Half hour—how can I make my evenings run more smoothly?
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Anonymous
| I'd probably make dinner while listening to a podcast (or music or TV in background), so it's not entirely a chore. That would put me in a better mood for when kids get home. |
Anonymous
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If I get home before anyone else, I go upstairs to change, and gather a couple of loads of laundry while I'm up there. Throw the first load in the wash, then get a jump on dinner. If needed, clear surfaces so that the kitchen & other mess-gathering areas aren't starting behind the curve.
This way dinner is underway, the kids aren't throwing this afternoon's mess on top of this morning's, and I've got a start on one, possibly two, loads of laundry before bed. (Set a timer, so you don't do like I always do and forget to switch the laundry over!) |
Anonymous
+1 I love listening to audiobooks while I'm cooking! |
Anonymous
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I'd prep dinner, like the other said. Fold laundry if you have leftover time in that half hour.
Maybe prep the veggies and meat for a crockpot you can start the next morning for tomorrow's dinner. Or preheat the oven assemble a sheet pan supper so all you have to do is pop it in a half hour before eating. The kids should be able to set and clear the table, vacuum and wipe countertops and take out the trash (older kid). |
Anonymous
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I'd go to the bathroom. Spend a solid 15-20 minutes uninterrupted BY.MY.SELF!
Then I'd make sure that the table for homework is cleared so that they can sit and start their homework immediately. While they're doing that, I would start dinner with the ability to go back and forth between checking on dinner and helping with homework. When homework is done, I would send them off for their tv/play/personal time while I finish dinner, then we sit down to eat together - no electronics. You could discuss their "roses and thorns" of the day. After dinner, let the 7 year old take a bath (my DD6 bathes herself incredibly well. She just takes a long time) while the 9 year old cleans up any toys/books. I imagine there's a bit of ruckus between them, so this gives them some necessary separation to wind down. Meanwhile, you're in the kitchen packing away leftovers for your lunch tomorrow and loading the dishwasher. Then the 7 year old gets out of the tub and inevitably finds some reason to run around the house naked. You tell them to bring you their empty lunch bags, then to get their pjs on and clean up any toys that DC9 missed. DC9 then heads into the bathroom for a shower while you start prepping their lunches for tomorrow. If you're sending hot lunch/thermos, then pack the drinks, fruit, and snacks. Then DC9 will come out of the bathroom entirely too quickly, so send them back in to "use soap this time" while you make sure that the keurig is filled, or prep a traditional coffee maker as needed. Then make sure that all backpacks have homework actually INSIDE the bags and that they are now settled by the front/garage door for the morning. Then DC9 is out of the shower for real this time and while they get into their pjs, go with DC7 to choose their clothes for the next day. If they wear uniforms, make sure that all elements are available, clean and pressed. Rinse and repeat this step for DC9, then make sure both kids have brushed their teeth. Now move on to story time and goodnight kisses, and it's lights out. Pour yourself a glass of wine and read a chapter or two of that book, then on your way to bed stop by the kitchen and turn on the dishwasher. Live to fight another day. |
Anonymous
me too |
Anonymous
| Prep dinner most nights. Maybe make a meal plan (get the kids to help figure this out!) with a few super simple meals they help with. On those nights, read a book/relax/workout with the extra time. |
Anonymous
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Do small lunch prep (flatware, napkin, slice fruit and put in container, get snack ready, etc)
Prepare light snack for after school (cut a little extra fruit from tomorrow’s lunch, carrots, cheese stick, etc) Put out clothes kids will change into in bathroom, eso for the one who isn’t great at showering Set table and do dinner prep Extras: dishes in dishwasher, set table, go thru mail, throw in laundry (or out it in dryer) or out it away after folded, put librbsry books on hold for kids. Spend the next week getting younger kid to bathe better alone. Each night add in. Night one: work just on a good shampoo. Second night good shampoo and small amount of conditioner. Third night shampoo, conditioner and washing whole body. Fourth night same as third but now drying off well. In a week you should be done with that step which gives you extra time in the evening while both kids shower. |
Anonymous
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Couple of ideas that might be helpful:
It sounds like your kids might get out of school on the late side. (Mine don't get home until 4:30 PM - makes everything feel rushed.) I've started cooking our dinners on Sunday and putting them in individual portion containers. That way the kids get to pick what they want to eat and we just heat it up. (I also make enough for my lunch). Create a routine for the evening and post it up in a central location. We have a different routine for each day (varies due to evening activities) but it helps to make sure homework gets done, instrument practice happens, and we don't forget about Ice Cream Tuesday. For the 1/2 hour - I'd likely throw some laundry in or tidy up and then take the rest of the time to just enjoy the quiet. It helps to center yourself to take on the rest of the evening. |
Anonymous
NO. She isn't tearing you down,? By age 7 and 9 your kids should be able to do a great deal. Good lord, I was washing dinner dishes at age 7! By age 9, I did laundry. I taught my own children the same way. They picked up after themselves as well as helping to keep community rooms neat. If 7 yr. old can't shower by herself them let her take baths,! |
Anonymous
| I’d exercise. Hang in there! |
Anonymous
| I'd do a quick pick up of the house if needed and sit down for at least 20 minutes. The rest of the night will go smoother if you have a few minutes of alone time to recharge. |
Anonymous
| 30 minutes is not much. I would change my clothes, tidy up the house and start on dinner prep. |
Anonymous
This this this!! Spend that half hour in yourself! Play words with friends or surf DCUM the entire time if you want. The second the kids come home, have them park at the kitchen table and do homework while you make dinner. If they don’t have homework, they can read at the table or tell you about their day. Alternate one on one time with each kid as the other one bathes. Any household chores that need to be done, kids should help with before they get to relax. |
Anonymous
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The only thing I would absolutely make sure to do is change out of my work clothes and go to the bathroom.
Other than that, it would vary day to day. Some days I would sleep in and take my shower at that time. Other days, I might use it to take care of all those little emails and life things that pop up, schedule dentist appointments, call the electrician, repair the drywall where I kicked it after dealing with my ex. I might stay late at work and finish up some things or stop and get the oil changed in my car on the way home or go to the post office and actually mail birthday gifts with homemade cards instead of shipping them from amazon. I think you will find plenty to do. I wouldn’t fill it up with routine tasks. You might enjoy having a little breathing room in your life. |