Do you dread Mondays mornings, is it a manic rush to get everyone out the house on time with children having slipped out of routine, refusing to put on coats and shoes, lost book bags and a baby clinging to your legs, that’s all before the work day has started? The switch from weekend and relaxed play with your children can turn you into an ogre at the slightest set back or refusal to co-operate with you. Family life can feel a little crazy at times and you may thrive in the office environment enjoying the peace and tranquillity of adult conversations and scheduled meetings. Relish the chance for a coffee without interruption and a lunch break too.
Having a structure to your day and some kind of predictability is what keeps things in order and reduces your mental load.
Why is it that some parents can get their child into a routine and have set nap times and yours won’t sleep day or night? It’s most likely because you have no routine or if you do have one, it may not be the right one for your child’s age and this can cause disruption, lengthy bedtimes and impact mealtimes too. It’s easy to think, ‘I want to be a laid back parent’, I want my children to live a free and happy life but having no or few rules, gives you the opposite.
Living from moment to moment in a reactive rather than proactive state is what increases our stress levels and leaves a child unsettled and confused.
Routines are the best way to stay sane when your child is small. It may be that a nap falls the same time as a music class or activity but taking a tired child to a toddler class is a recipe for disaster. They will either play up, not want to participate or fall asleep on your lap, leaving you with a grumpy child when the class ends and wakes when you delicately try to move them to the car or pram. If you are someone who like the flexibility or ‘go with the flow lifestyle’ you may find things get harder as your child grows and has to fit into school or nursery routine, without proper structure and set nap/bedtimes it is difficult to remain calm and patient. Is it time you rethought your child’s routine and got your day off to a good start?
Need support with your child’s day, nap or bedtime routine, book a connect call and we can discuss a few options that will help get your life back to normal.