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My Love-Hate Relationship With Routines

Y’all, the holiday season took. its. toll.

I mean really.

After a road trip that lasted two weeks, all the fun that comes with seeing family, kids being spoiled rotten, and eating whatever and whenever, we returned home. Then we promptly all got the stomach flu. In succession. One right after the other, all week-long.

To say we are a bit out of routine is a dramatic understatement.

To say we are all a little bit dazed and acting weird, is also an understatement.

The truth is, we are a total mess.

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No one will go to bed on time.

No one will eat the meals I cook.

No one will practice reading, or study history, or just sit down and listen to the dang audio book.

Every single thing we do feels like it’s the first time… and I don’t mean that in a good way.

The absence of routine is devastating around here.

Put one semi-organized momma with two boys who crave routine as much as they rebel against it, and you have a recipe for lots of tears and coffee drinking.  Then, on top of that, have every single therapist and doctor in the past two weeks, remind this momma that her boys’ brains require routine and structure.

What you get is a little bit of crazy and a whole lot of pressure.

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Routines – I love them and I hate them.

I love them because they really are the secret to ultimately getting this family back on track. (And by back on track I mean bathed semi-regularly, fed and well rested. Not a thing more.)

I love routines because it makes learning more relaxing for all of us.

I love routines because I don’t have to think as much about what to do next, what comes next, and why can’t someone come and be the adult for me as often.

So I love routines. I do.

And, in seasons like this – I also hate them with a passion.

I hate routines because they can feel so elusive, like playing a game of hide and seek, where I am always ‘it’.

I hate them because it feels like I am the only one that even cares about trying to make them happen around here.

I hate routines because as soon as we get into one, our life changes and we have to start all over again.

Honestly, I hate them because it means it is all on me to be the adult and get us back on track.

I am not proud of my whining here. In fact, just typing this is making me feel a little silly. But the truth is, no matter how I feel about it, our routine is important. It is necessary. It is a must-do, must-have, don’t even think about slacking off on this one for another day.

Some things just are what they are, when you are the momma.

And so today, I will change out of my cozy pants.

I will pour another cup of coffee.

I will pray and pray some more.

I will take a deep breath, and I will jump back into the day-to-day that makes up the bulk of my motherhood.

And, by the grace of God, I will once again learn to love our routine.


Routines-I Love You and I Hate You

 

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One Comment

  1. Jen in Oz says:

    BTDT Live those days too often. Thanks for putting it into words.

    Best wishes
    Jen in Oz

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