Ok I am really trying to plan out the nest 2 weeks using a schedule. My only problem is I do not know where to start. I have to fill my day from 7am to 8pm when Sinead goes to bed but there just seems to be too many hours and not enough stuff to fill the up with. I am getting really frustrated with it now.

I have found this blog online with the schedule that she has set up and I like certain points of it, like the praying but I would have to change it greatly to fit us.

http://journeytohomemaker.blogspot.com/2006/09/daily-family-schedule.html

Can any one help me please, I would be getting up @ 7 and then getting Sinead up at 8:15. I like how the lady in the blog set out time for her then got things done before getting the kids up.

I am coming out of nowhere with this, but are you sure you want a schedule. For me I am just so looking forward to the break and that we do not *have* to do anything.
We are planning on snuggling up lots on the couch with Christmas movies and tons of Christmas stories. I have quite a few Christmas books, but always hunt up some at the library too. That is a fun trip.
Usborne makes lots of craft books for things to do at Christmas and your library would have that kind of thing as well. Last year we made several ornaments. Usually the dollar store has felt and crafty things. This year I bought Christmas mosaics for the kids and that has been fun, plus they can give the finished mosaics as Christmas gifts. :-D
Lots of Hot chocolate and the kids are going to make chocolate dipped pretzels. Super easy just melt dipping chocolate and let them dip half or the whole pretzel and cool on wax paper. That is a nice gift as well or just yummy for you to share.


This blog has tons of great Christmas books along the bottom left side. For some reading ideas.

http://ebeth.typepad.com/reallearning/2009/11/advent-and-christmas-clicking.html

I hope you guys have a really nice time together. :-D

Hey Kathaleen

I am not sure of anything right now but I hate the chaos that comes with the break from school. I just want a structured day so that Sinead knows what to expect cause we have never had a routine in our home at all.

I want to be able to make sure that the things that need doing daily are done but still have time to share with Sinead. Thanks for that link will check it out now

Here's what I would do, dahling. :mrgreen:

Okay, so, your wake-up time is 7. Figure out exactly what you want to do until Sinead wakes up at 8:15. Do you need a few minutes to wake up with a cup of tea? For me, I'd get up, grab something to drink and a small, quick nibble, and then head right into the bathroom for my shower. Then I'd come out and make my bed and get my room ready for the day. I'd spend that whole time hanging out with the Lord and talking to Him as I get those things done.

Get Sinead up at 8:15 and maybe have her make her bed and have her bathroom time so she's all ready for the day. How long does that take her, reasonably, with you making sure she's staying focused?

Do you want to make breakfast 'with' Sinead, or would you like to kill two birds with one stone and have you put it together as she's getting her things done?

Figure out how long it'll take for her to get her routine done (half an hour or so?) and make breakfast for maybe 8:45? (this is all just hypothetical, of course)

I'd say, breakfast at 8:45 (or 9?), and clean the kitchen immediately afterward (doing as much cleaning up as you go while prepping as possible). I'd make the breakfast slot (eating and cleanup; not prep) 45 minutes. That way you can relax over breakfast and talk. If Sinead is done in a few minutes, she can wash her own stuff and maybe watch TV or play for whatever time there is left (until 9:30 or 9:45).

And then, I'd make it housecleaning time. Remember, your beds are already made and the kitchen is clean. Bathrooms can be wiped when you leave them, so they shouldn't get bad. Start at one room of the house and work to the other, straightening, dusting, vacuuming, wiping... How long would that take you? I'm thinking an hour is plenty. :-D So chore time goes from, let's say, 9:30 to 10:30, or 9:45 to 10:45, give or take. Be done no later than 11, no matter what. An hour a day will ensure a tidy home all the time. :mrgreen:

Free time. Have fun. [dance]

What time do you want lunch to be on the table? Set your lunchtime. You and Sinead can prepare it together, or she could play elsewhere, giving you some quiet time in the kitchen.

How long does it take for you to prepare lunch? Decide what time you want to be in the kitchen by, and how long you want to spend preparing the meal. When the meal hits the table, just enjoy yourself. Take your time eating. Then, clean up when you guys get up from the table. Sinead can start by doing her own dishes.

Free time. Have fun. [dancing]

What time do you need dinner to hit the table? How long will it take for you to prepare? What time do you need to be in the kitchen by? Go for it. Let Sinead help you, or use it for your own quiet time as she plays elsewhere. Then, enjoy dinner. Take time to enjoy each other and talk. Clean up as soon as you're done. Sindead can clean up her dishes first.

You'd like Sinead to be in bed at 8? How long does it take for her to get ready for bed? How often does she need to take a bath? What are her bath days? Figure out which days are bath days and stick to it (i.e. Sun, Wed., and Fri.).

How long does it take for her to bathe, jammy up, brush her teeth, and get her bed ready? Make sure she has time to eat her dinner, wash her dishes, and have her bathtime before bed on those days. And decide how long it takes for her to get ready for bed on non bath days. Have her heading in that direction in plenty of time to get ready. I'd give 15 more minutes than she needs, but not too much more, or she could lose focus and develop messing around habits.

Depending on your dinner time, if you guys are eating close to her bedtime, on her non bathing days she could come to the dinner table in her jammies. We'll have the kids do that if dinner is going to be later than usual. Gives them more time at the table and not so much to do before bed.

Anyway, that's about how we always did it.

For us, the things that have always been mostly set are wake-up times and bed times, personal chore times at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day, the one hour of housework every day (including laundry), and meal times. It was the only way we could ensure our sleeping and eating schedules would be healthy, we'd always be ready for the day, and the housework would never get out of hand, making more work later.

For vacation time, I'd definitely make sure you have plenty of downtime and time for fun. And if you need to adjust your schedule, it's not hard to push your whole day back a bit, or plan for simple meals so you have more time for fun. You can stay up later one night and sleep in later the next day, easily. Just move everything back an hour and have Sinead get up at nine one day, or later if need be. Then stick to your time 'frame'. Just think light housework and simple meals as much as possible so you guys can have a lot of fun during her break. [claploud]

Don't forget to clean up as you go!!! :)

[loveyou]

Joy [welcomewave]

Zoey, I'm proud of you wanting to keep her busy :-D I'd say listen to Joy :mrgreen: I actually look forward to the breaks....TO DO NOTHING!
We actually just hang around & play board games. Eat & Clean as we go too!
Have FUN [lovewuvu]

Thanks Donna

Joy you are a life saver, going to sit down now and work out how much time she needs to complete things. Sinead is slow so by giving her time to do things at home that make her quicker would be a lot better and benefit her at school.

When she baths normally she is in there for quite a long time so if I say 25 mins to bath and make sure she has brushed her teeth before getting in and make sure she has everything layed out for bed. Would it be crazy to get her to get her bed things ready and layed on the bed in the morning or in a PJ's bag, ummmmm will have to think. On bath days when I am getting ready for the day I could get her bath stuff out and ready to make it easier at night.

Ok Joy you have got the cogs working, will plan it out and let you know how it goes. I think I was just over thinking the routine and panicking about things but will give your ideas a go thanks Joy.