Daily routine

My periodic posts describing our daily routine are probably boring for readers, but I like looking at them when I go back to my archives -- they remind me of what life was like when K was smaller. Our current routine:

5:30 a.m. - I wake up, exercise, shower, fix K's lunch if necessary.

6:30 a.m., if we're lucky - K wakes up. We hang out in bed and read books for a while, then he gets up and drinks some warm milk and we play with trains. This morning he threw a blanket over his head and chased me around the house, yelling, "Woooo! I'm a ghost!"

6:15-7 a.m. - JW wakes up, showers, goes to work.

7:15-8 a.m. - Breakfast. Usually some combination of whole grains, fruit, nuts, cheese, and/or eggs. Today it was Quaker Oatmeal Squares, pasta with beans, a mango which we shared, and a plum. (I was impressed that he ate the pasta. He asked for it repeatedly and then didn't want to eat it, but I reminded him of all the conversations we've had recently about wasting food and he wrinkled his nose and ate half the bowl. That's some serious self-discipline for a 2-year old.)

8-8:30 a.m. - Brush teeth, change clothes, try to be out the door by 8:15.

8:15-8:45 a.m. - Unless it's raining, walk or jog to school, pausing to look at cats and trucks and to say hi to neighbors. I push K in his blue car while he calls, "Go fast, Mommy! Go faster! Go faster than ever!" This morning, whenever I slowed to a walk he counted to ten and then yelled, "Ready, GO!" At school, I stow K's food in the fridge and his backpack on the hook and give him a kiss goodbye, then walk or jog home pushing the empty blue car. Invariably someone comments on how I lost my kid.

8:45 a.m. - Quick change, hop in the car, head to work.

4:30 p.m. - JW picks up K and somehow manages to make dinner. (I miss doing afternoon pickup, but I do NOT miss the stress of having to cook something healthy that K will eat while he's hanging on to my leg and whining for a snack or for me to come play trains with him.)

6:30 p.m. - I get home, on days I don't have to work late. K is usually close to done with his dinner.

7 p.m. - Bath time. K likes it when I pretend to dunk him in headfirst.

7:30 p.m. - Thomas time.

8-8:15 p.m. - Books (lately, nursery rhymes and "Go, Dog. Go!") and bed. JW comes in for a goodnight kiss, then I turn off the lights, tuck K in, sing "Rainbow Connection" and rub his back a little and say goodnight.

8:15-10 p.m. - Mommy and Daddy free time, in which dishes get done, phone calls made, meetings attended, etc. And occasionally we get to watch TV or play Beatles Rock Band.

10 p.m., if we're good - Bed.