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Original poster

Anyone else dreading getting back into a routine?

28 replies

ChocolateOO · 08/08/2020 19:35

Eldest is back in September. After months of us being in a weird blur of not being allowed out to gradually being allowed out we've lost our routine. I tried so hard to get them to bed. "Mummy I'm not tired" was all I got back. I couldn't really blame her. She had gone from 5 busy days at school and long walks to and from school and swimming and family time at the weekends. She used to be in bed by 7.30pm. we had a great routine. The toddler was abit harder to settle before lockdown.

Despite all effort we've been unsuccessful in getting them to sleep before it's late in the week. We get up at 7.30am sometimes a tiny bit earlier. We walk way more now than we did in march. But still not tired. So I'm abit worried about September.

I've also become a mess in regards to routine. I used to be up at 6.30. ready by 7.30 and out the house with both kids by 8am. I walked 2.5 miles twice a day doing the school run. We were home by 4pm and I cooked yes. Now I'm having an afternoon slump at 2pm (the time I'd normally be going out again.

Is anyone else dreading routine again?

Don't get me wrong I can't wait for life to have abit more meaning and structure again.... But I think with the new way of school im also abit nervous for my daughter. She's going into year one but has probably lost all her stamina and has likely forgotten alot of what school is due to months if being home. Luckily I've managed to do quite a bit with her and I hope I've prepped her enough.

I kind of just want it here now so I can get it "over" with.

Also going to strangely miss having her home but I think deep down I need the time back again to focus on potty training and helping my 2 year old develop.

OP posts:
BluebellsGreenbells · 08/08/2020 19:38

We’ve been back 6 weeks.

OH the exhaustion!! Kids asleep by 6:30 a few nights running. They can get back into it.

Original poster
ChocolateOO · 08/08/2020 19:39

Cooked tea that should say

OP posts:
Original poster
ChocolateOO · 08/08/2020 19:40

@BluebellsGreenbells

Did you find after the first day at school they crashed? I think that's the only way we will get back to it.

OP posts:

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BluebellsGreenbells · 08/08/2020 19:47

Yes, massively!

I’d get tea on straight away so it’s ready when they get home. They’ll be out like lights.

Devlesko · 08/08/2020 19:49

We've never done routine, what's it like? Does it get boring doing the same everyday? Do you ever get up and think sod it I'm not getting up?

cheeseychovolate · 08/08/2020 19:49

Yes dreading having to be up and out by a certain time! I've not been working much during lockdown so not had to rush most days so it's definitely going to be a shock to the system come September with back to school and back to work

CherryCocktails · 08/08/2020 19:58

I feel like this after every school summer 6 weeks holidays. How will we get up? It's so early... Will we be really tired? How will I manage it all in one day..

Reality is it's tough first few days but the adrenaline of the new school year takes over. After a few days you're really tired but after a few weeks it's the norm again..

BendingSpoons · 08/08/2020 20:01

DD went back to school in June and I liked having that routine back, and doing some more walking. What I'm not looking forward to is returning to commuting. I love that I never have to set an alarm (DCs are the alarm). Everything is much more manic in the morning when I'm making lunch etc and getting out for a specific train.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 08/08/2020 20:29

I can't wait! I've still been working outside the home. Dh working full time at home, not in a job where he can do a bit, sortthe kids, do a bit more, catch up in the evening but full on conference calls all day. Kids have basically been ignored. Can't bloody wait to have them back at school. They might even go to bed a bit earlier so I have time to breath in the evenings!

WrongKindOfFace · 08/08/2020 20:34

I think you’re overthinking it a bit. In the nicest possible way all you have to do is take a child to school then go home.

You could always start a bit of a routine now if you’re worried about them being overtired.

AdriannaMole · 11/08/2020 18:01

"I think you’re overthinking it a bit. In the nicest possible way all you have to do is take a child to school then go home.
**
You could always start a bit of a routine now if you’re worried about them being overtired."

⬆️ This. It is just a school run. Will be good to get the children back into a normal routine.

If you think OP you may have issues getting your DC back into a routine then maybe dry runs walking to sch early each day now may help. Start setting your sch routine now and walking to sch site now in preparation. Prepping your DC for new sch term.

