Hey- it is Monday again, people! Woohoo! Another start to another week. I usually do laundry and tidy up whatever mess has lingered from the weekend - usually toys and tools from the kids and Brian.
I've been trying to establish a loose routine now that we aren't in the middle of any major house projects and I was wondering how you all structure your week. Brian says my "job" consists of food, kids, house and bills. These are my categories to work with and now I need help to get my mind around balancing the demands from each. Any suggestions???
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- I'm happily married to B and Mama to five kids age seven and under. I homeschool, scrapbook and love to read. I'm a dreamer, a writer and an occasional soapbox speaker.
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9 comments:
Here is my schedule:
Everyday: Wake up and get toddler and baby fed. Make bed. Empty dishwasher. Wipe counters and tidy kitchen from any remaining dinner mess or husband morning mess. Do a load of wash and then hang on line. Fold previous days laundry in basket and put folded clothes away.
I used to spend about half an hour a day cleaning one room of the house (that way I hit the downstairs and upstairs on alternating weeks), however, just recently I have been able to clean the entire up or downstairs in one day. I always tidy throughout the day (and espcecially once the kids are asleep) and so my cleaning only consists of dusting, vacuuming, or the scrubbing, sanitizing. I am very efficient and work hard (I will even put on cartoon for toddler) so that it can be over with. I like to have the rest of my day/week clear to go outside and have more relaxing fun activities with the kids.
I try to bake for DH on the weekend or Monday so that he has b-fast for the week (muffins, coffee cake, etc)
I run all errands such as grocery shop on Saturdays.
I balance checkbook every time I receive a statement and then I will often pay my bills on line (save on stamps). I will also pay remaining bills as they come in unless they can wait until I can make one chunk payment on line.
I am finished w/my morning chores by noon (easily unless I'm trying to clean the house in one day) and have "free" time to hang out w/kids, write letters, email, etc until around 4-5ish when I start dinner that will be on the table for 6pm.
Of course, even before noon I will be bfing or getting beverages, chaning diapers, etc - but the mornings are when I put my nose to the grind stone cause I like to get things DONE!
Wow, lyzzytra. You have got it together!
I don't know what to tell you since, I have fewer kids to deal with :), and, of course, you know my living situation. I do whatever I feel is most pressing (or fun in some cases). I don't stick to a schedule well. I never did in the corporate world either. Some people like to set certain tasks aside for each day of the week...not me. Right now my goal is to whip out enough cloth diapers so I don't have to buy from the store...then to find the perfect homemade sandwich bread recipe...then to find new things for lunches...and so on. But I don't have all the household chore worries as the two of you right now.
What?! We are suppose to worry about the chores part?!?
Thank you for your schedules, ladies!
Giz - you are amazing! Where do you get your energy!?!?!
Monica- I like the project by project schedule you have going now - but I know you will be similar to Giz when your living arrangements change. You can't sit still any longer than she can and "efficiency" calls to you as well.
Okay - so if I can mesh a project list and normal day-to-day, or week-by-week routine I will be doing better than now and I will be like YOU guys. HA! Even I have to laugh.
Do you guys (Monica, from your former life before Mom's) keep a list of what chores need to be done and when? Maybe a checklist for the week would be helpful for me...
And, do you all wake up the same time each day or are you on call since you both nurse? When do you start/stop your day?
Ruben has been waking me up between 6 and 7 AM. Some days I go back to sleep. I have to get up at 7:30 to get Makayla and Tim out the door. Most days I make it to the shower between 8:30 and 9. Around this time Ruben falls back asleep also. Well, I've already pumped 1-2 cups of coffee in me and started thinking about my accomplishments for the day so there is no way I am going back to sleep. Anyhow, after my shower I get to whatever is on my agenda for the day. If I am going somewhere that day, I get ready before 8:30 and drop Makayla off at school on my way to my errands. In this house my day ends about 3:30 when I pick Makayla up from school. It goes by very fast! Of course, in 5 weeks my schedule will change when Makayla is out of school.
I don't believe I will be as timely as lizzytra, but I know I will be able to stay on top of things.
Before I never made a list of chores. Since I was working, I was usually cleaning whenever I had the chance. I would fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow during those years. I do plan to make a chore plan for Makayla when we finally hit our destination.
