There are so many returns to make this time of year! Kids and teachers return to school and families return to a schedule. We return to meal planning and Saturday morning loads of laundry and Sunday afternoon grocery shopping. I return to the weekly grind, as well.
I love a good routine. Yes, to a fault sometimes. Like right now I am “enjoying” a leisurely movie night (I teased Jason for playing the old Swiss Family Robinson, claiming no one would like it, yet here we sit all mesmerized), but really I am watching the clock and preparing to demand teeth brushing and pajamas. Gotta keep the bedtime routine strong!
I live life in a series of routines. They are my comforts, my predictable patterns when the world is a little less predictable. Most days, I look forward to them.
During the school week, I wake up early, usually 5:00. The first order of business is always coffee. I need one cup to ease into the day. Jason is also up, so we take turns brewing and pouring. While I sip, I read my book or check the news. The lights are still dim, and I am always still in bed for this, the most glorious part of the day.
Then, it’s time for exercise. Jason gets out of the house for a run, and I hop on the Peloton for a ride or a bootcamp. Before work, I usually can only squeeze in a half-hour class. But I am always happy I do it, because come 4:30 p.m. when the bulk of the day is over, I am only interested in a zero-minute aerobic class. By 6:00-ish, the kiddos are waking up. Sometimes, Jameson will toddle down with his blanket and lay on the yoga mat next to the Peloton until I am finished. Harper will make her way to our bedroom and turn on a morning cartoon. I love this time of day. It’s still darkish, and it’s always cozy.
The kiddos are comfy while Jason and I hit the shower, get ourselves ready, and iron our clothes. Then, it’s the kids’ turn to dress and ready themselves. By a little after 7:00, we make our way downstairs for breakfast and lunch-making. We brew more coffee for our to-go mugs, get reading logs signed, and welcome Grandma and Grandpa, who graciously do school drop-off and pick-up (and often sub in to finish cutting vegetables or smearing the last bit of jelly onto a sandwich).
Then, we are all off to our days! I sip coffee through the morning at school and am thankful for masks, because ewww … who wants a teacher with coffee breath? But, I can’t quit it. So let’s not quit masks. It’s a win-win.
Coming home after work is always one of the best parts of the day. Once a week or so, on our way home, Jason or I will stop at the grocery store for a few necessities or to the farm to pick up our CSA share. Occasionally, there are haircuts or a strangely timed meeting. But for the most part, with the exception of a walk for me, once we four are home, we are home.
Early evening is always dinner prep time. I put on music and hang in the kitchen. Fortunately, our kiddos do not have after school sports obligations, so we are able to sit down for supper each night of the week. After dinner, Harper and Jameson pick up their books to begin their daily reading while Jason and I do dishes. Then, it’s math homework and baths.
While the weather is good, I go out for a nightly walk. It has become one of my favorite ways to wrap up a day. It has been one hot month, but the evenings cool as the sun sets. I pop in my headphones and listen to music or a podcast. By the time I am home, the dusk light glows on the house, and I feel happy to know there are two pajama’ed children inside ready for a book and bed. There are days when I want to do nothing but sit on the couch and zone out, but I am never sorry I walked.
Once the kiddos close their eyelids, Jason and I begrudgingly pull out our work for a while. We plan, email, and read. At some point, we both call it quits and put on Netflix (or Apple TV – We are into Ted Lasso at the moment- so good!) until we close up shop for the night. Just like we are early risers, we are also early to bed people. Before closing my eyes, I almost always think of that first cup of coffee in the morning. Which is so lovely. And so satisfying.
And just like, another day will begin. And I will slide right back into my little routines. And even if I think, gosh, this is boring/ just did this/ here I am again, I am too comfy there. A creature of habit I am.
A few years back, I worked with a woman who had a very young son, like under two years old. We got to talking about our days, and she informed me that two nights a week, she went out to play poker after she put her son down. Mind Blown. People do that? Bahahahahaha. I can’t imagine.
How do you routinize your life? Does it make you happy or make you feel constrained?
To the creatures of habit and to the poker playing night owls, happy Monday. Have a wonderful week, no matter how it looks for you.
