The first week in and we are feeling a little wobbly over here. The kindergartner is perhaps the most surprised by the upheaval of his beautiful world. We went from lazy days to 6:00 alarm clocks. From playing all day with his legos and his siblings to arriving in class to the same spot day after day next to the same kids with the same people who are decidedly NOT his loved ones. From random trips to Barton Springs at 9pm to being in bed, lights out by 8:pm at the latest.
On the home front we are enjoying the first time in nearly 15 years that we are home alone during the day without any children, but still, this schedule is going to take some getting used to. I am a night owl by nature and the idea of being in bed by 11 is positively shocking to my system.
So here’s what we’ve figured out thus far about the things we need to make this all work, for everyone involved…
- better lunch making routines – so that we’re not scrambling at bedtime to get lunches made for the next day. Or even worse, making lunches while we’re putting breakfast on the table. Whoever makes dinner will have one of the kids by them making lunches.
- Get our 6th grader on a different bike – it’s kind of hard to ride the bmx bike with a trumpet in tow. Especially if he also wants to bring his skateboard.
- Earlier dinner time. We’re still in our summer time mode of 7pm dinner time which is just too late if you need to be in bed by 8.
- Get a maid. Just kidding. But it sure would be fun to have a full-time maid on hand to clean up , do some laundry, maybe throw a meal together every now and again.
- Don’t hit the snooze on the alarm. It doesn’t really give me what I need, it just makes it more frantic getting everyone settled.
- Pause, for just 2 minutes, on the edge of the bed before I jump into high gear. That’s one thing I’ve been doing that is really, really working.
- Oh, and if you sense your young child might have a rough morning, do not wear a skirt with an elastic waistband.
I’d love to know how others are doing these first weeks of school. What have you learned about your family’s routine?
9 Comments to 'Wobbly Wednesday and Back to School'
August 29, 2012
The last two points on your list are perfect. I suspect that you have far less in-car time than we do, now that we’re at School Clear Across Town, but I have found that trying to encourage the daily reading during the last part of the commute home helps – I can’t listen effectively if I’m trying to keep from getting squished by another car, and being unfettered at home at the end of a long day overwhelms the child’s patience with sitting and reading, though he is still just as willing to tell me about his day once we’re home and he can tell I’m actively listening to him.
August 29, 2012
While “back to school” is a distant memory for me, I can surely use the wisdom of point #5! I must try that, somehow; lately, I’m not even aware that I *am* hitting the snooze. But getting up at 8, when you need to be at work by 8:30 makes for a very frantic morning, even when kids aren’t involved!
August 29, 2012
Bedtime at 8 is essential too at our house. You got it all covered Bernadette. I just wish there were more hours in the day. I feel like I have to rush the twins out the door and down the road. And then nighttime feels like a rush sometimes too. This is why I incorporate Slow Family Living into our tiny schedule.
When’s summer?????
Shannon
August 29, 2012
Thank goodness the powers that be recognize the need for a 3 day weekend after the first week of school!
August 29, 2012
There was a period in my mid-twenties when I didn’t even HEAR the alarm. It could be going off for hours and housemates from other rooms would come in and turn it off.
August 30, 2012
I have started preparing dinner before I pick up from the bus. That way I can focus on my kids (5, 3, 1) and my patience when that very ldifficult 5 o’clock rolls around. Casseroles can be prepared easily, slow cooker is also dusted off and is slowly replacing the grill…
August 30, 2012
Yes to the slow cooker!!!!
September 1, 2012
Hi Bern-thanks for helping us all be thoughtful about how to give our sweet selves/families the support we need to enhance FLOW this time of year! What’s helping the Trudeaus:
-10 year old becoming more active in helping to make dinner; 10 year old making his lunch every night on his own
-right after dinner, we do this new “clean team” thing where all pitch in and clear/load/do the bulk of after-dinner clean-up (this didn’t use to happen until really late–now mom/dad have more time to read)
-lots of morning “power circles”–these are big group hugs in the morning where we shower the person who is having a hard time or needs extra help with blessings/love/well wishes before they walk out the door (sometimes it’s an adult, sometimes a kid)
-giving ourselves lots of space and compassion to get used to this transition and practice ‘good is good enough” a lot (oatmeal and fruit for dinner? perfect!)
Thanks for helping me think about this ..xo Renee
September 4, 2012
Those are good Renee! Thank you!! I too am fans of the love burst or power circle. We call it Applesauce! And smoothies and popcorn for dinner! I love the clean team idea. That is going into effect tonight!
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