Sometimes it is hard to transition between the musical improvisation of summer and the march of school year rhythm. The last couple of weeks of August become a jazz piece – with a steady beat but lots of improvisation thrown in.
I scramble to organize my calendar, school space, and household tasks. I make sure my school supplies and bookshelves are stocked, as well as checking the dresser drawers to see if they contain anything besides swimsuits and cover-ups.
When I was little – summer vacation ended and school began – changing everything about my day to day life in one swift swoop. It was exciting, but a little scary. Now, I slip from one rhythm to the next almost like embracing a new movement in the same symphony – a completely different tempo but carrying across the same motif.
Officially, we start our new rhythm the day after labor day – September 6th this year.
This is what I hope my new rhythm looks like:
Monday
8:00 – Wake, Brush Teeth, Get Dressed & Make Bed
8:15- 9:00 Mom coffee, Slow Cook Dinner, Sack lunches
9:00 Leave for Co-Op
10:30 – 11:30 Co-Op
11:30 – 12:30 Socialize & Lunch
12:30 – 5:00 Errands & Groceries (every other week) Zoo (every other week)
5:30 – 6:30 Family Dinner
6:30 – 9:30 Church Home Group
9:30 Bible, Prayers & Lights Out
Tuesday – Thursday
8:00 – 9:00 Mom Coffee & Bible Study
9:00 -9:30 Wake up, cuddle, Read-aloud in bed
9:30 – 9:45 Brush Teeth, Get Dressed & Make Bed
9:45 – 10:15 Breakfast & Dinner Prep
10:15 – 10:30 Trampoline
10:30 – 10:35 Candle Lighting & Memory Verse
10:35 – 10:50 Story Time
10:50 – 11:30 Circle Time
11:30 – 12:15 Art or Handwork
12:15 -12:45 Lunch
12:45 – 2:00 Household Chores
2:00 – 2:30 Snack
2:30 – 5:00 Health Club
5:00 – 6:00 Mom cook, Rose free-play
6:00 – 7:00 Family Dinner & Clean up
7:00 – 8:00 Free Time or Family Game TIme
8:00 – 8:15 Bedtime Snack,
8:15 – 8:40 Bath, Brush Teeth
8:40 – 9:00 Bible & Prayers
9:00 Lights Out – Bed
9:00 – 11:00 Mom – computer, reading, research and/or Mom & Dad time
Friday
8:00 – 9:00 Mom Coffee & Bible Study
9:00 -9:30 Wake up, cuddle, Read-aloud in bed
9:30 – 9:45 Brush Teeth, Get Dressed & Make Bed
9:45 – 10:30 Breakfast, Sack lunch & Dinner in Slow-Cooker
10:30 – 11:00 Household Chores
11:00 – 4:30 Forest Day
4:30 – 6:00 Free TIme
6:00 – 7:00 Dinner & Clean Up
7:00 – 8:00 Free Time or Family Game TIme
8:00 – 8:15 Bedtime Snack,
8:15 – 8:40 Bath, Brush Teeth
8:40 – 9:00 Bible & Prayers
9:00 Lights Out – Bed
9:00 – ? Mom & Dad time
Saturday
Sleep in as late as want
Extended Family Day
Family Field Trips
Free Time
Every other week – date night & babysitter
Sunday
9:00 Wake & Get ready for church, Mom
10:00 Breakfast & Lunch in Slow Cooker
10:30 – 12:30 Church
12:30 – 5:00 Extended Family
5:00 – 11:00 Mom’s much needed time alone, Dad’s turn with Rose
(Rabbit Trail: Notice I didn’t start early and we read aloud while cuddling in bed first. Being that neither Rose or I are morning people – I didn’t want to set us up for failure right off the bat. Also – I know that ART and HANDWORK should be separate events – but I also knew that if I pushed either back to after lunch – it wouldn’t get done. I also scheduled in flex time, driving time, and time away from Rose – for my own sanity.)
That’s my September march. My August jazz improv looks more like this:
Tuesday – Thursday
8:00 – 9:00 Mom Coffee & Bible Study
9:00 -9:30 Wake up, cuddle, Read-aloud in bed
9:30 – 9:45 Brush Teeth, Get Dressed & Make Bed
9:45 – 10:15 Breakfast & Dinner Prep (That’s a crescendo from sleeping as long as possible every day)
10:15am – 8:00 pm Cut technology back to one hour a day for Rose: Free play; Run around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to do all the organization that I should have been doing all summer: Swim – don’t forget there are still swim days left in the year – so trying to take advantage!
8:00 – 8:15 Bedtime Snack (I have three weeks to re-establish the bedtime routine we threw out the window when the days were long and nights were warm)
8:15 – 8:40 Bath, Brush Teeth
8:40 – 9:00 Bible & Prayers
9:00 Lights Out – Bed
9:00 – 11:00 Mom – computer, reading, research and/or Mom & Dad time
So – I’m trying to start and end the day with the new rhythm – with total improve in the middle. As the days grow cooler and the march approaches – I can feel the excitement in my bones. My dance step is changing as I anticipate the andante days of summer turning into the allegro of a new school year.
What does you school year rhythm look like? What do you do to transition from summer?
Daily Bible, Prayer & Bed
