Back on

-
Ah.... the joys of our sweet, sweet routine.

I think this week we will be able to truly settle back into the life pace that we know, the friendly activities that great us each day in comforting expectation, the schedule that is predictable and known and oh so very welcome.

As the ever-struggling mom of a precious 6 year old and a vivacious 4 year old, our daily routine is sometimes the only thing that helps keep me sane in the midst of the chaos that is every day life.  When we know what to expect, we know how to cope with the problems that come to challenge us.  When we know what to expect, we know that we will make it through even though times are tough.  When we know what to expect, the days are actually filled with much greater joy as we can pour ourselves into each and every activity with confidence and certainty, seeking improvement and a general sense of life's betterment along the way.

What is our routine, you ask?  Here are a few items that define us in this stage of our lives:
  • Clark: Wake at 5.45a
  • Clark: Eat peanut butter toast for breakfast
  • Mama: Morning water; morning coffee
  • Clark: Get dressed in school uniform
  • Clark: Brush teeth
  • Mama: Pack Clark's snack
  • Mama: Wake up Claire
  • Drive to bus stop; wait for 10 minutes; Clark catches bus
  • Mama and Claire back home
  • Mama and Claire eat oatmeal with fruit and splenda for breakfast
  • Claire: Get dressed in school uniform
  • Mama: Pack gym bag, get dressed
  • Claire: Brush teeth and hair; general morning tears and trauma caused by sensitive head...
  • Drive Claire to school: listen to music or watch Dora on iPod on the way
  • Drop Claire at school gate
  • Mama: Drive to gym, work out for 1 hour, take shower
  • Mama: Drive to QMart supermarket; pick up supplies for the day
  • Mama: Home to work for one hour
  • Mama: Eat lunch
  • Mama: Drive to get Claire at her bus stop
  • Pick up Claire by 1.15p
  • Drive home; Claire eats lunch - generally rice and dal or puris with potato curry
  • Claire: Take bath
  • Claire: Go down for afternoon nap
  • Mama: Work from 2.30p-4.30p; eat afternoon 150 calorie snack at 4.00p
  • Go pick up Clark from bus stop - arrives 5.15p-5.30p
  • Arrive home by 5.45p; play 'til dinner
  • Mama: Cook dinner; eat by 6.00p-6.15p
  • Clark: Do homework for 15 minutes
  • Clark: in to bed by 7.00p sharp
  • Claire: Play/read books 'til bed; in to bed by 8.00p
  • Mama: Work from 8.00p-11.00p; or watch TV (Amazing Race, American Idol, CSI, NCIS, or Numb3rs
  • Mama: Bed by 11.00p (if lucky.... if too much work, then bed time negotiable!)

After being 'off' our usual schedule for approximately 7 weeks, hopefully today will resemble the above and we will all derive great comfort from the sweet routine that it brings.  We definitely need it.

~lk

Comments

Kris said…
You get dressed AFTER you drop Clark off at the bus? I know sleep pants appear to be acceptable attire here, judging by the number spotted on any given day at our local Wal-Mart, but didn't think that fashion trend had made it to India. Or are you a trend-setter?

Hope your week is blissfully routine!
11:35 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

On Compassion

-
The tension has really ratcheted up in the last couple of weeks.     It seems like people are on edge. Extra nervous.     Almost on the verge of panicking. Is it COVID? Is it the election? Is it the constant uncertainty that we’ve all been under for months and months and months… and months?     So many of us thought that SURELY by the holidays we would have returned to ANY KIND of normal – old normal, new normal, abnormal… something.     But no.     Here we are.     It’s in this unsettled state of existence that my heart has started hurting.  It’s started hurting so much for all the broken people out there.  Yes, there’s been a lot of breaking going on.  Broken hearts, broken lives, you name it, things are breaking.  And there is pain and suffering going on.  And people who are broken need to be seen and heard and understood.   I think what’s needed most right now is some g...
Read more

On Thanksgiving

-
I read an article this afternoon titled, “You have permission to not be thankful this Thanksgiving”.     The author’s point was that no one should have to force themselves to be grateful just because a date on the calendar prescribes that we should be thankful.     She even brought in to her argument the fact that “the original Thanksgiving” (think Pilgrims and Native Americans) was a horrible affair sans turkey or any feelings of thanks or of giving or of compassion and humanity.     True enough, I suppose. I would never argue that someone should be forced to be thankful.     I would never say that someone should be compelled to give thanks for things that they don’t have or for things which have been ripped from their grasp.     Forced joy is not joy.     I get that.   However, if I’m going to argue about anything, I would choose to argue passionately about one thing in this regard.  And here's the reason:   I ...
Read more

Thoughts on Election Day

-
                It’s election day here in America.     A day of red, white, and blue.     Many people have already cast their vote, but others are waiting in lines at polling places, eager to fulfill their civic duty. It’s a day that’s supposed to be a celebration of democracy.     It’s supposed to be a day when we exercise our right to choose leadership for our country that will represent us and help to guarantee that our voices are heard.     It is a day that women and people of color have fought for the right to participate in.     Fought for the right to be included.     It’s a day that’s supposed to bring us together in unity as a nation with hope for a future that will bring us the promises our forefathers, white, male and slave owners they may have been, founded this nation to bring to reality.                ...
Read more