When my kids were infants, I was like a schedule drill sergeant. Feedings, naps and playtime were all very routine. And don't mess with bed time... I'll crack your knuckles with a wooden spoon.
I always felt in control of knowing what my child might need. What? It's been 3 hours since she last ate? Probably hungry. She's been awake for 2 hours? Probably tired. It worked for me.
And as a working mom, it worked even better. It was like me evil way of having my hand in things while I was busy putting the hours in the trenches. Yes, Hubby 3 to 3.5 hours between feedings. And don't forget to watch for tired signs. Ok, so maybe I wasn't that bad. But I do feel like it gave grandparents and babysitters an easy way of knowing what baby needed. That way, I didn't have to worry about if she missed a feeding or a nap.
So as a working mom, schedules were very reassuring... mostly to ease my own mind. And now as the kids are getting older (4 and 2.5), schedules can be a little more relaxed, but our routines are still so, so important.
Lunch is around 11:30, nap (or as we like to call it, "rest time") is at 1:00. Even though Hannah doesn't always sleep at rest time, she knows that it's a time she has to stay in her room, where she can read or play quietly. I think if we were inconsistent with nap time, or in Hannah's case, "quiet time," then we would have a harder time getting her to cooperate.
So even when I'm away at work, I might know what's going on at the house!!
And that, my friends, is the real reason I crave a routine for my kids. ;)
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Pick a prompt and link up! And thank you all for continuing to be a part of Working Mommy Wednesdays!
#1. How important to you, as a working mom, is a schedule/routine for your kids?
#2. Given the opportunity, which would you accept - a bigger salary and less benefits OR a smaller salary and top-notch benefits?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
why I crave a routine for my kids
Posted by Julia Ladewski at 7:08 AM
Labels: working mommy wednesday
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6 comments:
Excited to re-join you guys!
Great post, J. I was never a hyper-scheduled mom, but I need to be better about the whole bedtime thing!
I was always very regimented about naptimes and bedtimes (still am about bedtimes). Always seems to help the kids, and me. :)
Yep, bedtime I do get a little more crazy and since summer started, my 4 year old has been going to bed later and later! I have been lightening up on that but I keep the morning routine to help with my sanity and getting out the door on time! Fun theme this week!
Routine is very important to me, and while some people scoff at it, I LIVE by it. When you have two 2 year olds, you have to have a routine to keep your sanity. I totally get where you're coming from on this.
I was told several times before Rachel was born that even thinking about getting into a routine is worthless....and I didn't buy it! Of course kids need a routine and so do I. :) I'm not a huge stickler about it but we certainly do our best. Plus, it keeps us all just a little bit more sane that way.
I totally agree. Routine works best for my family. I was just commenting to the hubby today that our 3 week old needs to get on a schedule!
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