Did I just type that?
I have to admit, when I took our new schedule home and posted it up around the house, I met with a fair amount of yeah right, Mom and that’s not going to happen.
Am I the only one who occasionally feels ganged up on by their kids?
I found that the most resistance was coming from the evening side of things.
The girls didn’t like that the schedule didn’t allow for TV/computer time. So they negotiated. We decided that as long as everything on the schedule was accomplished before bedtime that they could watch tv or use the computer or read until bedtime.
Our revised schedule is going more like this:
4:45 -- MOMMY UP , SHOWER AND GET READY FOR WORK
5:15 -- GET TRIN READY FOR SCHOOL
5:30 -- WAKE AMANDA AND EMILEE UP, NO BATTLES
5:30 – 6:00 HAVE BREAKFAST TOGETHER
6:00 -- EMILEE SHOWER, AMANDA AND EMILEE GET READY FOR SCHOOL – NO TV OR COMPUTER UNTIL
COMPLETELY READY FOR SCHOOL, MOMMY LOADS DISHWASHER
6:15 -- MOMMY LEAVES FOR WORK
6:50 – GIRLS LEAVE FOR BUS, EVERYONE SHOULD BE READY
3:30 – 4:00 LEAVE WORK
4:00 – 4:30 GET HOME, START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY AND MAKE DINNER, PACK TRIN’S LUNCH
4:45 – 5:15 SERVE DINNER, EAT TOGETHER
6:00 – 6:30 LAUNDRY INTO DRYER, MOM AND EMILEE CLEAN UP KITCHEN, START DISHWASHER
6:30 – GO FOR WALK OR DO HOME WORK IF YOU’VE GOT IT
7:00 – TRIN SHOWER, EMILEE UNLOAD DISHWASHER, AMANDA HANG UP LAUNDRY FROM DRYER
7:15 – AMANDA SHOWER
7:15 – 7:45 TRIN READING TIME IN BED, LIGHTS OUT 8:00 FOR TRIN
7:15 – AMANDA GATHER LAUNDRY, PUT IN WASHER FOR MOMMY TO START IN THE MORNING
7:30 – 8:00 FREE TIME AMANDA AND EM, COMPUTER, READ, HOMEWORK, TV (IN YOUR ROOMS)
8:00 – PHONE AND ELECTRONICS OFF, PHONES CHARGE ON HALL TABLE
8:00 – 8:45 READING TIME
8:45 LIGHTS OUT
There are times during the day where I am standing there wondering what I should be doing and I will just go and look at the schedule and be like oh yeah, laundry. We haven’t “walked” yet since it’s a blistering 100+ degrees out just about every day, but we’ve been doing cardio pilates a few days a week which I am hoping to make at least three times a week. I found it is easier to do something at home since Trin has been getting in the bath after dinner and staying in there until it’s time to read.
Here is what I have discovered this week:
*having the girls get up and sit at the table for breakfast is causing (so far) no morning arguments. I’m not sure if this is because the girls aren’t rushing so they don’t fight over the bathroom or if it is just because they shake off their cranky morning moods at the table. I don’t care what it is, my house is downright pleasant in the mornings and I love it. Yesterday Amanda didn’t eat anything, she just sat with us for about fifteen minutes while she woke up all the way. This morning she had watermelon and a bagel… Emilee has been having a granola bar every morning and Trin has had everything from biscuits to bagels to toast with juice.
*I stopped drinking coffee Wednesday. I didn’t mean to and I certainly don’t know if it will be permanent but I haven’t had any for three days and I feel fine. Some minor headaches the last two mornings but no energy loss. I’ve also been eating something light in the mornings, some mini-wheats or toast with juice and I have a lot more energy. I’ve also lost ten pounds.
*We planned out our “menu” over the weekend and we’ve eaten really well this week. Lots of veggies and grilled chicken. Last night we had salads and corn on the cob, Amanda and Emilee didn’t even clean their plates and both were full. We are always done eating by 6:00.
*Trin has been taking hour plus long baths this week and when she gets out, she puts on her pjs and gets right into bed with her book. She is reading the Spiderwick books right now. She has me set a timer for twenty minutes and as soon as it goes off, she rolls over and goes to bed.
*I’ve been in bed by nine every night this week and with the exception of this morning, I’ve not had any problems getting up before 5:00. I love going to bed early.
*We’ve been SUPER on top of the laundry this week. I will be going into the weekend with one or two loads total. WHAT WILL I DO WITH ALL THAT FREE TIME?
*I feel very good. I feel like a good mom. I feel organized. I feel energized. I feel like I will be able to start other projects now. I am going to thank the girls for being so great this week.
Labels: Amanda, Being Mommy, Emilee, organization, Triniti
