SAHM (or any moms) what is your schedule??

sarab

Cathlete
I don't want to limit this to SAHM only so all moms please reply (if you want)

Anyway, I was wondering if you all follow a daily schedule or do you "ad lib" your day. I would love to follow a schedule, but sometimes it seems impossible. Plus, I think sharing our days could give me some good ideas while my children are at home.

Thanks!

Sara
http://www.picturetrail.com/saraburnham1
 
For fitness, it varies, but I am usually up before the kids and get my workout in. When I am not working, that would be around 7:00, but when I am working, I have to get up at 6:00.

Kids eat breakfast and we go somewhere almost every day. Once a week we go to the library and we read books there in a little area they have (couches, etc.). We take home books that we haven't read yet.

I try to set up a playdate once a week for one of my kids and then get alone time with my other child during that time.

We take hikes/walks around the city once a week. We park the car somewhere and just start walking or biking (I run along). Sometimes we stop for a Slurpee, or have races, etc.

The kids help me with meal planning and prepping. We like to bake a lot too (not good for my waistline, but the kids love it!).

We also just do jobs around the house. They love to help with the laundry when they have a specific responsibility (adding the detergent, sorting socks, sorting colors). My little one also loves to clean everything as long as he can spray something!!

The kids love Play-Doh days when I give them each a cookie sheet (to define their workspace) and let them enjoy!

Pretty much there is no schedule, and some days we watch too much TV, but I try not to let that happen!

HTH,
Jenn
 
It depends on the time of year, but I'll tell you what we've been doing this summer (of course, I'm not always successful sticking to the schedule):

I get up and exercise while the kids watch their morning TV show.

We all eat breakfast.

Piano practice, reading time (I get on the computer), journal time.

Lunch

Get ready for work, take kids to my mom's.

DH picks them up from Mom's, have snack at home.

Get ready and go to Tae Kwon Do or football.

I get home, change, meet up with the rest of the family.

Come home, have dinner (lately it's been take-out or eating out).

Kids have free time for about an hour

Kids wash up and go to bed

DH and I stay up for another 2 hours (I usually fold laundry while we watchi TV - we're watching WAY too much TV lately).

Bedtime.
 
-Get up & have breakfast around 5:30-6:30
-Watch cartoons/play while mommy does chores, eats, etc
-Head to gym by 8:30 and Aiden is in the playgroup probably an hour and a half OR mom's club activity OR get together w/ friend/toddler
-Home for nap (2-3 hours) while I do my weight work, shower, eat, laundry, etc
-Lunch for Aiden & then out to run errands OR park OR playdate etc
-Home for dinner, bath
-Aiden watches one of his movies for about an hour until sleeptime
-storytime, bed around 7-7:30

As you can see I usually have a chunk of time in the morning an afternoon where Aiden is active, usually 1-2 hours, and then get my stuff done (chores, workout, etc) around all that. It looks kind of all over the place but it's relatively structured. HTH!


“In the beginning there was nothing. God said, 'Let there be light!' And there was light. There was still nothing, but you could see it a whole lot better.” --Ellen Degeneres
 
Usually get up about 7ish and eat while the boys play/ watch cartoons

Then we head outside for play (I usually garden or sit and read)

Then lunch/nap, where I usually WO

Then it is more outside time, then to Grammy's to feed the horses

Then dinner, bath, play, or cartoon, then book, and bed

Now somedays we will go to the park or library.

I also sometimes will work out after breakfast if boys are watching a movie.

They keep so busy playing with eachother. But I join in and play when I can, but I do use that time for cleaning and housework also.

I pop on and off the computer here and there throughout the day during downtimes.

I do try to keep the eating/nap/bedtimes on scchedule, but the rest is more play it by ear.

Chase starts pre-school next month 9-11, so that will be new too.

Just remember to have fun and enjoy the time with kids!


Maeghan AKA megadoo

New pics added in July 25 2006 and Fitness album!!!!

