Moms Talk About Making Routine Easy

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with this question:

How can we make the transition into school mode smoother?
 
Jan Katz-Kellogg:

I have learned from experience that approaching the new school year  without a lot of thought is a big mistake. It seems as if I start the season by just reacting to the constant needs and demands of life. I then stay in that mode the entire season, always rushing and doing but never feeling like I’m on top of it.

Time is the enemy and there’s never enough of it. In just the space of a few months, school starts, fall begins, then there’s Thanksgiving. Before you know it, it’s Christmas, I’m frazzled and feeling very overwhelmed.

In the past few years, I have changed how I approach this time of year so that by Christmas we can actually enjoy the holidays. It’s amazing to me how small changes and a proactive attitude result in huge rewards—time, money and sanity.

While some of these may not work for you, these are some of the changes I made.
 
1) Develope a routine. Since my son was a toddler, a stable routine has always been important. Still is. His behavior, sleep and eating patterns would drastically change if he wasn’t on his regular routine. I still think routines for our kids give them a stability they don’t even realize they need. Each child is different and you probably have your own through-the-week routine, which is fine. I don’t think it matters much what the routine is so much as that it is a predictable schedule or foundation for your child’s support structure.
 
2) The routine I jot every doctor’s appointment, holiday, school vacation days and any event, game or activity I can think of down on a monthly calendar. Looking at the big picture, I can see things I might not notice if I was just reacting to each commitment. I can get an idea of how much we’ll be eating out, Crock Pot meals or dishes I can make ahead. Seeing the month in advance gives me power over it and allows me to make a plan, even if it’s a constantly changing one. This sit down-with-myself takes all of ten minutes and helps the whole household run more smoothly and calmly.
 
 
3) Food. Make good, home cooked dishes in advance and freeze. When I make lasagne, I make 2 – 1 to freeze. Crock Pot chili leftovers can be this weekend’s chili dog topper.

A pork loin or a bag of chicken breasts—take home and grill all of it at the same time over mesquite chips on your grill. Separate individual servings into freezer bags. During the hectic week, you can pull them out, steam some veggies and feel like you are at a great cookout.
 
4) Work from lists. If I don’t make lists, I forget to buy what I came into a store to buy and buy a lot of other things.
 
5) Christmas shop when school starts.  This may sound crazy to you but it’s been a rule for myself for the last five years and it is probably the single most cost effective, time saving, sanity saver of the entire fall/winter season.

When Back To School Sales begin, there are some really great deals. I look for pretty bath towels, women’ jewelry and watches, small appliances and home décor. I don’t shop in a big way. I just look through the sales, picking up an item here and there. Funny, when I am not under the gun, having to rush out and buy a gift, I actually enjoy the browsing, seeing things that remind me of my friends or loved ones.

The first year I did this, I was shocked and delighted to see what I had accumulated without realizing it. Not only did I have most of my shopping done, I had precious time to enjoy the holidays themselves. I had more money and Christmas was paid for. I also remember going into a Macy’s the week before Christmas and recognizing the glazed looks of people frantically trying to make purchases and feeling immense relief that I would never have to experience that again.
 
Getting into school mode coincides with getting into the fall season and holiday mode. It is my favorite time of year but used to be very stressful. In making the changes necessary to enjoy this time of year, it all boils down to one thing: time management. In a world where we have limited time to do the things we want and have a life we can enjoy, deciding how to divide that time can mean the difference between having a satisfying, meaningful life or it can be a big, never ending, unsatisfying chase. In learning how to use my time more effectively, I have so much more of it to focus on the people and things I love. Not always being in a rush makes for a calmer home environment and a sense of peace. I just wish I had learned this years ago.

Kim Koch:

The carefree days of summer are behind us even if the heat remains. It was so easy bending rules to enjoy more time together. Here are some ways that make the transitions easier and less stressful for us all:

—Your child has a cell phone, unlimited talk and text. Set limits and enforce your own rules. Set up a family charging station far away from your sleeping areas. There is nothing wrong in using an alarm clock that isn’t built into your phone. In doing this, it will bring less stress and worries about outside influences that way.

—Try to serve breakfast and dinner in a scheduled manner. Have everyone that eats be involved in the planning and preparation of meals. Trade responsibilities as ages and stages allow for. Good eating habits do start at home.

—Set up a quiet place to study, but not so removed that they can’t ask for help when needed. Stay stocked with supplies they could need at home and for school.

—Shower the night before, it makes the mornings easier to get out the door and keeps your bedding much cleaner. There are times when your child may wake with greasy hair; take that into consideration and allow them to wash their hair in the sink in the morning if needed.

—Lay out outfits and make sure all your homework, permission slips, book bags and lunches are taken care of before bed. Go through your children’s book bag once a week at least, to make sure they haven’t forgotten something important.

—Take the televisions out of the sleeping areas, ambient noise from programs gets into your subconscious while you attempt to rest and you can awaken more tired than before you slept. If you don’t take them out, be sure to at least turn them off once your child has fallen asleep.

—Meet your child’s teachers and know who the administrators are in your children’s school. Walk the school with your youth and let them know you have an interest in what they are doing each day and who they encounter. Knowing your child’s schedule at school will help you not only know where they are, but keep meal times on track on weekends and during holidays.

—Know what activities they are involved in outside of studies. Keep a calendar in a common area so the whole family can know what is going on and when, and who is responsible for what.