DD has a pretty rigid bedtime. I try to make it into bed before 10 pm (usually earlier as I get SO tired) when I'm not obsessing about cding.
Every morning whether I like it or not I wake up usually bw 7-7:30 w/DS in my face (and I always hear DD in background).
Stupid word verification: I can never get it right! and I'm not even a robot
DD wakes up once every night to nurse. It is usally around 3 am or there abouts.
I don't get much accomplished once my kids are in bed as I start shutting down myself. I get the most done during DD two naps a day as she CLINGS to me when she is awake (wants to be on the booby or held or have me next to her)
PS What kind of pathetic begging do I have to do to get a hold of the pre fitted cloth pattern???? My very bestest everest friend?
the word verification comment was suppossed to be at the very bottom under my "begging" comment. Okay, going to bed b/c I can't even leave a comment correctly. Right after I email you to beg you for the pf fitted pattern. LOL
Well, I've enjoyed reading the comments and thought I would throw in my thoughts. A schedule is great and so is getting things done, but remember you will have a house to clean, chores, and projects when you're 60, but you won't have babies. Everything else will wait, but these early years fly by in a flash. Always pick them first and you won't have any regrets. And, yet, everyone still needs to eat daily and clean underwear is a nice luxury every now and then. So, here's some of my routines. I usually get up about 6:30, but am now getting up around 6:00 so I can have a little more quiet time before the guys get up. I wake up my oldest and put on a load of laundry and sometimes load or unload the dishwasher at that time. I take whomever needs to go to school, then I usually come back and feed a round of snacks and pop on Blues Clues so I can either make a few phone calls or knock out a task. I usually change over the laundry and start another load during this time, too. I keep my calendar on the computer, color coded by family member, and a running task list. I pick my top three absolute items that I want to accomplish each day and anything else is a bonus. We usually run errands after snack time, if needed and try to get back by 10:30. I work with my middle guy on homework or just play with the guys until about 11:15. I then let them watch a few minutes of Lilo & Stitch while I get lunch ready and help my middle guy get his school pack ready. I take him to school and put number three down for a nap. I put on another load of laundry and clean up lunch stuff and work on paperwork until about 1:00. At 1:00 I usually field PTO calls, work on PTO tasks, make appointments, etc... or if I don't have anything in that area, I will work on a housework item until about 2:00 on preschool pick-up days and 2:30 on other days. I try to have some quiet time at this point, so I'm not psycho mom when I pick everybody up from school. I then wake up number three and we goof around until three and then go to the car line at school or do errands at school. After school, it's backpack checking and the kids have free time until homework time at a little before 5. The little guys usually pick up toys at this time and I get dinner going depending on the evening's activities. We head to soccer or wherever before or after dinner, take baths, and the boys hit the bed at their bedtimes. I might run to the store now. Usually, I go to the store on Tuesdays, either first thing in the morning after school drop off or after bedtime. I clean out the fridge on Wednesdays before trash day. I usually work on the computer in the evening, update the calendar, and look over my task list for the next day. I make sure everybody has what they want to wear the next day and make sure there's stuff for lunch boxes. I try to get the kitchen done in the evening and throw on a load of towels from bath time. I don't have a set cleaning schedule, but I do think it's a great idea, just a little difficult when life is really busy at times. Usually, I squeeze in tasks when I can. The boys each have daily responsibilities and they can earn their allowance on the weekend if they have done their items and their room is clean at week's end. I usually go to bed about midnight. And that's it...mostly I'm on the couch watching soaps and eating bon bons.... :) ~Your sister
Ok. So my day doesn't end at 3:30. I continue to do things throughout the evening. It's just differnt for me because everyone starts coming home. I still cook dinner some nights, give baths every other evening, and try to spend some time with Tim.
I love Ang's addition!!! I remember staying at her house when Brian and I had moved to her part of the Midwest. One morning we were pulling ourselves off of our living room air mattress just as Ang was unloading a van full of groceries with the boys - one being a small baby at the time. "Man, your sister is busy!" We were blown away.
Ang - you are the multi-tasker defined - a genetic trait that seems to have missed me for whatever reason.
Since staying home I am realizing more and more that I am very single minded when it comes to getting things done...slightly tricky with the three kids on my heels!
And, Monica - we knew your day didn't end at 3:30! - but it certainly must switch gears when everyone gets home from work.
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