Feb 04 2009
School Changes Our Daily Routine
Now that my daughter has started school, our daily routine has changed and become a lot less flexible. I find the early mornings and the early evenings the most stressful times of the day.
I get up at 7am (I refuse to get up any earlier than that as I’m not a morning person), have a shower, prepare my daughter’s breakfast and my son’s bottle, make a cup of tea for myself and my husband, who usually helps with all this.
After everything has been consumed, it’s time to start putting the sun tan lotion on myself and both children - it’s so hot in Australia at the moment that you cannot afford to skip this step which is both time-consuming and often difficult because both children don’t like it and they wriggle and squirm!
Once the sun tan lotion has sank in, we get dressed and I brush my daughter’s hair and tie it back in a pony tail. I then take her packed lunch (prepared the evening before) out of the fridge and put it into her bag. It’s then usually about 9.50 and we are ready to walk to school - fortunately, it’s only a short walk away.
After school, I usually try to prepare dinner with two tiring children hanging around, demanding things, screaming, fighting, and so on. Fortunately, we’ve been having light meals recently as the weather is so hot. I’ve been finding these difficult enough to prepare but I’m sure it will be harder when the weather gets colder and we go back to having heavier meals.
The children have their dinner, then I run the bath, put them both in, get the baby washed, take him out, give him his bottle, put him in bed, comb and dry my daughter’s hair, supervise her cleaning her teeth, read her a bedtime story and switch off the light. If my husband is home in time, he helps. If not, I’m on my own!
I used to be very flexible about bedtimes but now that my daughter is at school, I aim to get both children in bed by 7.30pm. Although it is more stressful during the bedtime routine, it is actually nice to have them both tucked up by 7.30pm, so that my husband and myself have more time to ourselves. Having said that, though, I’m usually so exhausted that I’m in bed by 10.30pm, and, that is very early for me.
I wonder if the new routine will get easier or harder in future. Does anyone have any tips for making it easier?
Hi Roz,
I remember that routine well!! You have my sympathy!! I can’t really think of anything that might make it easier–you’re doing things the night before, etc. But there is hope–as the kids get older, it will get easier–they can help by preparing their breakfasts and lunches, etc! When two daughters got old (around 9-10) they were helping with the housework and doing their laundry (supervised, of course!).
I sure feel for you with that major heat wave going, too…Take it easy!!
I hate routine - it is one of the things that big time put me off putting kids as you either have to have a routine or one is forced on you as you are finding! I feel for you in the heat - its probably really humid is Sydney to? Perth has been surprisingly mild - 26C today - you got all our heat! Check out the photos of the Koalas doing it tough here
http://australia.today.com/2009/02/06/koalas-desperate-its-too-darn-hot/
Hi Sher,
Yes, it’s been exhausting this week and the heat has not helped - it was 29 degrees C at midnight last night! Hopefully it will get better as they get older - my daughter does sometimes help with the housework but only when she wants to!
Hi Lis,
I don’t like routines either and I’ve been a very flexible parent so far. Unfortunately, this has had to come to an end! I can’t believe it’s only 26C in Perth - that’s cold for this time of year!! It is humid but not stiflingly so, as it was a few weeks ago - there is a little bit of a warm breeze which helps a little. I love the photos of the koalas - it must be extremely rare for them to approach people for a drink.