Getting through the first week back now…

Now That the First Day is Done, How Do You Get Back Into Routine?

It may seem obvious, but I would say—take it slow!

That’s my point of view, anyway. I’m going to try not to jump into all those afternoon clubs at once. If possible, I’ll ease into it gradually, even taking it a week at a time.

Also, personally, I’m going to bite the bullet and set my alarm much earlier (and sneakily make bedtime a bit earlier too) by a few minutes each day. I prefer getting up before everyone else so I can have a few moments to myself before the hectic school morning begins. If I’m lucky and don’t get startled awake by someone at 5 a.m. looking for their bun-bun, I might just manage to dissolve the chaos and make it a smooth, filmic morning.

One of those TV goals is to have kids who are all clean, dressed, and ready for their day, calmly coming in to eat their breakfast and leaving the table spotless, already engrossed in a book—ha! I like reality better, where we put on music that turns out to be inappropriately hectic and makes us all stumble, or it goes south, and we’re suddenly very emotional while brushing our teeth. I love it when they make their own snack boxes and end up with a chunk of cheese and some Cheerios. I adore it when my little girl does her own hair and ends up with four vertical hair clips sticking out from her forehead.

Routines are a love-hate relationship. So many things we read suggest that children—and I would argue, adults too—thrive on them. So, might I suggest taking a few minutes to envision what you would like your routine to look like and map it out?

Please, if you make it to the end of September or even Halloween with your routine going clockwork and everyone off to their thing happy (if you’re some kind of super-parent sporting a cape around town), please, please let me know! I will buy you a coffee and give you a hug.