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar072/slider-but3/lb/203/145/152/.png[/img] [/url]

http://www.picturetrail.com/megadoo2
 
Well, you certainly have your hands full with 3 little ones! They are really cute! I would like to suggest Flylady.net. I don't always follow her program, but I get a lot more done when I do. My youngest started school this year, so you would think I have all this extra time. But with the extra curricular junk, I keep hoppin'!

Get up at 5:15 make lunches start breakfast make beds clean bath sweep kitchen get kids ready

Take kids to school at 7:15 get back at 8:15 (I live in a rural area)

Have coffee, computer and breakfast start laundry

Work out 9-10 or so. Shower etc.

start dinner (crockpot a lot)

12 eat lunch, more laundry, zone cleaning (flylady), any phone calls, brush the dog and play with him so he doesn't chew up the house while I'm gone!

2pm more coffee and computer

220 go pick up kids and go to band, piano lessons, etc.

come home , look over school papers, finish dinner, feed pets

7 eat dinner, dishes, bathe youngest , read her a story and tuck her in.

9-10 stare at the boob tube

10 fall asleep instantly.

Last year I did "homeschool preschool" with my youngest from 10-12:30 and didn't clean the house as much!
:+
 
Unless we have a lot going on (appointments, lessons, school activities, etc.) I ad lib my days. I'm kind of anti-schedule, but that's the rebel in me. ;-) I'd say we have more of a regular routine than a schedule, and it's the usual - getting the kids breakfasted and dressed, then I work out while they watch TV, then I eat and dress. Stuff like that. During the summer, the kids can sleep as late as they want and they have large blocks of unscheduled time. They seem to be turning out okay!
 
I'm kinda similar to Jenn. I have kind of a schedule but also like to have fun!

First of all, I'm training for a marathon (and did my 2nd half marathon on Sat) so I have to get in my running before my dh leaves for work- I meet my 2 friends at 5AM on Tues, Wed, & Thurs. Mondays are usually a total body workout (I did Muscle Max today) & pilates. Saturdays are long run days, and Sundays we bike. I also fit in either PUB/ PLB or the GS workouts when I can. I'm kinda cutting back on the weights a bit for now until after the marathon.

As for daily routine, I get up at 4:40, head out to run at 5 & am usually home by 6 (depending on how far we're running). Then I make my breakfast, grab my coffee & head to the computer. ;-) Now that school started, I wake up my girls (ages 7 & 5) for school, get them fed, & off on the bus at 7:40. Then my 3yo & I can play, read books, play games, color, do what she likes for a bit. I also like to get my housework done for the day early, and my kids love to help. I start laundry, vacuum, or do what chores need done. Then we head outside to play- jumping on the trampoline, swinging, going for a walk, etc. We usually eat lunch around 11:30- 12, no real schedule just when we get hungry! Then it's relax time & she naps usually from 1-3:30 or so & my dd's get home at 3:30. I usually do my afternoon workout while she naps (if I'm doing a Cathe workout, pilates, or yoga that day I do it then), get a few more things done around the house, try to get a head start on dinner, etc. and then spend some computer time! ;-)) Then we usually head outside to play for a bit longer & my dh gets home around 4:15. I usually start on dinner then & he will keep the kids entertained or help me w/ dinner. We eat early so that we can spend the rest of the night together as a family. If it's nice out we'll head out again- more jumping, swinging, playing frisbee or catch, taking a walk/ bike ride. Then about 7 it's snack, bath, and relax time til bedtime for the girls at 8. (during school time at least!)

Summer is a bit more relaxed (more time at the pool, park, etc), but now school's back in session!

I like to do all of my errands on one day, I just like getting them all done at one time!

Also, for good ideas to keep them busy- playdoh, silly putty, coloring, easy crafts (there's lots of good webpages, seasonal crafts, etc), baking cookies (give them to your neighbors if you don't want to eat them!), water paints, making bead necklaces, or making those foam sticker crafts will keep my girls busy for a long time!

HTH!

