Photo by NeilsPhotography
Have you ever found one part of your day with the kids really needs an overhaul?
I recently realized that our evening/bedtime routine had serious room for improvement. These hours, when it's the end of the day, present serious challenges for parents everywhere, right?
After a particularly rough evening, here's what I wrote on my Facebook page:
Head here to read the 50 comments that readers left--full of advice, suggestions, and commiseration.
Our New (& Improved!) Evening Rhythm:
- 4:30 - Quick snack/ Play Outside (hooray for light in the evenings!)
- 5:00 - Trishna helps me with dinner prep (each of the kids is in charge of helping with one meal)
- 5:30 - Video time (one 25 minute show while I finish up dinner/chat with Steve)
- 6:00 - Dinner as a family
- 6:30 - Steve and I clean up...the kids each have a dinner clean-up job, too
- 6:45 - I brush each of the kids' teeth; showers for those who need it (The kids have showers once every three days.)
- 7:00 - Time for Sparkle Stories (This is our saving grace right now! The boys love to listen to these; Trishna likes to either draw, color, or read at the same time. While they are listening I can help anyone into their pajamas, snuggle, or finish up work of my own--the perfect winding down time.)
- 7:40 - Up to bed (The children take books upstairs with them to read for a while before lights out.)
Ah, peace in the evening hours, I could get used to this. I think I will.
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