Being more relaxed over the Christmas holidays meant that we got into a lot of bad habits, especially with regards to how often the TV was on throughout the day. Our lack of routine made the first week of January quite tough for all of us. The children were struggling to focus on playing with toys because they just had too many to choose from and I was struggling with keeping my patience!
I realised that we needed to have a lot more structure to our day. Since drawing up a new routine where there are fewer toys out but they are tidied away and changed during the day, plus with time allocated for focused activities such as crafts and outdoor activities has made a huge difference. The girls are fighting less often, we’re all feeling happier and it feels like we are enjoying better quality time together as a result. It’s also had the additional benefit of helping teach Jessica to tell the time. She now knows that she can only watch TV when the little hand is on the 4 (which makes it easier for me to prepare and cook dinner too!)
Things I have loved this week:
- Having a lazy day at home with the girls and creating a VTech Toot Toot Drivers City all across the lounge floor.
- Dancing around the dining room with Sophie and making her giggle.
- Having some sunshine and being able to enjoy time in the garden.
- Noticing more and more things to be thankful for each day – such as this beautiful sunrise which made the dark winter mornings much more bearable!
- Watching Jessica and Sophie having fun painting pictures.
- Taking the girls to the park with their bikes and watching them race each other around the playground.
- A late night snuggle on the sofa with Jessica after she woke up and came downstairs one evening.
- The reassurance of seeing that Jessica’s sats remain stable and she is gaining weight well during this month’s visit from the community nurse.
There’s a lot to be said for routine, isn’t there? It really does help little ones, and us!, and it makes you feel more in control, too. Nice to have a plan! Loving that drivers city, looks like a lot of fun! Glad Jessica’s doing so well, too x Thanks for sharing with #WotW
Thanks Jocelyn – it’s been amazing the difference it’s made for all of us. The drivers’ city is so much fun – I do wonder sometimes whether hubby and I have more fun helping the girls put it together than they do playing with it! 🙂
Aww 🙂 a lovely post and gorgeous photos
Thank you Karen 🙂
It sounds like a good week! We are back into a routine too and feel so much better for it!
That VTech Toot Toot Drivers City looks like so much fun x
Thanks Kim – glad being back in a routine is working well for you too 🙂
Aaaah loving the pics of your girls and the brightly coloured track. Thanks for sharing with us. #WotW
Thank you Helena 🙂
Ah so pleased for Jess. I think routine is the answer to it all sometimes. Everyone knows where they are! We say TV after 4pm too (apart from now when the grem is so ill). The pics are lovely and great you managed to get outside and have some fun. I bet that late night snuggle was lovely too xx #wotw
Thanks Sarah – I agree with relaxing the TV rules when they are poorly! Hope your little gremlin is better soon x
I love plenty of routine and structure – I think when baby came along the unpredictability of motherhood was what threw me the most. I feel much more capable now that Jo is a year old and in quite a steady routine. Lovely pictures of your week together, it looks like there have been lots of highlights 🙂
Thanks Robyn – I think adjusting to motherhood can make that first year more challenging – glad that you feel much more capable now 🙂
Fab news about J’s stats, that must be such a relief for you. That sunset picture was beautiful and I love that you managed some outdoors fun between the rain and cold.
Thanks Catie – always a relief when Jessica’s monthly check-ups go well!
January is hard – getting back to a routine is a nightmare, which I imagine is even harder with children. Love the floor city 🙂 I can’t believe you had some sun, it’s getting colder by the day up in the north east! Really pleased to hear Jessica is doing well at her check up, and well done to her for learning to tell the time 🙂 #HappyDays
Debbie
I’ve been quite surprised at how much sun we’ve had although it’s not getting quite a bit colder down here too!
Hi Louise, getting back into a routine is never easy at the best of times, but after the excitement of Christmas it’s even harder.
It’s nice to see that you have had some quality time with your girls throughout the week. I used to secretly enjoy those out of hours cuddles (as long as they didn’t become a habit). If everyday started with a sunrise like that, no one would have trouble getting out of bed!
So glad to read that Jessica’s stats haven’t changed at that she is doing well.
xx
Thanks Debbie, always a relief to hear that her sats are still good. Those out of hours cuddles have been lovely but it’s been good to have a more set routine too 🙂
That toot toot set looks amazing. It can be difficult getting back into routine after christmas. Great news about Jessica’s sats. x
Thanks Karen, definitely made me realise what a difference having a routine makes! 🙂
I’m a big routine person, as you may remember, and I think the children really do benefit from it too. Where is always so much going on around Christmas that it’s easy to get out of your routine.
And what great news about Jessica, what really welcome news xx
Thanks Tracey, it has made such a difference, and always such a relief to know all is well with Jessica too x
I really need to get organised and have allocated toys out for the girls. What I really need to do is have a massive sort out! Thank you for joining in #HappyDaysLinky x
Having a massive sort out makes such a difference – I did one just before Christmas and am definitely seeing the benefits of it now
My boys love Toot Toot drivers, I always think the cars sound so posh! It has taken me 2 years to realise about the smart points, doh. We’ve managed to play out in the garden today despite the cold weather. Thanks for linking up to #HappyDaysLinky x