Routines

I believe that we are now starting to fall into a nice routine around here with our new schedule.  It is the second week of school for Samantha, and I have mastered the morning routine pretty well.  It helps to have the kids' clothes laid out the night before and Samantha's book bag and snack box put together and placed by the back door.

I get up at 6 am and get myself ready for the day.  I tidy up around the house and have breakfast ready before I get the girls up at 6:45 am.  It takes them a couple of minutes to rouse and then they come downstairs (quietly) and eat their breakfast.  Hopefully, Jack is still sleeping (he was likely up around 5 am to eat and then went back to bed).  After breakfast, the girls brush their teeth and get dressed.  Samantha dresses herself, while I help Sophia.  Then the girls get their hair done and their shoes on.  At this point, Jack is usually awake. 

The key to my success right now is to wait and feed Jack after I get back from taking Samantha to school.  We leave here at 7:35 am to travel about 2 miles down the road to her school.  I can be back home by 8 am, and then Jack is ready to eat.  (For the first couple of days of school, I tried to feed Jack when he got up, but those 15-20 minutes that he spent eating were too precious and made me feel rushed). 

While Sam is at school (from 8 am to 12 noon), Sophia is able to have some one-on-one time with me.  Jack takes a morning nap and we use that time to do puzzles, color, work on our letters, etc.  Sometimes Sophia likes to watch a show and then I use that time to accomplish a few things for myself (school work, orchard work, house work, etc).  She does miss her older sister -- asking me constantly if it is time to go and get her from school yet -- but I know how important this time away from Sam is too.

Before I leave to go get Samantha from school, I also try to have lunch all ready.  This helps tremendously because the girls are both quite hungry by the time that we get home ... around 12:15 pm.  Most likely, Jack is ALSO ready to eat at that time.  I get the girls' plates and drinks set out for them and then nurse Jack nearby while they are eating.  I eat lunch later when the girls are down for their naps.

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Steve is also settling into a nice routine on the two nights that I teach (Tuesdays and Wednesdays).  I have dinner all ready by the time that he arrives home at 5 pm.  I also feed Jack right before that so that he is fat and full, and then he should only need a bottle of pumped milk before bed.  After chatting for a few minutes, I leave by 5:15 pm to head to school. 

The kids get some special time with just their dad on these nights and I think that it is good for everyone.  Steve does a lot of outside activities with them and they love that.  Around 7 pm, he starts the bedtime routine.  He gives the girls their bath and gets them ready for bed before giving Jack his bath and bottle.  Jack goes to bed a little bit before the girls do.  Once he is down for the night, the girls get a story and are in bed around 8 pm. 

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Having a routine makes things so much easier for both myself and for the kids.  Everyone knows what to expect and I don't have to remind them of their "jobs" too often.  (Actually, the girls pride themselves on doing as many things as they can by themselves now).  I know that as Jack gets a little older, our routine will change, but for now ... this seems to work quite well for us.