Thanks to all the mom bloggers who provided inspiration for this list. You seriously keep me sane.
37 Things I Think Would Help
- Being able to reflect/collect my thoughts first thing in the morning before the whining/demanding starts
- Exercising in the morning by myself (treadmill or yoga)
- Having designated shower days/times
- Having everyone's outfits picked out the night before
- Knowing what I was going to make for breakfast
- Having "breakfast boxes" on the bottom shelf of the fridge (ideally for the kids to get themselves)
- Knowing more quick/healthy breakfast options that the boys will eat
- Making a daily to do list (with or without pictures)
- Having a more organized shoe/coat situation
- Making checklists for the boys with morning routine tasks (potty, get dressed, eat, play, shoes/coat, etc.)
- Having a plan to deal with begging for treats throughout the day without having to argue
- Planning lunch/snack options in advance
- Making the boys do chores (collect dirty dishes, put back pillows/cushions, clean up toys, scrub floors)
- Having a chore schedule for myself
- Making a daily schedule for myself (with designated laundry/dishes/meal prep times)
- Making a weekly schedule for myself for school hours (meal prep, cleaning, phone calls, nap)
- Enforcing rest/quiet time for Pie (and myself)
- Making a calendar with designated "I get to choose/I get to go first" days for each boy
- Having "busy bag" or "file folder"-type activities on hand for when I'm working in the kitchen
- Making an "Okay, Mom" reward chart
- Figuring out how to teach the boys not to interrupt/take turns speaking
- Talking in a quiet voice when I get angry
- Extinguishing tantrums the John Rosemond way
- Running or kicking a ball around
- Going outside more
- Playing with/enjoying the boys instead of worrying
- Scheduling one-on-one time with each kid
- Knowing in advance what was for dinner
- Enforcing "The Kitchen Hour" for myself
- Feeling less defeated about pleasing everybody at dinner (make what I want instead of worrying about everyone else)
- Making rules about daily milk and juice consumption
- Making the boys get their own drinks
- Serving a bedtime snack/milk every night
- Making a tradition/routine of checking the weather with the boys and planning tomorrow's outfit
- Having "candle time" (a quiet reflection/meditation time…maybe with the bedtime snack)
- Starting bedtime earlier…or prescribe an "end time" with the Time Timer
- Making husband do bedtime a couple times a week
This is a great list! I love it! Pretty ambitious, but in small doses, I think it's aweseome :) We do some of these things, more out of necessity, than out of me thinking them out in a list. Because our girls are so close in age, they have just always had to help with dishes, chores, etc. We did implement designated Saturday AM chores when my oldest turned 5. That's been really good.
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me to think over a list of things with my husband. I think off the top of my head, I will definitely be taking a few of yours, including "talking in a quiet voice when I'm angry" (is that possible? for real? HA!) and I'm going to have to (re-)research John Rosemond's take on tantrums. I love that guy and should prob reread his book on two year olds, since I have one again!
Thanks as always Prickly for keeping it real! Love that!
Until I got to about number 27, I was thinking, hey, I do pretty good. I mean I didn't have every item down but most that I didn't were because my children are still too young for that category yet. But you've got me on the end of the list. I can say that before I implemented most of the first part of the list, things were complete chaos but now I am sometimes known as an "overly rigid" parent among friends and relatives. It takes a lot of organization, time and energy to keep it up and it does make daily routines less flexible. I'm not talking about once in a while breaking the routine, which we do with surprisingly little stress. Most people close to me ask me to break the routine regularly and are frustrated when I stick to my "list". On the other hand, this method does make life much healthier, gentler and more joyful, for children and adults.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the replies! I'm actually looking for guidance on how to implement some of these...namely 11 and 31. If anyone has an idea, please post!
ReplyDeleteI could have written practically the whole list. These are what I've wanted myself too. I've noticed that when I am feeling like things are way too crazy around my house, that it's because we've gotten out of our routines. The best thing for our family is schedules. They are life savers.
ReplyDeleteLove that you have a list! I do the same thing! Just a little note though; Remember that you are a mother of BOYS!!! Any of the goal you set that rely on them developing new habits will be tough to accomplish. Not that you shouldn't try, just be prepared for the level of difficulty. As an example, I am a very organized person (the ONLY one in a household wth 5 males). So, I set up a fantastic shoes & coats strategy about 5 or 6 years ago. The kids have their own closet in the mudroom. There are hooks & hangers in the closet. On the floor of the closet, each boy has his own labled bin & drawer. All they need to do is toss the shoes in the bin, and the hats & gloves in the drawer. Now, ask me how often that has happened. Exactly never. The stuff only gets put away after I find it in the middle of the floor & yell at the culprits. And this has been a daily thing for 6 years. I'm only telling you this so that you do not think you are at fault if a goal doen't work out. You want to feel serene & organized. I totally get it. Boys don't. Clutter does not bother them. Noise does not bother them. Bad smells do not bother them. As a mom of 4 boys, I just want you to be prepared for this. I have spent the past 15 years attempting some of these same goals. some of them have worked out great. Some have not. The ones that rely on your boys to turn over a new leaf (following chore lists, putting away coats) are going to be a tough sell. I use chore lists as well. They do help remind everyone what they are supposed to do, but they generally do half the job, and then I have to track them down or do it myself.I still try, every day. It's just a constant work in progress. The key is, they need to be invested in accomplishing the goal, and for most boys, quiet & clean are just not high on their priority list. That being said, I wish you the best of luck with all of your goals, and if you find them working, PLEASE pass on your secret!!! I'll try anything! LOL!
ReplyDeleteXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Tracie! So is your take-away message for me to try to adjust my expectations as a way to preserve my sanity? That seems like a sensible idea.
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