My routines

[velvetpage]

My routines are starting to fall into place, though at the moment they're very short. I have gone to bed with a dish-free sink and countertop for two nights in a row, though last night it was Piet who ensured that happened. I take credit, though, for the lack of disaster area status when I left it for him. There were three pots, all rinsed, one bowl, and maybe a glass or two but I think I put all of those in the dishwasher. By no means an overwhelming job.

So, evening routine, to be shared by Piet and myself: Ensure all dishes from dinner are washed and put away; run the dishwasher if it's full; shine the sink; tackle one hot spot each for at least two minutes but no more than five (we haven't started this, but we have so many hot spots it shouldn't be a problem); lay out clothes for the morning for ourselves and the kids (though it's not too important for Claire, who can wear a sleeper on our morning walk without earning her mother any funny looks, it's going to be important for Elizabeth); ensure all our laundry is away in drawers/closets; evening ablutions, including a swish and swipe in the bathroom.

Morning routine, in ideal circumstance which includes waking up before Claire and Elizabeth: make bed as I get out of it; shower and dress; dry hair; check email. Get kids up, and get Elizabeth started on her morning routine of going to the bathroom, washing hands, dressing, making her bed, and putting away her pyjamas; get Elizabeth and myself fed, hopefully before feeding Claire so that I can nurse her while Elizabeth is finishing her cereal; put dishes in dishwasher; brush two sets of teeth; get shoes on, stroller out, etc, and head to school.

While Elizabeth's at school routine: put in a load of laundry; decide on dinner and take out of the freezer anything that must be defrosted for it; do whatever didn't get done from early morning routine; empty dishwasher if it went on the night before; make any business calls that must be made (bank, doctor, etc,) relax for a bit and feed Claire at least once in that two-hour span, on demand. This is a good time for the daily fifteen-minute mission, too.

Elizabeth's pre-bed routine: turn off tv at 7:30; straighten back room while singing "clean-up song;" have bath if necessary; go to the bathroom, wash hands and face, brush teeth; get into pyjamas; at least one story, two if all of that has gone quickly and without fuss; prayer and song; lights out.

Claire's pre-bed routine: yet to be developed. That's a job for this month.

Jobs for the next week or two:

Start a household control journal, with room for lists of these and other routines, shopping lists, a very complete calendar for appointments and possibly finances, and whatever else is supposed to go into it. Our address book is separate so I'm not putting it in the control journal.

Time to call the bank and do the fifteen-minute mission. Laundry is already in, dishwasher didn't go on, kitchen is clean. Floor needs to be swept, though. *adds to list*