If you have a youngest it may also help prepare them also. You will be tied to older DC school time frames so you will need youngest to fit in as best you can. Any organisation you can put in place now will help you moving forward.

sparkli · 11/08/2020 20:45

I never succeeded in getting my DC to sleep earlier the week before going back to school and found they always just slotted back into they're usual sleep pattern within a week of going back.

I'm in Scotland and work in a school so started back on Monday. It's great to be back in a routine - I feel calmer and less stressed. I'm shattered though!

sparkli · 11/08/2020 20:45

*their (bloody autocorrect!)

Passthecake30 · 12/08/2020 07:34

My preteens haven’t woken up until 10am since March. On the weekend before they go back to school I’ll try to get them to bed an hour earlier, but tbh they’ll probably just need to get to bed earlier as soon as they’ve actually started school. Like a pp, I’m looking forward to getting my evenings back as they aren’t quiet until 10.30pm.

ReefTeeth · 12/08/2020 07:41

I'm in Melbourne. Dd1 went back for 2.5 weeks in June and has been off again since. Just counted and that's 5 months since Marchoff bar those 2.5 weeks 🤯

I actually love not having to do the school run. We still have a loose routine of her being at her computer dressed and ready to start school by 9 am.

Both DC are going to bed later and waking later but I think that's ok. They'll be knackered the first week back but they'll get back into it soon enough.

And you'll find your groove again with it all and it will feel like lockdown never happened 🤷

Drivingdownthe101 · 12/08/2020 07:43

No I can’t wait! Mine have been going to bed at basically the same time they always did though so that won’t be too much of an issue.
Can’t wait to get back to having to walk 4 miles a day on the school run, no excuses. And the children seeing their friends.

middleager · 12/08/2020 08:30

I'm keeping my expectations low.
I work in education and have children in school, but am expecting any routine to be short lived or disrupted...

Walkerbean16 · 12/08/2020 08:36

ugh. we currently get up at half seven, next week we are moving half an hour away but my husband will have to leave an hour earlier due to morning traffic, so he will be leaving the house at 7am, im going to have to be up at like 5.30 Sad

Itstheprinciple · 12/08/2020 08:41

Its always the same after the summer holidays in normal times. You'll have a couple of weeks where she's shattered and grumpy so don't plan too much for the first couple of weekends in September but a few early nights and you'll feel like you've never been off!

BogRollBOGOF · 12/08/2020 08:42

Mine naturally drift to nocturnal anyway.

I just have to chivvy them up and out relentlessly and hope they cope with it at the other end.

Normally we're busy with things like swimming, martial arts and Scouting. School is not doing extra curriculars that mix classes. I don't think that these are resuming promptly, and it's been so long now that I think a phase in would be better, especially for DS1 who has ASD and can get overwhelmed.

I'm looking forwards to getting a structure back into life, and some quieter time away from the DCs (will have to ignore and pretend that DH is not upstairs permanently in the spare room). While DS1 has been happily chilled out for months, this way of life is not meeting his long term needs.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/08/2020 08:44

We've never done routine, what's it like? Does it get boring doing the same everyday? Do you ever get up and think sod it I'm not getting up?

Kids and work don't leave me with much wiggle room on staying in bed/mixing it up too much.

Do you have incredibly accommodating children and boss?

fuckingcovid · 12/08/2020 09:47

Dreading the early mornings (6am) the endless school runs, micro managing everything again!

And there won't be the usual perks I rely on to get me through, like mixed hobbies, socialising, coffee with friends, because of all the SD and my anxiety over mixing, because my child was shielding and is vulnerable.

fuckingcovid · 12/08/2020 09:47

Not to mention going back to work

SimonJT · 12/08/2020 10:49

I haven’t got any childcare for the summer holidays so I’m on unpaid leave, I have only had to get my son ready for school four times since lockdown began. I haven’t been in the office since early March.

The first day back of actually having all three of us get ready for a certain time will be a shock. For almost six months its been a case of take it at your own pace, how did I ever get my son washed, teeth brushed, dressed, fed and bag packed in 45 minutes?!

CatherineCoward · 26/08/2020 18:10

@ChocolateOO have you reposted this thread in AIBU ?

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