Yes, you read that right; I'm guilty. But of what? I am guilty of not putting my girls on a regular daily schedule and sticking to it. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Big deal, there are worse things to be guilty of." But everytime I read a parenting magazine or listen to someone else describe their day they always mention how important having your children on a regular schedule is. Now that's not to say I haven't tried, because I have.
I think the reason J and I have so much trouble getting BooBoo to follow a schedule/routine is because when we had her, we were both still full-time college students. I was a Sophomore and J was a Junior. We had classes early in the morning and late at night. We could not even put together a regular schedule for ourselves. Granted, I was out of school for the first five and a half months of BooBoo's life but as soon as we got a routine down it was right back to the chaos of classes. Trying to maintain a routine got pushed to the wayside.
Fast forward three years and here we are today. A new apartment and a new baby sister. I just started back to work two days a week at seven hours each day. J and I have arranged our work schedules so that the girls do not need to be placed in daycare. (Not that I have anything against daycare, because BooBoo was in daycare for a year). It is just nicer to be home with them everyday. Since one of us is home everyday I think it will be easier for BooBoo to fall into a routine. I would love to eventually be one of those moms who can say, "Well, BooBoo gets up at this time and then she does this, and this, and tisand then she goes to bed". I have to sit back and laugh at times because even though BooBoo does not have a routine, she is a remarkable little girl. She has an imagination that could make authors and playwrights jealous. She can also remember everything (well, almost everything) that she hears. So I try not to worry too much about if I am scarring her for life by not having a regular routine.
So, what have I learned in my 3 1/2 years as a parent? I have learned that while research and parenting magazine have good intentions for the development of our children, we have to remember that life will get in the way. There will be days when staying in the house in your pajamas is all that you will do. There will be those overnights at the grandparents (or any family member) where nothing is routine. :) You just have to try to go with the flow and work through these "roadblocks".Oh, and remember to breathe!
Grab My Button!
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
About Me
- Jess (Life with BooBoo and Bug)
- I am the mother of two beautiful girls. BooBoo is 4 years old and Bug is 1 year old. I cloth diaper, breastfeed, babywear and am thinking about homeschooling. Life's a little hectic but it only makes things more interesting.
-->Credits::
2 comments:
I think it is fine that your don't have a "schedule." The only schedule we have around the house is the sleep, he gets up "around" the same time every day (usually within an hour to hour and half time frame). Takes his naps around 10am and 2pm and depending on when he wakes up he will get laid down around 6:30 to 7... other then that there are no schedules, we don't have a set thing we do at the same time on the same days. Some days we stay in all day other days we are out most of the day, only coming home for naps!
Do what is best for your family and the rest will work itself out! I don't think your are scaring your child in the least!
My friend just told me, the only thing you "have" to be consistent about is loving them! I think that's so true. As parents, we often put so much pressure on ourselves to do everything right according to the books and magazines but as long as our kids know we love them and we provide a positive environment everything will be fine! Personally, I have never been good about sticking to a routine for myself, so I'm not surprised that I'm not good at having a routine with my daughter either!
Post a Comment