Well, it’s almost time for our little darlings to head back to school and that means that kids back to school routines need to be in place. Although my son isn’t home with me now, I still have nightmares about this time of year. Ok, maybe not nightmares but I dang sure have “lasting memories” about it!
When it came time for the kids to go back to school, I didn’t know whether to throw a party or hide in a hole. There was a big part of me that couldn’t wait to have some time to myself! Once school started, I wouldn’t have to stop what I was doing to referee a fight or check to see what the kids were up to because they were too quiet. I could actually finish a conversation and complete a project without a major amount of interruptions. You’d have thought I would be on cloud nine. Well I wasn’t.
I started thinking about all the things that had to be done to get ready for school. Next came the thoughts of getting kids back into a school day routine. I did NOT look forward to rousing a “night person” at 6 am! Nor did I want to deal with the morning whines. You know the kind I mean. “Just 10 more minutes, Mom,” and “Maaamaaa, I don’t waaanna go to schooool,” were bored into my memory. Notice how the last comment was drawn out. Did he really think by dragging the statement out he would be allowed to stay home? If he did, he was sadly mistaken!
I knew I had to get us all back into a daily routine. The routine would have to include things such as breakfast, snack time, relaxation time, homework time, dinner, more homework time, family time, and bedtime. UGH! I was exhausted just thinking about it all. I quickly remembered that the routines were what kept things running smoothly and allowed me to keep at least a small speck of my sanity.
Most kids and adults, work better when on a schedule. Doing the things in a specific order and at a particular time helps us all to know what is coming next. After the routine becomes a habit, we even have a good idea of how long it will take to complete the tasks.
This may sound weird but in a way, routines allow our brains to switch into auto-pilot mode. Think about it. When you get something to drink, do you have to stop and remember where the refrigerator is? I hope not! Can you sing while you wash dishes? Sure you can. It’s because washing dishes is something you can usually do while on auto-pilot. When we don’t have to actively think about what comes next or try to remember where we put that paper, our brains can rest until it’s time to focus on the more important aspects of learning and working.
Adding routines to your daily life is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your child, and your family in general. Life’s too short to spend it running around in circles trying to remember what you should do next. If you need help getting yourself and your kids into a routine, watch for my Family Routines Kit (coming soon.)
Your Turn:
What do you do to help your child prepare for going back to school?
Related posts:
