As anyone who reads here, or knows me in person, is aware that our family has one of those crazy activity-driven schedules that kicks-in every day after school. Unfortunately, with Claire playing volleyball and timekeeping for hockey and Cole playing hockey for two different teams, that schedule can be somewhat inconsistent. Chloe has a bit of crazy with her choir performances and our slow-and-steady Caden provides a bit of relief as his practices are Saturdays and his games on Sundays. It makes for some pretty frantic hours between 3:15 (pick up of the youngers) and around 9PM (when we pull into the driveway from a hockey event).
In December, I managed to put together a couple of Excel files in an effort to keep my life in order. As I mentioned it on my Focus post, I had a bit of a break-up with lists and routine with less than stellar results. Here is my mid-month report card to show what I did and whether I met with any success. The most success? I now know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it - for the routine, repeated events. The older I get the less capable I am of staying on task and believe me, I need it!
Here is a screen shot of our weekly schedule (modified for publication):
It was really important for me to map out my don't forgets (plenty) and my free time (surprisingly little) and make it all work as seamlessly as possible. Once I realized how my time was spent, it was important to delegate it well; which lead me to the Personal, Blog, Health, Household and Dinner categories. Of course, 10PM has my favourite shows so I know not to forget it. I'm more than tired of realizing the next day and later that I had missed The Good Wife!
How do you keep yourself on track?
I know it seems insane to start dinner prep at 2:30 most afternoons, but it really has worked out well. Some days, especially when it's a quick meal to be made (Tuesday and Wednesday) I make both on the Tuesday and just refrigerate the Wednesday meal. Since my kids prefer raw vegetables (just like their mama) we eat a lot of salad and sliced tomatoes, avocado, carrots and celery. Potatoes are almost always mashed with the skins on but I'm thinking of introducing baked potatoes with a bunch of different toppings from which to choose.
Anyway, this is how the 4-week meal rotation works out:
The kids aren't nearly as regimented in their eating of meals prior to dinner, Claire and Cole are fed a hot lunch at school every day, but I want to keep myself on track. It's working well! I think. We'll have to see.
I've just run off a bunch of recipes I found on the Prevention website as well as quite a few from Martha Stewart. I'm considering making Experiment Night a weekly, rather than monthly event. It's always nice to find some new things for my kids to eat. They are all now of an age that I can have them eat things that they used to greet with a hearty "eww" and a shove of the plate. I never coddled their palates, but now that they enjoy more selection, I'm introducing it at our home table. What are your family favourites? Anything your kids particularly enjoy?
I am finding it hard to stay on track only because Cole has just recently had a tournament, as has Caden. Chloe had a choir event and Claire has been spending time at the rink timekeeping. Even I spent time at the rink convening a hockey game so Louis could attend a meeting.
LIFE is getting in the way of my schedule!
Ah well, the freezer is reaping the benefit.
In addition to my schedules, the new "control journal" includes:
- A 2010 Calendar & A list of things on which to FOCUS in 2010
- Monthly Reminders with every birthday and special event listed
- My Creative commitments and workflow
- My list of things to do (big and small) around the house, by room
- Bloggy notes and Digi Notes
- Books to buy
Anything else is kept in my handy-dandy Blackberry which I've learned to sync with my computer so anything I miss is out of sheer stupidity.
HUGE change, but I really hope all of this keeps me on track.
