Our Daily Rhythm… The True Story

The true story of our daily rhythm…

A couple of weeks ago I shared our daily rhythm. Our days are not scheduled, but we do have a normal way things go. Or at least I way I aim for things to go.

We are a two parents working at home, five kids under eight, homeschooling family. Which basically means things are always up in the air and subject to change. You have no choice but to change your plans when there is a bathroom emergency or the baby wakes up or just that the day is warm and sunshiny after a week of dreary, cold weather.

You can go back and read our daily rhythm to get an idea of a day that fits in the box and conforms to the ideal. And then you can read about our day yesterday– a day that was forcing it’s way out of the box at times, but a day that was enjoyable and nonetheless.

I remember in college when I was studying to be a teacher learning about the value of short lessons. This is one of Charlotte Mason’s key principles. Teach and give your attention to something fully for fifteen minutes or so, and then change it up. Well, this is how my life is right now, though quite often I only actually get five minutes of attention before another need presents itself.

No day is just the same, and once spring hits more fully we will be taking advantages of outings at the park more regularly. But keep reading and you will find a rather accurate picture of what life is like in this season. I’m sure it will be humorous to look back upon it years from now when things are less demanding and yet challenging in all new ways.

Our Daily Rhythm…The True Story

5:15 AM::  I woke up on my own and was surprised at how long I had slept. Five straight hours! I got up to check on the baby, then went back to bed hoping to sleep until my alarm went off at 6:00.

5:30 AM :: Woke up again, this time to the baby crying. I got up and nursed the baby while watching a show on Amazon. I stayed on the couch holding the baby until the show ended.

6:15 AM :: Put the baby back in the pack-n-play in the living room to sleep. Quietly fix a bowl of cereal and start my coffee (decaf) in the dark kitchen.

6:20 AM :: Sit down and eat cereal. Drink coffee and start writing today’s blog post.

8:00 AM :: Finish blog post and hit publish. Go to kitchen and make a second cup of coffee.  Start getting things ready for the day– sweep the kitchen, pick up clutter, and organize the dirty dishes to make washing them easier later.

8:30 AM :: I hear my toddler calling out so I got him out of bed and changed his diaper. While he was getting his diaper changed, my three big kids wake up and get out of bed. Big kids wake up baby in the living room and keep her happy for a while.

9:00 AM :: Make breakfast with the help of the six-year-old. Everyone eats and then adds their dishes to the other dirty dishes in the sink. Inform everyone to prepare for a LOT of laundry to fold. Promise to read current read aloud while they fold.

9:30 AM :: Sit down to nurse the baby while eating cold eggs. Check a blog comment and research how much salt is in other recipes. Feel relieved. I tell everyone that I want to record a video first thing, but then decide to exercise before getting dressed for the day. And then I promptly forget I decided to exercise. Big kids start playing legos.

10:00 AM :: Put the baby in the bumbo in the kitchen with the intention of washing dishes. Get distracted and no dishes get washed. Remember exercising and turn on video. Move the pack-n-play back to my bedroom so I’ll have room to exercise. While moving the pack-n-play, I smell my toddler’s dirty diaper, so I change him.

10:15 AM :: Return to the kitchen and wash my hands. Go to use the bathroom. Come back to kitchen to get baby out of bumbo so she can play while I exercise. Realize how late it is, so change my plan and decide to put the baby down before I exercise. As I pick up the baby, I feel wetness on her back and find a massive blowout. I change her diaper and clothes while being serenaded by my preschooler playing a guitar. Decide to write this post.

10:30 AM :: Put baby down for a nap. Start chronicling day. Get toddler off of buffet, then agree to fruit snacks for everyone to keep toddler happy. Big kids still playing legos.

10:37 AM :: Turn TV back on to do exercise video. Go help crying baby. Find her sleeping before I get back to her.

10:40 AM :: Pour my third glass of water for the day. Start exercise video against all odds.

11:10 AM :: Finish exercise video. Go to the bathroom. Toddler follows and spills the dog’s water all over the floor. Clean bathroom floor and then get dressed for the day.

11:15 AM :: Prep for my video and then film.

11:45 AM :: Upload video and add to blog post. Kids play with beads and pipe cleaners. Six-year-old gets out pet rat to entertain toddler.

12:00 PM :: Stop six-year-old from giving pet rat a bath outside.

12:30 PM :: Baby wakes up from nap, so I get her up and nurse her. Afterwards I make the rest of the kids lunch (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, and apple slices). Everyone eats and we listen to our current audiobook (The Long Winter).

1:00 PM :: Clean up lunch. Ask the big kids to pick up toys so I can sweep the dining room and vacuum the living room.

The stack keeps growing…

1:40 PM :: Put the baby back down to nap. Tell the other kids to go outside. We all work on cleaning the garage and yard. I keep cleaning and the kids start playing.

3:00 PM :: Toddler goes down for a nap. Big kids stay outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. I keep cleaning the yard and garage.

3:15 PM :: Baby wakes up from nap. I start nursing the baby inside when FedEx arrives. Pause feeding the baby to get the dog inside and ask my oldest to get the package. Moments later I change my mind about my seven-year-old getting the package from the driver and so I go myself. Return inside and finishing feeding the baby.

3:30 PM :: Make a snack and take it outside, along with the baby and our read aloud book. We all enjoy the sunshine while eating chips and salsa and cheese sticks.

3:45 PM :: I read aloud and hold the baby. My seven-year-old builds a fire in an old kitchen pan. I think about the advantages of unschooling.

4:15 PM :: Toddler wakes up early from his nap. I bring him outside.

4:30 PM :: Everyone goes inside and I give the toddler a snack. The baby goes back down for another nap. I wonder when I’ll ever wash dishes as the stack keeps growing. Take out meat for dinner.

4:45 PM :: Give the toddler and preschooler bananas. Attempt to convince preschooler that a broken banana still tastes the same. Check on baby crying.

4:50 PM :: Start school lessons at the buffet.

(This is why we try to do school during the toddler’s nap). 

5:50 PM :: Baby wakes up. I finish the math lesson with my six-year-old and then dismiss the kids to go back outside. I feed the baby.

6:00 PM :: Put baby in the bumbo next to the sink and finally wash dishes while listening to a podcast. Start on dinner. Prep for live video.

6:20 PM :: Finish the dishes, then keep working on dinner.

6:35 PM :: Toddler and preschooler come inside muddy. I stop working on dinner to put them in the bathtub.

6:45 PM :: Try to figure out why internet isn’t working. A live video may not happen.

6:50 PM :: I hear the toddler crying so I go get him out of the tub. Preschooler has covered his head in soap. Scold preschooler.

7:10 PM :: Put the baby down for a nap. I’m getting tired and the internet isn’t working. Rethink dinner plans.

This dinner was supposed to be grilled, but cooking it in our cast iron pans was easier and still delicious. (Copycat Zoe’s recipe). 

7:45 PM :: Eat dinner. Cheer for toddler to encourage him to eat.

8:00 PM :: Baby wakes up and joins us. Toddler spills salad dressing on the table.

8:20 PM :: We all finish dinner and then clean up. Our two oldest boys take a shower. Husband tries to put toddler to bed but has to hunt for the missing nightlight. I wash dishes.

9:00 PM :: Brush all the kids teeth and put them to bed. Feed the baby.

Later… recipe test brownies. Watch Band of Brothers with husband. Write this post. Get really excited about going to bed.

How was your day yesterday??

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