Depressed by the relentlessness of routine??

[Greecelover]

Having followed Gina Ford's excellent sleep training advice I have a one year old who sleeps reasonably well (unless teething/ill/whatever) day and night, and eats well. He's very chilled out most of the time and I have a lot to thank GF for.
HOWEVER, the relentlessness of the same routine day in day out (up at 7, DS nap at 9, DS lunch at 12, DS nap 12.30-2.30, DS tea at 5, bath at 6, in bed and asleep by 7) is making me feel trapped and as though my life is hurtling past. I spend my life monitoring the clock. My DH works weird shifts so we never have any sense of a weekend and EVERY day is EXACTLY the same, bar meeting the odd friend/whatever.
I don't think there is a solution, short of changing DS's routine purely for my own selfish reasons, just wondered if there is anyone else out there that feels the same? Do I just need to 'get more of a life'??

Oh and btw personally I would ease up on the daily 6pm bath if you want more time for other things and your lo is a good sleeper anyway - if you're out and about you could have tea out and do a quick top and tail before bed. Maybe that makes me a scuzzy mum though!

Definitely just the way it is with babies and small children.

It's only now that my third and youngest is 3 that we can be more spontaneous, and do things like go out for lunch after her nursery and before picking up the other 2 from school. But it has been a long time coming.

I remember all the monotony and donkey work and in a way I'm glad it's behind me. However I do look back fondly on those years now that we're always rushing around between school, hobbies and playdates.

Enjoy your little one!