My number one email question.....

There is one question, in particular, that I get on a regular basis. I always tell them that I will blog about it soon and then it just doesn't happen. It's not that I don't want to answer the question, it is just that I feel like there really isn't anything amazing about the answer I will be giving.

The question: What is your routine? Tell me how your day goes?

First off, understand that my attempt to answer this question will in no way imply that I really have "it" all together. "It" has gotten more together over the years but "it" is still a work in progress. However, looking back at my young motherhood days, I guess there is some value in hearing from a seasoned mother. I think the real question here applies to the feeding and cleaning aspect of my life. So, that is where I will attempt to outline my routines. (Understanding that of course, some days, routines are only attempted and not always executed.)

To look at what must happen to have a successful day, my day really starts the night before. So, let's begin there; when the little ones go to bed. The "pre-day" routines.

I almost never, ever, go to bed with a messy house. If I do, I will always be a good hour behind schedule. I will be grumpy. I will have to move other important things out of the way or skimp here or there to get it all done. So, it really is not worth the price I pay by getting the house clean before bed. We aren't talking vacuum carpets and shine toilets type clean. Just make sure all floors are picked up, dishes done and floor swept type clean. Kids are always a part of this routine.

Then, I figure out what breakfast will be, if it hasn't been figured out before. I need a game plan because the morning comes fast. I need to make sure the flours are soaking if need be. I need to figure out how much time I need to allot to make the breakfast. Some breakfasts are quicker than others so if something needs to bake, I need to start that right away versus do other things first. I get my game plan down. I look at the calendar and chart a daily course in my mind.

I also need to make sure I have things sprouting, culturing or soaking. Do I need to start Kefir or yogurt? Do I need more sprouts? If so, I need to get it going at night. It takes only minutes to do but you must get the timing down so that you don't go to use kefir and it is gone. It takes preparation.

Then, it is my personal time. I need a few minutes to unwind before bed, which is usually way too late.

Morning: The most important thing in the world - GET UP BEFORE THE KIDS!

If you do not do this, you are missing out on critical preparation time and meditation time. Waking up to demanding kids makes me grumpy. I also want to get things done before I am summoned.

I wake up and after the morning incidentals, I start a load of laundry and make sure there are a couple loads dried in the basket for boy 1 or 2 to fold for their morning chores. I always start a load or I will be behind.

Then, I go to the kitchen and get breakfast going. Kids are up early at my house and have to be out of the house fast. Summer is no different. We have summer school and swim team around here. I want them to leave with a belly full of good food, so I can't sleep in even if I wanted to. Scripture time is early around the kitchen table. Dad reads while I flip the pancakes or scramble the eggs. Jobs are done and kids are out the door. A few stragglers stay behind.

It's then time for the kitchen cleanup, checking on things sprouting/fermenting and picking up the morning messes. Beds, switch laundry, bathrooms, etc. Whatever little people can't/don't do. Time for a little exercise and getting ready for the day. This all happens in under 1.5 hours , tops.

Next up is getting dinner in my mind. I need to mentally know what needs to be done later in the day so dinner doesn't surprise me. It doesn't always happen. But, early preparation is the best. What do I need? What time do I need to start it? Is there something I can prep before? Soak beans, cut lettuce, etc. Wish I had more time to get it going in the morning but I do what I can with the time allotted. I usually have to be out of the house pretty quickly.

Midday is always a mad dash of running around and shuffling kids. Nothing different from any other mom in the world. I don't like lunch. For whomever is here, I pull out leftovers, if any, bread, fruit, hummus. Whatever I have. I don't plan lunches. They just aren't a big event for me. They are quick and healthy. If it is school time, lunches are packed before kids even come down for breakfast, most the time. They rarely buy at the school. They don't like to. Thank goodness.

Since the midday schedule is always crazy, dinner usually needs to be executed quickly. For those that think a homemade dinner takes too long, they haven't tried hard enough. I can cook a delicious homemade dinner well before you could go through a drive thru. It just takes organization.

Since my day has been mentally planned out in the wee morning hours, I know when dinner needs to be started. It isn't always clockwork but most of the time, a dinner is on the table at a reasonable time. We eat in most days of the week, if not all. The Mr. and I go out to eat usually one night a week while the kids get a little less exciting dinner at home. They are usually thrilled. Sometimes they even get to go out with us or get take out.

Dinner is cleaned up, by me or a little helper. Then, it starts out all over again!


Nothing special to my routine but the most important thing; there must be a routine. Having a clean house and preparing healthy meals does not take all day. If you get behind, it is hard to catch up. If you don't have your kids help or allow them to string toys all over the house, you will always be in the clean up mode and will have other things left in the wings. Everyone in the house needs a routine and rules. Even the toddlers. Have a place for everything so they know where to put it when they are done.

That is really about it. Hope I answered those lingering emails. Sure doesn't seem very exciting to me but that is about how it all goes down. Any more emails I haven't answered?