So after a couple of weeks of fumbling around with the mornings with all four kids and trying to see what I could fit in and where, I finally sat down last night and put together a new schedule. It's a little tighter and a little more structured than my last one. But it does allow for some toddler-free school time, as well as some carefully planned one-on-one (or two) time with me and the kids. This newer version also leaves less free time for the kids, which means less floating time for me - but it adds a short window where I am free from all four kids, which the old schedule lacked. So hopefully it balances out.
And of course in about four months when Sweet Baby #5 enters the picture, I'll be back to square one anyway. But hey, hopefully I can get more than three weeks out of this one and find out just what I need to do to make a new one work out with our new needs.
So now our days (should) look something like this:
- 6-7a Wake, free, Mom dressed & downstairs by 7
- 7:00 Brushing & OT (mellow) w/F
- 7-8 AM chores, F set table, make & start eating BREAKFAST
- 8-9 Finish breakfast, P kitchen, Mom chores & laundry, L & F rooms tidied, all free when done
- 9:00 Brushing & OT (heavy work)
- 9-10 P Story of the World CD with Legos in his room, F free for quiet self directed play, Mom play/activity/early preK time w/G & GP
- 10-11 P independent school work, F school/work/games w/mommy, G & GP directed play or quiet free
- 10:45 SNACK for all
- 11:00 Brushing & OT (heavy work or mouth), GP nap starts
- 11-11:30 P free or directed play, F & G school/games w/Mommy
- 11:30-12 P w/mom for lesson time (language, spelling, other) or games, F & G quiet directed play
- 12-12:30 LUNCH, family devotional
- 12:30-1 P kitchen, tidy L & F rooms, F OT w. Mommy, rests start for all boys
- 1-2:30 all boys rest, Mom free til GP wakes up, then Mom/GP time til boys up
- 2:30-4 SNACK for all, then unit study time for Mom, P & F (crafts, activities, reading, some directed play), G & GP free/directed play
- 4-4:30 P play w/GP, F & G w/Mommy for kitchen helper or games
- 4:30-5 boys all free, GP w/Mommy in kitchen or doing chores
- 5:00 Brushing & OT
- 5-5:30 P tidy family room then read his book, F & G set table and help, GP w/Mommy
- 5:30-6 DINNER
- 6-6:30 Bed chores, P kitchen, G & GP baths or quiet play
- 6:30-7 G & GP stories & bed
- 7:00 Brushing & OT (calm, quiet)
- 7-7:30 P & F stories & bed
- 8:00 Lights out for any boys reading in bed
I know it looks like a lot in list form like that. But most of the directed play just means the kids don't roam free, I just get to direct them as to what game, toy or activity they are using during that time. Also, all of Finny's brushing and OT stuff we need to do about every two hours, so that's just getting to be habit and routine now. The big change is that instead of school being done before rest and afternoon, we now have a big chunk of school in the post-rest time. I will need to see how that works for us all. I admit I enjoy the free afternoons, but life with more and older children means changes need to be made. So we'll see how it goes. I hope that it will lessen the chaos and busy-ness of afternoons and evenings, while lending to a sense of direction and purpose in the play that they do have. And obviously there will be exceptions. We'll have play dates and outings and errands and field trips. In which case we just stick to the morning plan and keep Girly Pie's nap and let the rest and afternoon stuff slide. I'm all about flexibility, and with 2nd grade and under, I really have little guilt about having a day slide with only half of our intended school accomplished for a day. After all, I am comforted by the thought that in just our morning time alone we're likely doing more learning that a whole day of government schooling could accomplish. So really, in the big scheme of things, not a bad deal.
So there you go. Day 1 of Plan B has gone OK, but not right on schedule. Part of that is all the extra time put in with training and disciplining a certain Mr. Finny through his difficult transition period (how much time can one boy spend in a day whining and being sent to the stairs for YET ANOTHER time out!?). Part of it is helping all the kids learn that the new times are meant for something specific and not just play time.
But all in all, I feel the potential with this new plan is good. I'm sure there will be tweaking. And as I said I know if nothing else we'll need a whole new plan in a few months. But for now, I am happy to have a rhythm to my days again, and I hope that the structure brings us all back to that happy place we had for the few weeks we had the set times with Girly Pie's nap lining up with our school time.
In talking with Mary Grace on the phone this morning (only allowed between 8 and 9am, mind you!) she commented that she had noticed a change in my mindset and attitude towards our family's structure and what we do with our days. I'm paraphrasing there, but I have to say that I think she's right. I have felt a change and a commitment to finding a rhythm to our days that brings glory to God and accomplishes for us all in a day what He would like to see us doing. I no longer feel the freedom I once did in a day without boundaries. I feel trapped instead by that lack of structure. And knowing the person I have always been, I know for sure that I did not stumble across such a shift in perspective by my own doing. I do see God's hand in our days now, and I do feel His presence and His voice leading me in my attempts to make the most of the days I have been blessed with as wife, mother and teacher in this family.
So here's to a good day, not even over yet - and to the hope of a good tomorrow, as well!
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