The magic of rhythms is in the process not the particulars.
-Simplicity Parenting, pg. 114
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| River and Rue my two favorite kids |
I have been trying to implement many of the suggestions mentioned in Simplicity Parenting for a few months now. Filtering out the adult world, simplifying the environment we live in, and being aware of over scheduling activities for my children, have been the first steps leading up to the most impacting change of establishing a weekly rhythm in our home.
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This was a previous trip to Disneyland.
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By nature I am a pretty spontaneous person and the idea of sticking to any kind of predictable routine makes me want to pack up my bags and drive to Disneyland with my kids, just because I can, and no schedule or routine will confine me! When I was pregnant with my first son I heard about these Moms who never went out of the house (for like a year) because their baby HAD to be in their own bed at 7:00pm. I vowed that I would not be like those first time Moms who forgot how to have fun once a child came into their lives. The result...we took my Son River with us everywhere we went and he stayed up later and woke up later than most children his age. When River was three, and Rue was just a few months old, I began thinking there was probably some value in having a bedtime routine, especially because now we have 2 children. However it took my Husband and I a while to be completely invested into any kind of "routine" but we knew having a bedtime routine was a good idea, we just wondered if we would be able to buckle down and do it.
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If you come over to our home during bedtime routine you may be
required to put a pull-up on! |
The stories and examples mentioned in Simplicity Parenting are so encouraging that I began to realize that creating a rhythm in our home is not about a daily, rigid, routine, where a family must feel confined to do only what is permanent marker-ed in for the day. Instead it is the "process not the particulars", understanding that we are doing (or not doing) things to build a "foundation of cooperation and connection" (pg. 102). Ding, Ding, Ding, I finally got it, I had my epiphany, light bulb moment. The whole purpose of creating a predictable weekly rhythm is for my son, daughter, husband and I to ENJOY the Sunday morning breakfasts, Monday wash day, or Wednesday cooking day because these consistent this-is what-we-do, can establish trust and a way to feel more connected to each other.
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| Mr. Baker-man |
When I first began to adapt a more concrete weekly routine, the way I was approaching it all was not working for my spontaneous nature. I was focused on the particulars not the process. At the end of the day I was becoming somewhat depressed because I was not able to have the rhythm of the day go like it should and blamed it all on myself.
Then it hit me. . . I needed River (and myself + my husband) to have a clear understanding of what each day will look like. River will ask, "Mama what's today? Are the kids coming over or do we go to church?" He understands that we do very specific activities on certain days but really what does Monday, Tuesday or Saturday mean to a four-year-old?
So as River and Rue were taking a bath one night I wrote this song. I wanted us to have a fun song that we all would enjoy singing each day as a way of previewing for our day/week. I enjoy singing and make up songs often for the preschoolers... but that doesn't mean you will enjoy listening to it : ) This song has been a hit at home and instead of having to tell River that today is Tuesday, because it is Tuesday, we just sing our little weekly rhythm song.
Sunday we wake up to the yummy smell
of Papa making breakfast.
Then we put on our nice clothes and comb our hair
and walk together to church.
Monday we wake up and put our dirty clothes
in the washing machine.
We clean, clean, clean.
We clean up the house
and peddle over to the library.
Tuesday is a school day.
The kids come over to play, play, play.
We find little treasures and make cool things.
We play outside and sing.
Wednesday we wake up we know it's gonna be
a cooking day.
We might knead some bread or make some applesauce
and eat a really yummy treat.
Thursday is a school day.
The kids come over to play, play, play.
We find little treasures and make cool things.
We play outside and sing.
Friday we wake up and get ready
for our exciting field trip.
We might go to the park or see a new place
and do some adventuring.
Saturday we sleep in.
(zzz chooo)
We wrestle each other other.
(Woo-hoo)
We go to the store.
(Yum, yum)
Then at the end of our day,
we rest from our play,
because tomorrow is Sunday.
