Tuesday, sept 14
September 14, 2010 by Stephanie
Tuesday.
We have PTA tonight. Right after soccer. And last night was a Daisy Girl Scout meeting. I’m a big fan of saying no, I really am, and it’s only once in a while when our weekly schedule gets (what I think is) too much, but when it does, I HATE IT.
I like down time. I wrote last week on the crockpot blog that I’m kind of a hermit, and while most people I come across on a daily basis wouldn’t categorize me as exceptionally hermit-like, I’m the most comfortable at home in my pajamas.
Just like Hugh Heffner.
I really liked the comments you left yesterday on how to help Jill out. IN A SUPER WEIRD twist of irony a different Jill emailed yesterday (hello to the Jills!) and asked if I had a regular weekly schedule. I sort of do. Kind of. Maybe. This is what I wrote back to her:
Hi Jill!
I have a loose schedule that I sort of kind of stick to, depending on outside activities/responsibilities. I work from home, so I don’t have a set time for when I do these things, I just fit it them in when I can.
Monday: weekend recovery
Tuesday: run errands/make sure we’ve got food in the house for the weekly meal plan
Wednesday: dust, vacuum, mop (I try to spot clean through the week)
Thursday: water indoor plants/garden/ I end up baking a lot on Thursdays because the kids are cranky and I like to have some sugar around to ward off the crankies. 
Friday: catch up day/clean off desk (I’m not in charge of paying bills, but if you are you might want to)
Sat & Sun: yard work, punch list items, family meeting to make meal pla
I truly try to do the Daily 7 as much as I can. If I can’t get to the speed dusting/mopping/vacuuming on Wed, I’ll just spot clean and make sure the Daily 7 is up to speed. It’s amazing how put together the house is when all you’ve done is make beds, emptied garbages, and kept up with the laundry.
I hope this helps just a bit.
One thing I’ve learned is that *I’m* in charge of my time. While I typed this to you, the phone rang. I saw it was my girlfriend, and let it go. She then called my cell phone, but I let it go. I get it that this kind of seems mean, but if I stopped what I was doing to chat (technically answering email is work? I’m not sure— anyway, the baby is napping, and it’s the ONLY time I can be on the computer, whereas I can call my friend back while the baby is up, KWIM?) I’d never get the stuff done I need to.
I also try real hard to make some sort of To Do list everyday where I quickly write down the absolute MUSTS for the day—-not the “wouldn’t it be nice.. ” items. So for today, we’ve got a Daisy meeting and I signed up for snack which means I MUST make muffins, and I MUST write up a list for the moms on the ground rules.
LOL, the phone is ringing again!!!
anyway, there you go! clear as mud.
What about you? Do you stick to a schedule? Maybe schedule is the wrong word. Routine?
We don’t have a real schedule, but at the beginning of each week (usually first thing Monday morning when I get to work because it helps me organize my thoughts), I make a Plan of the Week. Each day gets a list of the things that need to be done- standards like what’s for dinner, if it’s bath night, any evening meetings, etc., then I add any cleaning, projects or whatever else may need to be done, trying to distribute them evenly throughout the week.
I find that having a plan laid out for when each task will be completed keeps me from feeling overwhelmed by my to-do list, and I’m better able to focus on what I am doing since I’m not constantly thinking about what else needs to be done.
Having a toddler though, the plan is of course flexible
Caitlin – I love your idea about doing it first thing Monday morning. Did you make a spreadsheet or something? I made a sheet for weekly meals, but I think I’ll add space to include the nightly activities, bath night, etc and work in the chores in between like you suggested. Thanks!
Long time lurker, first time poster. Hi!
So, I’m not a mom (yet), but I have a messy husband
I work half time (in the afternoons) so I do all my housework in the mornings. I get up in the morning just like I had to go to a full day of work, and spend the first half of the day making sure the house is spic and span. We’re new home owners, trying to figure out a place for everything (and everything in its place) so it can be a big job! I am also working hard on PROMing because the last few times we’ve moved, we’ve moved boxes of stuff that we never even opened. How does that HAPPEN!?!?
We have a week like yours this week…and next week…and maybe even the week after that, much to my chagrin. My preferred mode is also hermit, but that doesn’t seem possible lately, with the activities (and my kids aren’t even as busy as most around here!) meetings and school commitments, religous ed classes, and the fact that all of my nieces and nephews on both sides of the family were born in the fall, so this is what we like to call “Birthday Season” for the next nine weeks. My husband calls our life now “the new normal”. I’m ready to go hide.
Yes, routine is good. I try to meal plan and shop on the weekend so on the busier weekdays I don’t have to go to the store. I hate grocery shopping. I also plan a crock pot meal early in the week so I have leftovers for lunch during the rest of the week. Although, I must admit, as far as housecleaning goes, I’m much more of a ‘whatever is the worst’ kinda person.
Thank you for sharing your schedule! I try to organize my time, but life keeps getting in the way! You, as always, are an inspiration!
Delurking to let you know that I love your blog! Also, I miss the days. I know you had a busy time a few weeks back and lost track, so I can let you know that today, Tuesday, Sep 14th, is the 257th day of the year.
Good luck with your crazy, busy schedule this week!
sara, you can not even believe how helpful that was for me! LOL! I’ve had “figure out what *#$%& day of the year it is” written on a post-it stuck to the computer armoire for quite a while now…
I *love* that you do not let the phone, email, whatever, control your schedule… I have learned that after feeling like the pinball in the machine, I don’t have to feel that way. I do have control, I don’t have to stop what I’m doing just because the phone rang-I have an answering machine for a reason, and that’s not mean. Email can be returned at my discresion. My routine has been my saving grace because it has allowed me just that… grace. I don’t have to have my whole house clean all NOW… because, really, that’s not going to happen. I have two elementary boys, PTA and all that good stuff too.I love the Daily 7 reminders, and the “when was the last time you changed the sheets?” prompts. I can usually get the laundry and menu done on Monday, grocery shopping done Tuesday, vaccuum, sweep, mop on Wed, bathrooms Thurs. (usually another load or two of laundry) and then Friday is weekend prep for whatever is going on. If the floor is dirty, it’s ok, because I know I will probably get to it on Wed. and it will just have to wait until then. Grace.
well in the interest of being completely honest: I *love* that you do not let the phone, email, whatever, control your schedule…
sometimes I forget that I’m in charge and get all out of whack and turn rather snippy.
This is *real* life, not a script—I try. I really do, because it’s when I *don’t* when I get annoyed with myself.
if that makes any sense!