Hugs,
 
6:30 am: I usually get up and have my coffee, breakfast and computer time. Often times start laundry now as well.
7:30 or 8am: If I am going to w/o at home I try to do it about this time.
8/9am: Joey gets up, dressed, breakfast.
9:30: Getting ready to head off to gym if it's in the plan or play time in living room w/the DoodleBops or Wiggles in the background. I food shop around this time as well.
11:00: snack time
11:30: nap time and I will sometimes w/o now too otherwise more computer time + the house cleaning stuff.
2:00-4:00: up from nap and eat lunch. (Yes, my child LOVES to sleep!)
After that all heck breaks loose! LOL We could be doing anything from taking a walk to playing in the yard, swimming, playing in the house, housework, shopping...anything goes, really! LOL
4:00-7:00: Daddy gets home, cook supper, clean up.
7:00-8:30/9:00: bath time, play time.
8:30/9:00: bed time for DS
9:00-???: MOMMY TIME!:+

This looks pretty scheduled but it's really not. LOL I tried to schedule cleaning and laundry once and it didn't work. I just do it as it needs to be done. :+ My son is still very small (15 months old) so I don't have to do alot of outings/activities yet so my days are not very hectic.
 
HI Sara-
My kids are ages 10 & 13 -- but I have had this schedule since my younger one was in about 2nd or 3rd grade. When the kids are out of school, they join me in most of the house chores listed, e.g. dinner prep or house chore or errand. Good life experience that they learn how to take care of "stuff." I work part- time, so I have the best and worst of both worlds! But I love it!:

I have tried to set up my schedule around the concept of preserving sanity for all in the family. Thought I get up super early, it works for me and helps get the day going right for all. I do better getting dinner thought out when I'm brightest in early a.m. -- that's key for me -- but so many different things can work for people, including not really having a schedule at all. I think it's really individual how to set things up.

One more thought: it has worked well for me to make certain "DAYS" set aside for certain things, e.g. Monday is errand day for me & I have set days in advance when I do certain laundry, so I don't feel overwhelmed by the masses of laundry baskets. Some of my ideas came from these two books: Confessions of an Organized Homemaker (amazon) and another book, Time Management from the Inside Out, by Julie Morgenstern.

This is based on me being a hard-core early morning person. I feel better up this early!!

4 a.m. -- up -- time for me to get organized for the day. I pay bills, "relax a bit" Get a general plan for the day for things I need to get done. Adjust a running to-do list for me and for family.
5:30a.m. --Exercise (run or weights)
7 a.m.-- breakfast with my older child (M, W & F, I cook breakfast & T, Th (my running days) it's BOYO -- breakfast on Your Own and I rejoin the family routine at 7:15 a.m.)
7:15 a.m. --DH & younger son up -- breakfast/Older child does jobs-piano practice
7:40 a.m. -- DH drops off older child at school
7:40 a.m. --Younger son jobs -- practice piano--he runs (!) (I prep dinner for that night -- even if it's only laying out ingredients -- it helps me for when I am more tired later in day)
8:30 a.m. -- younger son to school.
9 a.m. -- errands 1 day a week/or on other days sometimes walking with friends/ or on work days -- I go to work (So Mon: errands/Tue: work/Wed: friends/Thurs: work & Fri: projec. Sat: work & Sun: long run day & family time)
10 a.m. -- on home days -- I do some additional cooking for the week -- or thorough prepping so dinner time is peaceful (Either Mon or Wed, I try to cook a larger amount of something to facilitate easier dinners for my work days)
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- one or two chores around the house or a 2nd exercise time in case I didn't get to do all I needed to get done exericse-wise in a.m., e.g. do abs or weights/ and then a rest/down time for me
2 p.m. -- another task around the house and bring dinner prep up to the stage where it's either ready to reheat for later or nearly done.
3 p.m. -- kids home from school/snack time together -- a start on homework
4-6:30 p.m. -- various kids activities--both kids swim after school or if they are free, get their homework done first, then play..
6:45 p.m. -- DH home/Dinner together
7:30 p.m. --any homework not finished and then free time - family time...


enjoy your kids!!!
Barb
:) :) :)
 
P.S. -- the BOYO-- breakfast on your own started when my older son was at the end of 7th grade -- not earlier -- so I could get longer runs in. On those days, both kids get up at the same time and have breakfast together and my DH joins in a little later!
 

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