I’ve always been a creature of habit… I’m comfortable in routine. My parenting style carries with it a healthy level of routine. Through the years there are been routines I’ve implemented that haven’t worked… and that’s okay because for me routine is all about making life a little smoother. A few months back we initiated a more structured morning routine. Each boy has this sign hanging by their bed.
The most important part of the sign for me is the big red 7:00. I’m not a morning person, so if I can be up and ready and have a few minutes before the boys meander down… life is good.
Getting dressed is also a huge help in managing the hustle and bustle of our mornings. All of my boys can dress themselves and our rule of who picks out clothing depends on what our day includes. If we’re running errands and hanging around the house, they pick. If we’re heading to school or church, I help them choose.
The making of the bed has made me realize that I’ve abandon some of my Type A qualities. Making the bed for my boys just usually means straightening the top blanket. And that works for me. Walking into their room and seeing some sense of order is much better than no order at all!
After all… Jett has chosen to decorate his headboard with a style that can only be called “Star Wars and Baseball Collide.”
What’s your most successful routine?
My boys were artists and I even ended up allowing them to paint murals on one wall in their room. I ended up loving their ever changing creations. My house was not perfect, but it was perfect for us!
By: sherri on July 14, 2009
at 8:15 am
I don’t have kids of my own, but I worked as a nanny for several years. The routine that I implemented for getting dressed worked beautifully for us. As I did laundry, I hung up clothes in their closet as outfits. Each boy had color coded hangers. There were play outfits on the bottom and nicer outfits hanging a little higher. The boys could almost always choose their own outfit, because I knew they matched and were appropriate for the situation. No fights over getting dressed in that house!
By: Jenn on July 14, 2009
at 8:42 am
I agree with you on the bed making thing…might not be perfect but covers pulled up are way better than covers wadded up and splayed every which way. Their future wives will thank you.
My daughters loved to cut up magazines and collage them onto their desks. My oldest is now an art major and I congratulate myself on not completely squashing this bent when she was little.
By: joyce on July 14, 2009
at 9:29 am
Since my husband is deployed, routine has developed a whole new meaning. There’s still the three meals a day + snacks and play dates and the usual, but all the regular Daddy stuff doesn’t happen anymore! Each day my 3 yr old helps me with the dishes, we sweep the front porch and sidewalk, water the flowers and pick up toys at the end of the day. We end the day with a devo/Bible story.
There’s things we do each day and then the rest is filled in with fun, like crafts or swimming…
I stay at home with my daughter so I’ve got some flexiblity!
By: Stephanie on July 14, 2009
at 2:40 pm
the last one cracks me up because it would be on my list too. I can’t live in the dark, yet some of the people in my house don’t care if the blinds ever open during the day. YIKES!
By: Eliza Montgomery on July 14, 2009
at 8:28 pm
I support opening the blinds! That’s ALWAYS on this momma’s list of to do’s! Love letting the light shine in:)
By: Stephanie on July 14, 2009
at 9:06 pm
I didn’t know K could open the blinds…. I guess I should let her try. We have routines but not much of a morning one… I think you motivated me to start a better morning routine.
By: Stephanie Nichols on July 14, 2009
at 10:24 pm
My favorite summer time routine is “room time”. Everyday, the kids pick a book to read or bring their drawing stuff up into their rooms for 45 min to 1 hour of quiet play. They love having some time to themselves and I love knowing there won’t be any fighting for an hour
It actually helps me catch up on things around the house, and every once in a while I read a book too!
By: Jenn on July 15, 2009
at 12:36 am
Last summer, I had to do something. Dad was home during the day and I was working. The rule went up: By 12:00 you have to be dressed, your hair brushed and your teeth…. Everything else was just gravy…. Structure is good, so good, In God’s Love, sheila
By: sheila on July 16, 2009
at 11:07 am
I sort of have the same routine with my girls. Beds have to be made…..but perfection has to let go —no one gets it exactly right. But I will say this….my 7 year old has been making her own bed for about 4 years now and it is getting closer to ‘done perfectly’! Practice makes perfect =)
I am such a creature of routines that we have our morning routines — our after school routines– and our bedtime routines…..sometimes I get a little concerned about that but mostly I think it’s a good thing.
Have a blessed day!
By: mindymc5@gmail.com on July 17, 2009
at 7:01 am