I am a creature of habit and do my best work on a schedule. I am a better mom with a routine and weekends are hard for me because of the lack in structure! So when summer vacation rolls around, a.k.a. 3 months of weekending for the kids, I get anxious and irritable. I have found that creating a routine helps everyone. It is simple and flexible, but it’s there. Every summer is different. The kids have gotten older and their schedules are different. I don’t have babies any more that require naps and feedings, so the summer routine changes as the family does. At first the kids arched their backs and complained when I tried to incorporate this, but last year after a week of our new schedule Meg said to me, “I like our new schedule!” YES!
Any parenting book I have read stresses the importance of a routine and consistency. We start when they are babies with sleeping and feeding schedules and they change as our babies grow. I know for me, I am the most productive and feel the best about myself when I have a plan and follow through with my plan!
Here are 3 tips that work for me to create a simple summer routine:
#1: No TV in the mornings:
I have found one of the biggest sticky points in our home is the TV. When it is on and the kids have been sitting and watching for a while, they get cranky, irritable, and don’t want to do anything. I read THIS article about raising large families. This mom’s observation about kids having to reset after watching TV is spot on! She said
“I take the amount of time they spent watching TV and cut it in half. That’s how long I’m going to have to listen to, “I’m bored.” They are bored. Their brains have shut off and they can’t think of anything. Don’t worry, wait the allotted time and brains will reboot. “
It is so true!!! If the TV comes on first thing it is a challenge to get the kids to do ANYTHING, and they fight and bicker. So, for the first week or so I hide the remotes so they cannot even turn the TV on. Stockton and Austin would sneak in and try to turn on the TV without me knowing so to create the habit the remote hiding worked. They didn’t even have the option.
#2: Get ready for the day:
It is nice to not have to catch the bus at 7:45 and be on a mad rush to get hair done, teeth brushed, and dressed; however, I noticed if we didn’t get ready right away, it took us all day! It drives me crazy when I need to go somewhere and I have to wait for the kids to get ready! So a must of the morning routine is to get ready for the day. Clothes on, hair combed, teeth brushed, and shoes either on or sitting by the door!
#3: Write out the plan for the day:
When the kids know what the day holds for them they are much more likely to cooperate! If I dangle the carrot with an activity in the afternoon they are much more motivated to get their work done in the morning! We go to A LOT of baseball games throughout the month of June. So a trip to the gas station for a Gatorade or a treat for the game is the perfect motivater!
We also do a lot of sports camps through the month of June. I work at our family business most mornings so if I write what time and who’s driving on the board then they know when to be ready! I don’t have to nag, remind, and prod!
A MUST:
Get a big dry erase board to write the plan for the day on. Or do like we did and paint a whole wall with the dry erase wall kit! It has been such a great addition to our home! It is used for notes, doodling, “I Love You’s,” reminders, and the list goes on!
We used a Sherwin Williams Dry Erase kit to make our wall.
Here’s the link: https://www.sherwin-williams.com/painting-contractors/products/dry-erase-coating
