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I’m a scheduling freak!!  Schedules… Like ‘em or leave ‘em?

I’ve always had my kids on some type of schedule. As soon as I was able to. As babies, of course, they made their own “schedule” But once they slept good and didn’t have to eat every 2 hours, I started a meal schedule. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at a certain time. Snacks, too. Also, naptime and bedtime. Unfortunately, I was kind of a prisoner in my home for a few years, because of naptime. But I liked to make sure the kiddos napped and I felt they slept better at home. (my daughter could nap elsewhere, my son, not so much!)

I felt, for me, a schedule made things easier. I knew what was happening and when, as did the kiddos (for the most part). I knew at this time they ate whatever meal and they knew after lunch was naptime or after snack it was soon bedtime, etc.

I’m more lenient as they get older, like on the weekends my 10 yr old doesn’t always eat breakfast. I have to remind myself that she won’t starve! But if we have plans, like a soccer game or something, then, of course, she must eat.

We especially need a good schedule during soccer season because now both kiddos play. So after school can be chaotic with homework, chores, eating then getting to practice. Having 2 kids is craziness. Props to those families with more kids. And working moms? You go girl!  

Mornings work well with a “timed” schedule because, during the school year, my 10 yr. old knows to get up by 7am (She does great with getting up on her own, with her alarm) and that by 7-7:15, she should be eating breakfast, 7:30 she should be upstairs getting herself ready. And be done by 8:00 so she has time to pack lunch, maybe look over homework and then she can read or watch TV until 8:30 when it’s time to leave for school. (The kids are not allowed to turn on the TV in the morning, until they are both ready to go. It is a BIG distraction!) And not all mornings flow easily. There sometimes is alot of reminding of the time and yelling up the stairs to get moving.

My 6 yr. old’s morning is less “structured” since he’s in Kindergarten and only starts school after lunch. But he does have a set time for lunch and then getting ready for school. (It’ll be summertime when this is posted, so we will see how he does getting up for 1st grade next school year!).

After school all depends on what’s going on, like soccer or piano practice. But when we don’t have a busy evening, and it’s nice outside. I’ll let them play a little before sitting down for homework and then doing chores. We have dinner pretty much at the same time every night. And we always sit at the table as a family. I really think it’s important to have this time. It’s a great time to chat about our days and see what’s going on with each other. Snack and bedtime are also around the same time. Even though they try to fight the bedtime. Kids, it’s what they do.

During school, my kids are in bed by 8. Summertime, they’re in bed around 9. But my 10 yr. Old has been asking for a later bedtime during school. Which I’ve been thinking about. But it’s so tough giving up that quiet time me and the hubs get between kids bedtime and our bedtime.                 It’s under consideration for next school year…I think…

Summer is nice though, we can have less of a schedule and fly by the seat of our pants. Especially as the kids get older. But it is nice to come back to a schedule when school starts again.

How does your house work? Do you schedule things? Or is it more laid back? Find what works for you.

Until next time…