Well we don't have a routine as such but DD is usually in bed around 7ish give or take half an hour!! I never eat tea before then - but sometimes prepare it with her in high chair. We alwyas bath in the morning so that cuts that part out. DD isn't a mover so that makes it easier too. Don't know if this helps!! sorry!
Hi MD - Obv I dont have as many ppl to take care of as you but I do find myself short on time especially when I am travelling a lot in a week etc etc
N is in bed by 7pm and so we eat after that - I often dont cook our meal til then but also sometimes get ti styarted while he is in his hih chair having dinner.
I sometimes make fod on weekend for the week too (always do for N)
I guess it is harder as you have DD1 to feed as well and i am guessing she needs to eat with you?
Our approx timings are:
5.30 - 6.00 (depends when i have finished work) N has dinner
6.00- 6.15 or 6.30 - play
6.15-.630 - around 6.45 bath
bottle and bed.
he is usually asleep around 7 or 7.15
I then do our dinner and we eat (before the 1st round of settling)
DH is also learning more foods to cook (and I am relinquishing control) so whichever one of us is not doing the bed routine cooks (we usually 1 baths and the other does bottle and is resp to get him to sleep whatever that takes LOL)...
Oh and we have takeaway at least 1 time per week LOL!!!
Sorry no DH is not home and won't be for months yet, that was a typo. Meant to read "Without DH home"!! (When he's at home it's a breeze, we divide and conquer and I get to sit down on the couch by a reasonable hour).
Pregpan, ideally that would work for us except DD1 really needs to have dinner earlier than that because it takes an eternity for her to eat (always has) and then she gets to bed too late and then I have a grumpy uncooperative 10 yo on my hands as well.
Nic I'm starting to think the solution lies in getting started ridiculously early in the afternoon. Trouble is at 4.00pm I never feel like I've finished doign whatever I'm doing for the day LOL.
Aaah MD I was hoping it would be EASIER for you if Dh was there - though sometimes you cant make that assumption LOL!!
How about if DD1 has dinner when DD2 does and you keep dinner for her from the night before??? I know that may not seem nice but it may work..??? e.g. on mon you have beef strog and rice for dinner, tue DD1 has beef strog and you have spag bol, wed DD1 has spag bol and you have chicken salad etc etc etc?? will that work?? or do you need her to eat with you?
is she at an age yet where cooking sometging for herself (while you feed DD2) would be fun/doable?? for example mini pizzas on pita breads, jaffles, omlettes etc (i think i used to do this but no idea if a 10 yr old can - sorry if bad idea LOL!
Yep from what I hear there are a lot of ladies who are quite happy to have their (obviously domestically unhelpful) husbands leave as life does get easier for them then! LOL Luckily I snapped up one of the good ones so my life is always worse when he's away!!
I've toyed with the idea of having DD1 prepare some things, and she has in the past, but the massive cleanup operation that I'm left with afterwards always outweighs the small benefit of her doing it! LOL So she does prepare things but only when I'm right there to say, "now wipe that up before you put it away..." etc.
MD, our evening routine is dinner ready at about 6.30 then bath, short play and bed at 8pm. DH plays with DS while I prepare dinner - is DD1 old enough to be able to watch DD2 for a bit while you cook, or can she be entertained in a portacot? I also bribe him with little peices of food because he gets cranky smelling it cook - cheese, crackers etc. My meals are not flash but they are quick and usually healthy.
If DH is away then I usually have a bath with W because I am lazy and it is easier if we are both in there.
I find early bathing helps. I have a 4 y/o and a 12 week old. I bath her first and then my 4 y/o... He dresses himself while i'm bfing DD then i put her in the high chair and make a start on dinner... I find even if i begin to prepare the food at this time say 4.30-5. bake diners i start early and let it cook low and slow to give me time to get organised. we eat at about 6 ish all together and then have time to get the kid to bed by 7.30 8ish. i wad trying earlier but my DS (4 y/o wakes to early if he's in bed early.)
I find quick meals like the chicken tonight apricot chicken dish (just add chicken serve with boiled rice and vegies) or beef strog as mentioned. Also Spag bol is quick you can cook the meat earlier pop it in the fridge and reheat when your ready to eat and just cook the pasta. My DP likes sausages mash and vegies with brown onion gravey. Or meals like Tacco's or the pther tortillas... You can prepare all the salads (lettuce, tomatoe, shredded cheese etc before hand and just cook the mince or chicken when ur ready to serve up dinner.... Slow cook meals like casseroles that you can set to a low temp and cook while you do baths.
Nights are actually better for us then other times of day
wel i too find it easier if DP isnt home.
My routine is
4-4.30 start to cook t depending on what we are having.
The boys eat at 5.30 ( me and dp eat at 6.30 when he gets home)
after Tea they either have a shower or bath, then they have quiet (hopefully lol) play till bed at 7.30.
Im sure you will work something out that fits your family, i think it just takes a bit of time to see what works for you.
DS eats about 5:30pm. He feeds himself (steamed veg finger foods etc) - so I just put the high chair facing the kitchen bench & I watch him eat while I prepare dinner (I tend to cook it later - but do the prep at this time). It's a bit tricky sometimes (eg. if he drops his food & I still have raw chicken on my hands) - but eating keeps him occupied for quite a while & I can get dinner done
After dinner, I give him a bath (usually 6pm - 6:30pm), then BF him. DS has a play for a while & I cook/eat dinner. After dinner, DS goes to bed (around 7:30pm).
I find sometimes doesn't matter how much you try the routine wont go to plan!
I pick up my eldest from school we get home at 3:30 and i run a bath, get them in and let them enjoy at 30 minute bath then pj them. I then proceed to cook tea and while teas on i do readers unless hubbys home then he'll do them. We eat around 5pm to 6pm depending on the meal and then, we do teeth and try to be ready for bed at 6:30pm. The kiddies join us for a 20 minute movie adventure in the lounge or a game of somesort, before heading to bed, we then spend 15 minutes on a story. Normally we take one each but if hubbys still at work then i read to both the kids on one bed and it's goodnight sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite by 7:30 at the very latest! If our routine breaks my daughter will automatically bed herself at 7:15 every night if not earlier, she's always to tired to stay up! I'm blessed that they both sleep all night and If I'm lucky I don't hear from them till 7am although some mornings it's a tad before 6am.
Anyway hope this helps, go with the flow and don't panic too much about routine, i tend to find as long as tea is organised the rest falls into place!
Snoopea
I'm still trying to run on a similar timetable to what we do when DH is here but it doesn't work with one adult doing everything that 2 normally share! I think I'm either going to have to move the bathing to a different time or get started earlier on the dinner.
Ezz, I tried to get DD happily eating her finger foods while I'm in the kitchen but we've had a few near-choking incidents because she shovels too much food in at once so now it means I have to be right there hovering the whole time. I can get about 5 mins of (non-choking) peace out of her with a little pile of grated cheese while I'm getting the rest of her tea ready.
Jess and Nic I agree about bake dinners - I love to get everything in the oven and then pull it out, done. Just need to get them in a bit earlier I think.
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Your evening routine (or how to beat the arsenic before it begins)
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