The best piece of advice my mom ever gave me about parenting was to make a schedule for William and to stick to it.
At first I was hesitant to do this. I didn’t want to give my mom the satisfaction of being right… but she always is 🙂 Love you mom. When William wasn’t on a schedule it was terrible 2’s all day long (even before he was even 2).
Now that he is on a schedule, he is in a better mood, and I can get so much more done around the house and in general. So here is how it goes (in an ideal perfect situtation):
8-9 a.m. – William wakes up and we go straight to the bathroom to potty and brush teeth. Then we get breakfast.
9-11 a.m. – William has his TV time while I blog and respond to emails. William is currently loving The Tigger Movie and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I have brainwashed him to love Disney. He loves Disney all on his own 🙂 Sometimes this is when we will go for our walk at the park and then play on the play ground.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Playtime. This is when we turn off the TV and listen to music while playing with Williams toy or doing arts and crafts. William has recently fallen in love with coloring. Lunch time also falls in this time frame.
1 p.m.-2 or 3 p.m. – Nap time for William & sewing or exercise time for me. He’ll nap anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how busy our morning was.
3-4 p.m. – Afternoon TV time while I do chores and get ready to cook dinner. If I have to run errands this is when I will normally do it because he’s in a good mood from nap time.
5 p.m.-6 p.m. – William eats dinner while I am cooking dinner for Jeff and I.
7 p.m.-8 p.m. – Bathtime after dinner and bed time at 8. He his so great at going to bed. He asks for kisses from Jeff and I and then says good night when we shut his bedroom door.
After he goes to bed I have the evening to work on the computer or do sewing.
This is an ideal perfect day with Williams schedule, so it’s not always like this but the things that stay consistant no matter what are his nap time and bed time. Nap time is always at 1pm and bedtime is always at 8pm.
Occasionally he will wake up in the evening, but it is normally because he needs to use the bathroom. He’ll even tell me “go pee-pee then go back to bed” he’s such a big boy 🙂
I think a schedule is best too, keeps everyone on track and being used to following a routine is comforting. When they feel better everyone feels better, right:).
Scheduling is the best!! I try to keep Molly on the same schedule to daycare and it makes life much easier!
She really is 🙂 And I totally agree!
Your mama is a smart lady! 🙂 I think all kids do better with a routine/structure especially when there school.
I love having a schedule for my little gooseberry! I love having one for me, so it came pretty naturally to create one for him!
I think it's a good idea to even have schedules for us! lol. Love this idea 🙂
Nora's mostly on a schedule but she's been decreasing nap times lately… which I don't like lol. Also – I'm jealous that William goes to bed so easily. Nora is a nightowl and wants to stay up late lol.