I am a firm believer in that every child needs some consistency. At the same time, that consistency is good for us parents too! Now, the degree to which the routine is established is probably different for every family, but for my munchkin and me, the more consistent and strict the routine, the better we both do.
Lately I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to our routine. Our bedtimes have been different daily, our dinner time has been different daily, and pretty much everything in between. To be honest, I'm actually disappointed in myself for letting it get this way.
For some people, a routine is simple....
They wake up at this time, eat at these times, and go to bed at this time. The stuff in the middle is probably very different on a daily basis. For some people, I would assume they have more family members or different activities that may cause the routine to vary. For others, the routine may be lee important and it differs on that fact.
For other people, there may be a little more in depth of a routine....
They may do the things I listed above, as well as including things like a bath, or TV time... whatever.
For the munchkin and me, our routine needs to be very well thought out and planned or we both tend to struggle. I like to schedule everything! Literally everything, and when I do, we are both at our BEST. No Aubrie will be starting soccer in the next week, one weeknight each week, our night time schedule will have to change. Also, if something special came up, our schedule might be slightly different, but there are some things (like quiet time, getting ready for bed, bed time, and the morning schedule) that would not change at all.
As Aubrie is moving into her Pre-K class at school tomorrow, and into Kindergarten next year, I decided that we need to get back on our routine, and to do it the best way I can. For us, it means scheduling out the entire day minute by minute. Now, I do tend to schedule blocks of free time periodically, but this is because there are things that come up, and there might be unavoidable reasons why we may fall a bit behind. Now, even though we may fall behind there are some things that will under all circumstances remain at their times.
Here is a sample of one of our typical weekdays days...... (I hope I don't look too OCD after you read this) ha ha
6:15-6:30 Shower
6:30-6:45 Get ready (brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed etc.)
6:45-7:10 Get Aubrie ready (Brush teeth, hair, get dressed etc.)
7:10-7:20 Take Aubrie to Primrose
7:20-8:00 Drive to work
8:00-4:30 Work
4:30-5:30 Drive to Primrose
5:30-5:40 Get Aubrie and get home
5:40-6:30 Free Time (Play outside, swimming, coloring playdough, etc.)
6:30-7:00 Prepare dinner
7:00-7:30 Dinner
7:30-8:00 Bath Time
8:00-9:00 Quiet Time (Generally we sit and watch TV together, or color together, then pick up)
9:00-9:05 Brush Aubrie's Teeth and Hair
9:05-9:15 Story Time at Aubrie's Bed
9:15-9:30 Quick Clean up (I find that if I do this daily, the house stays in much better condition!)
9:30-10:10 Daddy Time (Writing, cleaning, relaxing, whatever)
10:10-10:15 Ready for bed (Brush teeth, shave, etc.)
10:15 Bed time
Everything where the time is in red are things I would like to keep consistent EVERY SINGLE DAY! I know, that is not always possible, but that's how I would prefer it.
On weekends, There are generally much more free time, as well as cleaning time, and the bed time may differ slightly depending on the activities of the day. I mean, weekends are the only times where we can do pretty much whatever without the hassle of having to be somewhere at a certain time the next morning.
I'm sure for some people, this strict of a routine would be BORING, but for us it works. It keeps us fresh, it keeps us balanced, and it keeps us comfortable. We thrive in it, others may not. In fact, I'm sure there are people who don't believe in routine at all.... some who think that routine leaves very little open for chance, luck, and creativity. If I weren't a single father, or a father at all... I would probably not live with such a routine either. It is very possible that I would make choices on the fly. But since I am a daddy, and the only person to make sure her life is straight, the routine I will follow!
Obviously, there will be special occasions or circumstances where the routine is compromised, but on a general basis, it remains the same. Well, at least if I can stop slacking on it, and get back in line!
Speaking of routine.... I'm past my bedtime HA HA HA!
Goodnight all,
Chris
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