A really sweet and lovely dance mom whom I have apparently known for years (I introduced myself to her in the hallway outside Minnie's jazz class, and she was like oh we know each other from the little gym; you shared your pearls of wisdom and then I felt like a total tool on at least 2 levels) was talking about the fall busy season (she has 4 kids elementary school and younger) and said something so wise: we need to live our schedule for a couple of weeks before we figure out what's working and what's not.
Well, I am impatient, so I am writing this after living our full schedule (school plus gymnastics for Min plus dance for Dorothy and Min plus diving plus crew for the fall play and speech season prep work and fall work schedule for Jack) for just one week, and right away, I can see that I need to spend less time putting food in boxes. OMG.
this is the kind of after school snack I bring Cooper 4 days a week and Dorothy twice. it is a meal.
A few things that are working well:
Making Friday night fun! So far we have done a movie night (K Pop Demon Hunters, natch) and a stuff-your-stanley ice cream event
Therapeutic coloring: In an effort to make the house a cozy place that the kids feel like they can totally relax and unwind on because they are so busy these days outside the house, I bought a bunch of color-on table cloths and leave them out with baskets of crayons and markers, and we pretty much all love it. Everyone stops by the table at some point to do some coloring. Minnie also likes access to workbooks and markers after school, which buys me some much-needed catch up time before the pick up/drop off onslaught
Making weekends as fun as possible. YES we do tons of chores and weekly prep, but we also have so much downtime, thanks to dance and diving being low weekend commitment sports. We have been trying to go out more as a family and also to make errands fun by pairing them with a treat of some kind. Ben and I have started going to Costco solo after we run on Saturday or Sunday because if we are going to spend that much cash at a place, we might as well enjoy ourselves.
Don't remember where we were going, but we looked happy about itquick trip after school to grab bread for grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner turned into a junk food binge and Dorothy having a friend over to make frozen gummy bears (frozen in sprite)
Making sure the activities are darling
Appreciating the sunrise, as long as I have to be up walking the dog and starting my day
Leaning into carpooling and also the sun setting after dinner
our leg of the car pool is always better with baked goods. my car is a mess.
Working from couch with my stuffed animal come to life
How is the new season treating you so far?
I feel like our schedule hasn't fully settled out yet but I'm just so relieved both kids seem happy and content at school this year. I know there will be moments (probably lots of them), but it feels like such an emotional win to have had a peaceful start to the academic term after all the drama and challenges of middle school!
ReplyDeleteI am already tired of cooking meals for people and thinking about meal planning. Why must we all eat so many times each day, but aside from griping, I am leaning into the beauty of fall. It's just so gorgeous out!!!
Awww those colouring tablecloths are such a great idea! I am always impressed by how you navigate such a busy schedule Sarah!
ReplyDeleteWell, you're definitely having a lot more fun than we are but we've settled into a good routine. Wait. Why aren't we having more fun??? I need to channel some "Sarah" vibes and correct that!
ReplyDeleteThis is Daria from Jersey from momofchildren
ReplyDeleteI feel settled but I only have two kids. On weekdays I work, they go to school, go to BJJ and piano, and they are in aftercare since it is not possible for me to pick them up when school gets out- 3pm! I usually get them around 4, for one activity or another.
Our weekends are free, except for gymnastics on Saturday morning. I stay home, they go with T where they also stop by for a donut. It’s a tradition lol
So yeah, I feel pretty settled…
I admire people who do things on weekends… i just prep for the week ahead and have my quiet time.
I love how much energy you put into making things fun! I devote energy to getting my kid into bed on time, lol. Seems like I should probably take a page from your book, because she does deserve to enjoy life in addition to going to school and sports.
ReplyDeleteI have had such a hard time establishing any sort of rhythm. We’ve all been sick right after one another (and it’s coming for me again gah) which makes it super hard for me to establish or keep to any sort of routine. Sigh. It will happen!
(This is Suzanne.)
I remember growing up, my mom and I would go grocery shopping on Saturdays, and we would get a hot dog first. I have such fond memories of those hot dog lunches, just the two of us. My brother was always more interested in sleeping in. Another thing we did was, after we finished our chores, we would go to a matinee movie. Sometimes my brother got his shit together enough to go along for those. Way to take chores like cleaning and shopping and making them more fun!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have not carried either of these examples forward in my own life. Oh well. We still have fun. I like running errands alone (audiobooks) or with my husband, or with our daughter. Though I rarely get that last one, she’s a homebody.
I was thinking about your Tuesdays and wondering if there is something that can give. Like, make it your rest day for exercise, and just have your walk that morning.
Ugh on putting the food into boxes. Why do people need to eat so often just to stay alive? It’s ridiculous. Thank god we don’t have to also arrange for oxygen. (Note to self…do not move to Mars…)
Isn't any car better with baked goods? I've never aspired to have an overly clean car. I can't imagine what that would be like.
ReplyDeleteThis season so far - um, funny you should ask today. I'm feeling a bit like I'm treading water and getting no where with no end in sight. It might be because I had a new baby start yesterday. Tuesdays and Thursdays are gonna be nuts indefinitely. I operate off of having a daily to do list, but dang - the thought of accomplishing that stuff just knowing there's more stuff on the first stuff's heels? Daunting. *sigh*
that to go 'snack' is a meal. Holy crap.
My athletic kid's after school snack was always a meal too - he could never eat a lot at once and needed a lot of calories.
ReplyDeleteI think making sure you all have fun is more important than 25 new cookie recipes. I love the colouring - it IS therapeutic.
The coloring tablecloths! I love them. I always have a coloring book open on my dining room table, haha, with nary a child in sight!
ReplyDeleteYou are making such precious memories with your kids. It's a busy life, but such a good one. <3