and we're doing it together, so I don't feel like I'm ignoring him to clean.
Ugh, I completely understand. We have a tiny house and pack us and five kids in it for now. When I worked, I did better with routine. I think it's hard now because honestly I'm bored. I get up and I know that my day is going to be consumed with making beds, doing dishes, feeding and changing kids and running everyone around for practices while fitting in time to make dinner. I love staying home but it's the hardest thing I've ever done.
Suggestions are: Get up early enough to have enough time for yourself. I have coffee, go online and get a load of laundry in. Meal plan so you have everything and get some prep done in the morning while lo eats breakfast. I do quick vacuums throughout the day while the little ones play to the side. I sort laundry into piles based on rooms to go to on a table so when I have three minutes I can quickly put those away one room at a time. If I don't have time for laundry, I put it all in a basket and set it aside where I can't see it. The more you see that you have to do, the more worn out you feel. I get to it the next day and it alleviates stress. We sit down for a family dinner, but I finish early to get started on cleanup and give them dessert, not often sugary, but a sugar free Popsicle or frozen yogurt, so I can get the dishes done. My biggest annoyance is getting everyone to bed only to come down stairs to dishes when all I want to do is relax. My dh says to leave them, but then I wake up to them and it's a crappy way to start my day:)
I rambled, sorry. It takes practice and patience to find what works. I suppose it's taken me 11 years and I still feel overwhelmed by it all. I try to remember that these days, though trying, go quickly by and it's important to tell yourself that you are doing a good job and really know it. If you feel good about what you are doing now you will only feel better, and if you feel better you will find it in you to do more. Our kids and husbands won't care about the laundry or the best cooked dinner, but our time and effort and most importantly love.
Lunchtime: And have lunch at home, but sometimes we will eat out or picnic.
Naptime: While they sleep I prepare dinner or do some cleaning.
Afternoon: Playtime at home, I usually try to straighten up at this time too.
Before dinner: Prepare dinner, sometimes a cartoon if needed. Straighten up before dad comes home, sometimes.
Dinner
Bedtime
A glass if wine:]
We have a loose routine, but it changes every day depending on the activity and sleep/wake times. This a very basic routine:
7:30 - wake up, change diaper, eat breakfast
8:00 - get dressed and ready for the day, pack the diaper bag, clean up after breakfast
9:00 - out the door for class, lessons, or story time, or morning activity (zoo trip, museum trip, play date)
10:30 - home for free play or out running an errand
11:30 - lunch
noon - A goes down for a nap (it usually takes him an hour to fall asleep)
1:00 - I do some chores, re-pack the diaper bag, throw in a load of laundry and then relax and watch some TV, bump, whatever
3:00 - A wakes up
3:30 - we're out the door for park trip, play date, hike, nature walk, splash pad, or whatever we have planned for the afternoon
5:00 - come home and prep dinner while A plays or watches a little TV, depending on his mood
6:00 - eat dinner
6:30 - we go out for a walk
7 - 7:30 - bedtime routine starts, which H does while I chill out or clean up after dinner
8 - 8:30 - A goes down for the night, we clean up the house for about 30 minutes to an hour, then we have some down time
10:30 - 11: bedtime for us
Mine is also a light sleeper. I use a app on my ipad or iphone and play that for naps as well as bedtime.
I can do laundry (in basement), but don't unload the dishwasher or anything noisy while he sleeps.
Do you meal plan? I try to, do it on a weekend, and then shop according to that. It does help the "whats for dinner" question that plauges me.
Our day:
0615-0630 he wakes
breakfast right away - he wakes hungry
play for an hour or so while mommy drinks coffee and eats her breakfast.
I shower, change and dress him, he plays in bathroom while I shower and dress.
if it's nice we play in the backyard or do chores until nap
1130-1pm is nap
wake up, lunch
then we either do a play date, trip to a store, library, walk, etc for the afternoon
dinner for him is at 5-530pm and then bedtime is 7pm
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
Out house is small and is impossible to do anything without someone else hearing so we use sound machines in the kids rooms to muffle the noise int he house. Maybe setting up a plan for the week on the weekend will help you set up a schedule but allow time for changes/flexibility.