I have been thinking a lot lately about all the things I have done for my older kids when they were smaller. The simple day to day routines that we establish for them to make them better calmer people. Simple routines like such:
1. bath time before going to bed
2. reading at bedtime
3. snack time after school
4. homework done at a specific time
5. dinner time as a family
6. putting dirty clothes in laundry basket
7. making beds in the morning
8. tidying up area before going to sleep
Does it really make a difference later in their lives when they are teenagers or young adults? I don't think it does. My kids don't seem to crave that structure or routine when they are smaller or older. I have 4 very different personalities with all of my kids and I sometimes wonder how impactful I really am. The time I take to do what I think is important in that feat to make them better and calmer functioning people in the adult world sometimes really seems to be a waste of my time.
I have an adult in my home that can't even do laundry or pick up her rotten food/garbage even when it sits directly nexted to her while she sleeps. Who puts these blinders on them? I have the second in line for adulthood that can live in "funk" but then all of the sudden gets a wild hair in her and cleans like there is no tomorrow. She has her own little OCD'S that are present. Even after she picks on me for having mine. The little two -- well they still do as instructed. (most of the time) So give them a few more years to develope their own way of functioning in a house of routine.
I want to believe that everything I have tried to instill in all of my kids was worth the time I invested. I have invested a great deal of my time and sometimes I don't feel I get the return I planned for. There are many times I am just hurt and saddened by what the end result shows. I guess my skin has not thickened enough. Sure hope it does... because I have two more to go through this teenage / young adult stage.
I will wish myself luck.
So what routines do you think matter for kids? please comment and let me know.
