My Simple Schedule for Being Home With the Kids

Changes in Routine Can Be Stressful

There was a time in the not-so-distant past that the thought of summer break gave me anxiety. I have been a stay-at-home mom since my first son was born. Even so, once he started school I somehow seemed to forget what I used to do with him when he was home with me all day.

The only way to calm my anxiety was to meticulously plan our summer, day by day, week by week. We would do crafts and activities at home, we would go on outings, we would visit new parks and playgrounds. Every day was different. We ended up having a blast, but there was a problem. If something unexpected came up (one of us got sick, the weather was bad for the outing we had planned, etc.) I had a hard time adapting. Control freak? Uh, yeah…

Taking it One Day at a Time

A couple of years ago, life threw our family some really big challenges. We had one year that was especially tough and from day to day I had no idea what to expect. I was unable to plan anything because I never knew what the next day would bring. As hard as that time was for me, I look back and see how much I grew during those struggles.

I learned to accept each day as it comes. I learned that schedules are not bad (I still LOVE making them), but it’s okay if something doesn’t work out as I had planned. I learned to live more in the moment and less in my calendar. These were hard lessons for me, but I am so much happier for them!

COVID-19

Again, I find myself in this strange place where nothing on my calendar matters. Nothing that I have scheduled is going to happen. No sports for my older son, no play dates for my younger son, no grooming appointment for our dog. No more volunteering, no more church, no more school. If someone had told me six months ago that a virus would turn the whole world upside down, I never would have believed it.

But here we are. My husband has been ordered to work from home, school has been cancelled for my son, and even our church has closed its doors. We are home, we don’t go anywhere, we don’t see anyone, and we have no idea how long things will be like this.

And somehow, I am filled with JOY! I am not panicked, or paranoid. I am peaceful. The busyness of life has slowed to a snail’s pace. My family is all together. I have found that being required to stay home is amazingly freeing. Instead of feeling the need to constantly be on the go, I am free to just be. Just be with my family, in each moment, and breathe.

Although this is a peaceful and joy filled time for me, I recognize that many people may be struggling. I can’t imagine how hard something like this must be for families where both parents typically work, or single parent households. So, I wanted to share my Simple Schedule for Being Home with the Kids, just in case it would be of help to someone.

What Our Day Looks Like

• 6:00am – Wake Up: We like to give ourselves a bit of time in the morning before we do anything. My six-year-old usually plays and my one-year-old likes to snuggle.
• 6:45am – Breakfast: Fuel for the day!
• 7:15am – Get Ready: In our house, “get ready” means get dressed, brush teeth, and comb hair. My older son gets ready on his own pretty quickly, but I have to get myself ready, and get our one-year-old ready, so this takes some time.
• 8:00am – Devotional: I typically read a devotional with my older son before bed at night, but since we have more time in the mornings now, I am changing our devotional time. Now my little one will be able to listen as well!
• 8:15am – Morning Lessons: School districts around the US seem to be coming up with different plans. My son’s school will be doing “remote learning”, where teachers will communicate via email on a daily basis and provide lessons for the kids. The anticipated length of time for the lessons varies depending on grade, and for first grade, their goal is to provide 1 hour and 45 minutes of material per day. I have scheduled time for lessons in the morning and afternoon to break it up a bit, and have allowed extra time just in case. If my son finishes early, the extra time will be for play!
• 9:30am – Morning Snack: This time of day the kids seem to get hungry, so it’s a good time to stop what we are doing and eat!
• 9:45am – Chores: As much as I’d like to play with the kids all day, the reality is that chores need to get done. So, I have scheduled a special time for them. I may have the kids help a bit: pick up toys before I vacuum, help load the washer or dryer or put clean clothes away, empty the dishwasher, etc. They help some, but a lot of this will end up being play time for them in whatever area of the house I am cleaning.
• 10:30am – Play Time: Some scheduled play time where I am not busy or distracted, and I can play with the kids. I let them take the lead here, and I join in on whatever they want to do.
• 11:30am – Lunch: Veggie and Fruit Sandwiches (aka PB&J)
• 12:00pm – Nap Time/Quiet Time: Nap time for the little one, quiet time for the older one, “me time” for me. I usually spend it enjoying a cup of tea, checking emails, surfing Pinterest, writing, planning, or anything that relaxes or recharges me. My older son typically plays his tablet.
• 1:00pm – Art/Craft/Activity/Game: My little guy is usually still asleep, so this is some one-on-one time with my older son. Sometimes I plan an art project, activity, or craft. Sometimes I let my son take the lead and we will play with toys or play a game.
• 2:00pm – Outside/Exercise Time: My one-year-old is up from his nap by now, and he is fussy! One thing that cheers him up quickly is going outside, so this is the perfect time for us to get some fresh air. We will play in the yard or go for a walk, play ball, or even just run around inside the house if the weather is crummy.
• 3:00pm – Afternoon Snack: We all need a little snack after being active!
• 3:30pm – Afternoon Lessons: “Remote Learning” part two! I will try to save things that my son can do on his own for the afternoon, so I can escape to the kitchen if I need to get dinner started early.
• 4:30pm – Cook Dinner: This is a moving target depending on what I am making for dinner. Sometimes I need to start things earlier, sometimes I can start later. I am going to try to get my six-year-old to help with dinner once a week! My one-year-old likes to play with pots, pans, spoons, and canned goods on the kitchen floor, or he will play at the kitchen table where I can keep an eye on him.
• 5:00pm – Eat Dinner: A family dinner, with everyone at the table!
• 5:30pm – Play Time: My husband usually takes over with the kids here while I clean up the kitchen. The boys love having play time with Daddy!
• 6:30pm – Bed Time Routine: It’s bedtime for the baby, and by the time I finish with him, it’s bedtime for my six-year-old! Whew! Then it’s Grown Up Time!

Consistency is Key, But Don’t Expect Perfection

Obviously this schedule is not going to work for everyone, but I hope that it provides a place to start. I read over and over again how important structure is for children, and how they thrive with routine. But, I think that the most important thing to remember is that even with a schedule, it’s not going to be perfect.

There will be days when the schedule just won’t work, and that is totally okay! I try not to let it throw me off. Sometimes the morning doesn’t go well, but the afternoon can be salvaged. Other times I have to throw the schedule out the window for the day. I just wake up the next morning and try again. The more consistent I am, the easier things seem to be.

Also, life is constantly changing and the schedule that I make today may not meet our needs in a few months. I adjust things as we go along. If something isn’t working, I figure out what does!

Thanks for reading! I hope that this was in some way encouraging or helpful.

God the Refuge of His People

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
‘Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.”

Psalm 46

~ Sarah ~