My new balancing act

I have a friend from high school that is the most organized person I've ever met!  Especially when it comes to her kids schedules.  She has 4 children ranging in age from 14 to 2.  Exception to the 2 year old, all of her kids are in numerous activities and extracurriculars.  I've always watched and listened from afar to her lament about having to take this on e to practice and then pick this one up from another practice somewhere else, only to turn around and go pick up the first one.  Then home for dinner, baths, homework, family time and bed.  This woman does it all!  I've always commented that one day I may get a taste of what that's like and she just giggles.  She follows that statement up with "it will happen sooner than you think".  Well, it's happening.  Now to be exact.

This is the first year we have 2 kids in sports, both are playing soccer.  That is fine, really it is.  I'm quite thankful they both chose the same sport.  The problem lies in that they both practice on the same day, 1/2 hour apart at different parks within our city.  One is age 6, the other 5, so leaving someone at practice by themselves isn't optional.  Argh!  See the dilemma?   Chuck and I think we've figured it out, but what about the nights one of us has something else to do?  Then it gets complicated quickly.

Now soccer practice is only one of the newest things to appear on my schedule this fall.  The other is Tuesday School, story time, and preschool nature walks.  All of those involve CS only.  She and I will be busy this fall!  Thankfully, all of these things happen while the older two are in school.  A bit of reprieve for Mom!  Yay!

Oh and let's not forget therapy.  Thankfully though, that is on the same day, same time, bi-weekly.  This makes my life a bit easier.

My old routine is definitely going to be updated soon!  My head is still reeling from all the new additions (and I don't have game schedules yet...yikes!).  I will be sitting down next week to hammer out the new days for cleaning, laundry and other normal activities.  I'm also adding a day of bulk cooking in there because I don't think a busy schedule is an excuse for dinner out.  Bulk cooking should help with this!  Although, I think I'm going to have to return to my college days for all of this by making a spreadsheet and blocking out times for certain activities.  Then again, maybe everything will just fall into place and work out on its own.  Oh, who am I kidding?!?!

Is your schedule looking crazy this fall?  If so, how do you plan on making sure everyone is where they need to be on time?  Or that everything is done?  Do you have a favorite system for planning?  I'll take any and all advice on this subject!

Routines, routines...

Do you or your family have routines?  Ours does.  Many of them in fact.  Some were established out of necessity, while others just "happen" over time.  I thought a good way to start off the new year was to make a list of some of the routines we have around our house.  You can decide for yourself which ones are silly, necessary, etc.  Enjoy the list!

• We get up every day (weekends included) at 7AM. 


• The kids clothes are laid out each night.


• I put cereal bowls, plates or pans out for whatever type of breakfast we are having the night before.  Silverware included.


• CS watches Dora every day.  She adores that show and I get to make phone calls and appointments during that 20 minutes.


• Lunch is at noon every day.  The kids eat at the table while I clean up the kitchen.


• Nap/Rest/Quiet time begins at 1PM daily.  Without this, I might lose my mind ;-)


• Dinner is at 6ish.  We sit down at the table as a family and talk about our days events.


• Chuck takes a nap each night at 7 (this is a huge joke!  He goes to watch TV in another room and always dozes for a while!)


• Kids baths and bedtime happen around 8. 

Now, why am I really sharing this?  Well, the past couple of weeks, our schedule/routines have been really off.  Oh, this happens during the holidays each year, but for some reason this year has been especially tough.  I think the older the kids get, the more important our family routine becomes.  Deviating, even for a couple of days, makes them unhappy.  Sleep loss, naps lost, and eating food they normally don't eat is not an ideal situation for us. 

This brings me to last night.  CS climbed up on my lap after dinner and snuggled close.  She has been hit especially hard with our routine upset.  She has been crying a lot, whining a lot and just generally unhappy the last several days.  Anyway, last night while snuggling I ask her what was wrong.  In her little voice she looked at me and ask "When are tings getting back to nomal Mommee?"  That broke my heart and made me chuckle all at the same time.  I told her things would be back to normal by Wednesday (which is when everyone returns to school/work).  She seemed satisfied by this answer and keeps asking if it's Wednesday yet.  ha!

I'm wondering if your schedule got really messed up this holiday season?  Do you look forward to "returning to normal" too?