anyone run their home with military prescion?

[itshappenedagain]

im now 24 weeks pregnant and have a 3yr Ds, want to start getting us into more of a routine than we are already in.
any tips for those who have been there? plus im on my own so no partner to take over.

[compo]

is your 3 year old at nursery or playgroup?

tbh at that age I just went with the flow

I knew of an activity once a day that I could go to like storytime at the library, toddler groups etc but if I just felt like going for a walk , shopping or the park we could do that instead

because once the baby comes a routine will go out the window anyway

is that helpful or do you want up at 8am, breakfast at 8.30am, whole day planning?!!

[thirdname]

I agree, maybe just go with the flow. You will have difficulties in keeping up with all routines and then you get just stressed out more for not keeping the routines (at least that's how it happens with me....)

[mii]

well I have dc3 on the way

the only things I find essential are

-putting out all clothes/uniform for the next day out the night before and another pile for coats/scarfs/gloves even shoes

it saves about 30mins of 'i can't find my coat/shoe/hairbrush/bookbag every morning

-meal planning so I don't have to trapse to the shops everyday with + children

-keeping on top of clothes washing, one drawer for socks/knickers one for tops/jumpers one for trousers/skirts for each DC

-baths together 3/4 times a week all at once

[itshappenedagain]

thankyou it was tips like those i needed. Ds is at nursery from 1230-330 daily, but have th option of moving to mornings or two full days and a half day as of september...i will cross that bridge when i come to it!

with Ds i was so dead for the first couple of months and just about sorted myself out after that.

will definitely start orgainising for the next day the night before as that seems to save loads of time.

[mathanxiety]

Keep things like daily routines very simple and don't be too ambitious about what can realistically be squeezed into a day. Keep on top of laundry. Make a meal plan for the week and shop accordingly. Use a slow cooker.

Have the 3 yo help with little household tasks like laundry -- putting her own clothes away with assistance, putting away her toys before dinner with help from you, putting away groceries.

Organising for the next day is very important -- have shoes, coat, hat, gloves all in their places and train your DD to always leave her outdoor things in the right spot so you don't have to turn the house upside down looking for things.

Get enough sleep if you can -- don't try burning the candle at both ends.

[mii]

the clothes out the night before thing really helps me, currently sitting next to 4 piles of DD/DS clothes/uniform and DD/DS coats/scarves etc, shoes in a line on the floor, packed lunch done and bags hanging up near the back door

We can hopefully then get up at 7 and have a fairly relaxed morning before leaving at 8.30. Also all hairbrushes are kept in the medicine cabinet and hair is done in the bathroom and they are put straight back again. HATE having to hunt for DD or DS's hairbrush in the morning

[PeppermintCream]

I agree clothes (indoor and outdoor) sorted the night before.
Online shopping is your friend, as is meal planning and batch cooking
Try to declutter and encourage everyone to put things back where they belong - saves loads of time and stress
Keep on top of the washing
Lower your standards
Sleep when you can
Enjoy your time with your baby!

[LaurieFairyCake]

There's a couple of things I do that are strictly adhered to - bedtimes, childs chores. She goes all weird if she goes to bed late and her keeping her room tidy is a necessity to find stuff.

I am also pretty controlling when it comes to shopping (the stuff I do when she's not around), all online, batch cooking when I can - making sure we don't run out of milk and yoghurt.

oh and shoes are not allowed to wander from the front door.

[BirdyBedtime]

mii - I'm really glad to hear I'm not the only person who does this as most of my friends think I'm crazy. I don't know how I'd manage mornings if everything wasn't all laid out. I even go as far as getting out plates/cups/cutlery for next night's tea as it is usually made and waiting in the fridge! But itshappenedagain it's probably true that the first few weeks (months) with a new dc will make being organised difficult, but every little helps.

[sunburntats]

I do too.
My work routine is pretty solid so i do tend to have strict routines at home too.

I lay stuff out for the week, so have uniforms in a pile with socks, vests and undis all there ready for every day.

meall plan every sunday sit down and do that along with a shopping list, go on a Sunday afternoon nd do the weeks shopping.
Batch cook and freeze allot.

cleaning all done on a Sat morning fot he week. Do washing about 3 timesa w eek in the evening then it all goes on radiators to dry overnight, hoofed into ironing basket in the morning, ironing on a Sunday while watching Easteners.

dishwasher on at night, emptied every morning