The drip, drip, drip of routine


I've always hated routine. Before the Tsunamis I was the kind of person who would mix up the route to work so I didn't have to do the same thing day in day out. The thought of already knowing today what I was going to do tomorrow was enough to make me feel a bit panicky.

Perfectly suited to young children then!

It's something I've struggled with all my babying years. When I became a mum, I knew I'd need to embrace a routine and in the early days I went so far as to 'Gina Ford' Maxi-Taxi under the assumption that my lack of routine was causing his sleeplessness. Turns out Maxi-Taxi doesn't really like routines either. It was a total, unmitigated disaster and the month we spent with meany Gina was easily the worst month of my parenting career to date.

After Maxi-Taxi refused to be Ginaed we moved into a more loose routine where as long as a pattern of feed, hang out, try to sleep prevailed, we were satisfied. I managed to handle the drip, drip, drip of a routine provided I got out of the house every day and did something completely new as often as possible.

Three Tsunamis in and these days I actually enjoy the rituals of every day living. I still need to break things up every now and then, but I'm much happier in the pocket of routine.  I'm lucky that most days are different in Maxabellaland (the Tsunamis go to different places in the morning or I'm home or I have class in the evening or... something!). It all helps. I still think I would go nuts if every day was exactly the same. In fact, I'm certain that I would.

Do you get regular breaks from your routine? Or, even better, are you lucky enough to thrive on routine?


[Image from My Sweet Prints]