Routine Schmootine…

Does a routine really work?

 I was one of these mothers that was NOT going to let a child rule my life. Cat and Lil had to fit into our lives, NOT the other way around. I hated these moms that couldn’t meet for a coffee because it was over their child’s nap time, or a meal time… Ever heard of “feeding on the run” lady. There was a lady in my mother’s group that you could not have a proper conversation with! She was constantly looking at her watch because at this time the child had to have a bottle and by that time the child should have had a dump and then they would have to leave because by that time the child had to be asleep. NOT FOR ME THANKS Routine was NOT going to rule my life! ROUTINE SCHMOOTINE is what I say!

 

Well I was sadly mistaken! It IS all about ROUTINE ROUTINE ROUTINE! (that is big coming from someone who swore blind that I was not going to be ruled by routine). I think we actually started making headway with Cat and Lil the minute we introduced a routine and stuck to it! We would find a routine that fitted in with us, implement it and when it started working we thought “we have nailed these two” no more need for routine! BUT the kids would start acting up again and we would be back to square one! So when it comes to routine the key thing is STICKING TO IT!

This is how our day goes:

6.30am – Wake girls up (if they aren’t already awake) and dress them

7.00am – Downstairs for toast before crèche (while mom and dad run around like lunatics trying to iron work clothes, make lunch for work, do the kids hair all whilst trying to throw a cup of coffee down our throats before running out the door)
7.45am – Drop the girls at crèche where there is routine all day.

(On a weekend)

12.00pm – Lunch
1.00pm – Nap time
3.30pm – Wake up from nap time

5.45pm – Fetch the Cat and Lil from crèche on the way home from work
6.10pm – Feed the girls their dinner
6.30pm – Take the girls upstairs for a bath
7.00pm – Put the girls in bed and lights out

7.01pm – I am on the couch with a well deserved glass of wine!  

On the days we don’t put Cat and Lil to bed on time, the next day is a complete write off. If we let the girls sleep even 10 minutes later than 3.30pm for their afternoon nap, our afternoon is a write off! They turn into two little “Feraleenies” for the rest of the afternoon.  Another thing I thought was baloney…. Was telling Cat and Lil what is coming next in the routine… “What to anticipate.”  My thinking was I am the Mother and you bloody well do what you are told! But again I was sadly mistaken. Nothing like a child or two to prove you wrong! I find if we “just do” something in the routine, like take the girls upstairs for a bath… when we get upstairs, it is like a massive surprise to them… “REALLY Cat and Lil… we do this every night at the same time (because Heaven forbid we break the routine) so why is it such a freaking surprise to you?”  So now while we are downstairs having dinner we say “come on Caitlyn and Lilly we need to finish our dinner so we can go upstairs for a bath.” And then when they are finished dinner we say “come on girls let’s go upstairs for a bath”.   Then when we get upstairs (just in case they forgot on the way upstairs) we say “ok now it is time for our bath”. While they are IN the bath we start the “when we are finished bathing we are going to get ready for bed!” Then, when we take them out the bath we say “ok let go and put our pajama’s on because it is bed time.” So not only is it all about Routine but it is about constantly reminding them what is coming next… AS IF THEY DIDN’T KNOW!

Routine is King but it is very draining. I feel like a hamster on a treadmill, doing the same thing day in and day out, at the same times every day! I feel like letting my hair down, and just going nuts! I feel like kicking norm(al) in its Arse! I am over routine! It is the same old, same old, day in, and day out!

BUT sadly ROUTINE IS KING!!! (in our house anyway)