As a former teacher, I lost all routines and rhythms when I became a mother. It took me a long time to realize how incredibly useful a daily rhythm really is. As my kiddos have grown (4.5, 2.5, and 13 months), we now have a daily routine. Up between 7-7:45. Dressed before breakfast. I do dishes and laundry after breakfast while the kiddos play in the dining room within sight/hearing distance, but not with my assistance (unless intervention is needed!). Then we spend some time together (usually reading), and they play alone again while I do my part time accounting job. I prepare lunch between 11 & 12, and everyone is napping by 1. When they wake up, we play together again (puzzle, game, reading). They are always starving, without fail, by 4:30. So I give them a snack to tide them over till dinner. Then we begin the evening routine.

I wouldn’t say that the schedule is hardcore, but until we figured out our routines, our days were filled with constant unmet expectations. No one even knew what to expect, and it was terribly exhausting. I couldn’t fit in all the things that had to be done, because I hadn’t planned ahead. I was frustrated and overwhelmed, and I felt like I was spinning my wheels fruitlessly. Now, I know that if I go grocery shopping at 10, we will need to visit the bathroom when we arrive and when we leave. If I go closer to 11, we can usually manage 1 potty stop. Because the kids are kind of on the same schedule each day. And, if we happen to be out past 11:30, I know to provide snacks, because their poor tummies are used to eating lunch by then. This has been so freeing for us! I fill their tummies and their hearts, and then give them space to do what kids do so well: use their imaginations. They don’t feel abandoned by me, and sometimes join in on the chores they can do, and we work as a team. The idea of having a set time every day to decompress and tend to my personal tasks isn’t a horrible one. I hadn’t thought about how nice the consistancy would be for them. To know that “right now, mommy is spending time with God and/or planning what fun things we might do later.” Thanks for the idea! One, uninterrupted hour might allow me to be more present for the rest of the day. The strictness of Babywise is sometimes a deterrent for people, and with littles, flexibility is key, but giving them a framework to live their lives by each day has been a lifesaver for us. It was such an unexpected blessing.