Routines. Schedules. Systems.
Many moms cringe at the thought of yet another Thing. To. Do. Or we think of the joy of spontaneous parenting and exploration with our children slipping through our fingers like so many grains of sand.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Whatever you choose to call it, routines or schedules or systems are just a means to an end. They’re a way to make our lives more intentional. More efficient. More confident. So that we can have MORE fun. Not less.
So why would a mom (or a kid?!) want a routine?
First of all, predictability and security. For those moms who are not so sure what they are doing, a routine will give you a scaffolding on which to hang the “parts” of your day. For those kids who like to know “what’s next” they can. For those kids who are free spirits, they can learn that a little structure isn’t the enemy. It can, indeed, be the gateway to MORE fun.
As young moms, both of us faced many hours of time at home with our kids without “instincts” of what to do with them. Creating a rhythm for our days helped us be able to do some needed work (like showering! and washing a sink full of dishes!) as well as have focused, intentional time with our kids.
Any kind of system, whether meal planning, naptimes, or a full rhythm for your day, is a tool. It’s a means to an end. You use it to accomplish your goals; you are not enslaved to it. If you sense that is beginning to happen, you should stop and reevaluate what you are trying to accomplish with your routines.
A day at the zoo, an unexpected visit with a friend, a spontaneous afternoon of splashing in the muddy rain puddles in the yard: none of these are juxtaposed to schedules. As the parent, you have the ability to suspend the plan or make judgment calls on the fly. And you should! After all, if you are consistently living an intentional life, a little variation won’t prevent you from reaching your goals.
So, free spirits and disciplined spirits, unite! …under the umbrella of intentional, rhythmic living. We believe we’ll all find that our kids are happier and that we are more productive and joyful in our day-to-day lives.
One great resource we’ve both used is Joey & Carla Link’s material from their Parenting Made Practical ministry. Check them out!
Listen to the podcast episode!