Everyday Routine

Everyday Routine

Blogging Through the ABC’s -Letter E

I don’t know about you, but having an everyday routine really helps my children and I to maintain the right attitude throughout the week and to know what is expected of us daily.  That doesn’t mean that everyday is exactly the same, but it does mean that the normal schedule is followed throughout the week.  Sundays tend to have a little more leeway of course because church is added in there.

What does your everyday routine look like?  My everyday routine stays the same Monday through Friday, as do my children.  Well for the most part.  You’ve got to figure in doctor’s visits and such in there but I try to keep that all limited to the afternoon so that our mornings can all be the same and include school.

Ready for a peek at my everyday routine?  Here goes!

I tend to wake up at 6am.  I should get up earlier and that’s in the process for me as I’m currently redoing a bit of my routine to include some early morning exercise and such.  If I don’t do it in the morning I don’t have the energy or the time it seems.  Of course, first on my agenda is going to the bathroom(I am pregnant after all) and then getting dressed and doing some personal hygiene type things.  

Next, I’m going to put the water on to boil for our morning oatmeal.  We have oatmeal most mornings as it’s filling and cheap for our large family.  I can buy oats in a 50lb bag from our Azure coop and we top with honey, dried fruit, and cinnamon.  So good. 

While I’m waiting for the water to boil I’m doing devotionals and saying good morning to my kids as they start to stagger out of bed.  I have some early risers who are awake before me and some that I have to drag out of bed.  We’re still working on waking up a bit nicer and being a bit faster for some of the kids, but we’re getting there!

By now I’m adding the oats and turning down the water.  The kids are getting dressed and doing their chores.  Morning chores are making the bed, getting dressed, and then they each have at least one other chore assigned to them, even down to the two year old.  They’re all expected to put their dirty clothes in the hamper and brush their hair/teeth.  But other chores would be cleaning their room, picking up the bathroom, matching socks, folding laundry, sorting hampers, taking dirty clothes baskets down to the laundry, etc.  Two also have outside chores to perform in the morning.

The goal is for everyone to have their chores done when breakfast is ready so we can all sit down and eat together.  That doesn’t always happen of course, but we’re getting closer daily!  After breakfast everyone takes care of their own dishes by putting them in the sink and then it’s free play or finish chores until school time.

I tend to also be sweeping and doing some household things likes dishes and laundry while I’m fixing breakfast and while the kids are having free play.  My chores rotate out in a schedule so that all rooms of the house get special attention at least one day a week from me.  This includes mopping, deep cleaning, etc.  My everyday routine has some variations during this time but only by what room I’m focusing on.

Next comes school.  The kids don’t all do the same subject at the same time because I can’t help them all at their different levels at the same time.  So two will do their math while two do handwriting and some others do their independent reading or spelling.  That way only one or two need my full help at a time.  We do school from around 9 until noon most days.  Noon is our lunch break.  We tend to do leftovers or easy lunches so that if not all the school was done before we can finish it.  Also afternoons are the running around time.  If we need to go take someone to the doctor, eye doctor, etc that’s done at this time.  Plus once a month I have a food coop called Azure we go to in the afternoon.  

I normally start supper around 4:30 and the kids have to start picking up any messes they may have made.  During the afternoon if we’re not going anywhere we may do some extra school or they may play outside, practice piano, or play board games.  Occasionally we’ll have a treat and watch a movie.  Or they can read books.  We’re avid readers in this house.

I do tend to work and play around with our everyday routine to try to get it to the best it can be for our needs.  For instance, trying to add exercise into my routine.  We also are relaxed on Saturdays.  Other than chores the kids are pretty much free to play or help daddy/mommy with things.  Sunday is our church day.  And there you have short and sweet version of our everyday routine.