Once school starts it can be tricky finding time for everything. There will always be days that don’t follow a plan, but I try to have some sort of schedule laid out to make sure everything gets done.
In the morning, I get the kids up and they get dressed in clothes we laid out the night before while I get their breakfast ready. Then they eat while I pack lunches! The school is close by, so I run them to school and swing around to pay any local bills while I am out.
When I get home, I can concentrate on the baby - feeding him his long, drawn-out breakfast (he has graduated to his own little table and chair, and likes to run around between bites) and catching up on laundry and housework. Then I can check on emails and touch base with clients and friends while he plays.
While he naps I get a big slice of my daily work done at my desk. About the time he wakes up, we have lunch and run to do any shopping or extra errands before time to pick the kids up from school! If it is Wednesday we stop at the library on the trip home from school; if it is Friday we will rent a few DVDs and a treat if they have had a good week.
When we get home, it is a healthy snack and homework. I try to get them outside for a little playtime too after homework if the weather is good! They have to feed and water the pets (one dog, one cat, one pygmy hedgehog) and do any other chores I have for them (unload dishwasher, pick up toys, etc).
After a bath, it is time for dinner, and then an hour or two of TV or video games. On Friday nights they get to stay up late and watch their DVDs and eat popcorn. Other nights it is bed by eight, and I get back to my computer to finish whatever work is left.
I think the reason we have such a good schedule is that I try to plan one main thing per day - Sunday is extra laundry day, to catch up on sheets and towels if I have fallen behind; Monday and Thursday I shop, and I try to plan ahead for Saturday when my husband usually does dinner on the grill.
What do you do to get everything done?
What great tips! I will definitely have to try getting hubby to take over dinner one night a week - maybe I can take a bubble bath while he cooks!