Dreamstime.com
Routine. A word that can be used in several different contexts. On the surface, it seems like such a bland and boring word; one without excitement or pizazz, but to a parent, it can mean so much more. I’m sure you can remember learning about the importance of a routine when you were pregnant with your first child. Those “What to Expect When Your Expecting” books were littered with all the positives associated with establishing a solid routine for your newborn and subsequent toddler. They detailed the pitfalls of not keeping a consistent schedule for your little one to get used to, in his or her own unique way. Some babies just got it, and some others didn’t seem to live by the same time guidelines that the rest of the entire human race tend to keep.
Now that our little humble family has reached the inevitable demarcation point of the school years, the concept of keeping a routine has not only increased in importance, but it has become highly beneficial to both our kids and their sometimes frazzled parents to boot. I find myself scrambling in the evening to stay on point as to not rock the apple cart in any form or fashion, because all it takes is one night off the wagon, and you might have a week’s worth of catching up to do. I personally know some parents who get quite lackadaisical with respect to their weekend bedtimes and even though they would never admit it, I’m sure Sunday night (and Monday morning) are a little more chaotic then they need to be. Sure, there will be those isolated times that circumstances force us to go ‘off script’ and improvisation regarding the daily routine ensues but as long as you make your schedule a priority in your family, you will be rewarded in ways that you won’t even notice. I know this because we officially have taken back the 8 o’clock hour. For years this hour (and sometimes a couple more beyond that) did not belong to us. The frustration and exhaustion that comes with this nightly battle, is enough to push an otherwise calm and collected adult over the cliff. In cartoon terms, it makes you feel like Wile E. Coyote when he gets smashed by that big Acme anvil. Don’t get smashed….get a daily schedule and stick to it. It will be best thing your overused body and exhausted mind ever did.
