Motherly Advice

As the month is nearing its end, and the experiment is coming to a close, I've realized a few things.

First, no matter how hard you try, you cannot have a rigid schedule for young children. Illnesses, teething, phone calls, weather, visitors, car problems, and so much more make it impossible.

Second, having a flexible schedule really does work! Not only has it given the kids some balance and repetition in their ever changing world, but it is also comforting to them, like their favorite blanket that is always waiting for them when they go to bed. It is also good for me, because I know when I will have time to do certain things. It gives me a bit more drive to get chores done, because if I don't get them done when they're scheduled, there is nowhere else on the schedule where they fit in. I also enjoy that I set aside meditative time and personal scripture time. I have to make time for these things, they are essential.

I would say that so far the experiment has been very successful.

So the experiment is well under way. I have a schedule I try to follow. Yes, I said try. I do my very best, but sometimes I don't follow it to the letter. The kids don't seem to follow it that well either. For instance, they keep waking up BEFORE their scheduled wake up time... Yes I even put that on the schedule, and not once has it been accurate.

I must say, though, that putting activities to do with the kids on a list is very helpful. Also, nap time has been a huge success. So far those two things have been the best things to come out of the experiement.

The following is a sample schedule for a Tuesday:

TUESDAY

6:30- Feed baby
7:30- Get up, pray, shower, get dressed
8:00- Get 2 yr old, change diaper, pray, eat breakfast together
8:15- brush teeth, get 2 yr old dressed
8:30- Turn on music, color, art activity, and read books
9:30- Get baby, feed, change and dress her
10:00- Go to pool, playground, library or play group
12:00- Lunch
12:15- Nap Time (check emails, work on business, read personal scriptures, prepare Sunday school lesson, nap)
2:00- Watch a Movie, eat a snack
3:30- Turn on Music, Let 2 yr old play by himself, Make dinner
4:30- Pick up around the house
5:10- Daddy gets home, Dinner time, Scriptures
5:40- Clean up dinner
5:50- Play with daddy time
6:30- Baths, get kids ready for bed, brush teeth, medicine, prayers
7:00- Bedtime for kids
7:15- Mom or Dad go exercise
8:00- Do what needs to get done (emails, business, finances, relaxing)
9:30- Get ready for bed, pray, read
10:00- lights out!