WOHM's especially but all others are welcome to chime in. What is your evening routine like? I posed a similar question when my LO was much younger. At almost one year though I feel like I'm still a flustered, disorganized, hot mess. Help me get it together? I'm always sooooo tired in the evenings that I crash early, but then mornings are crazy trying to find clean clothes, pack food, etc.
What are your evening must do's? Are you pretty consistent? Share your wisdom with me ...
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My routine is pretty bare bones, this could be any time between 4:40 and 8 at night:
Pick up son
Go home and throw dinner in oven
Play
Eat Dinner
Bath
BedtimeI don't do much during the week in terms of housekeeping. I might throw in a load of towels, but I do all of the outfit planning on the weekend, as well as meal prep. I want as few things as possible to do during the week.
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We get home around 5pm ish.
Dinner at 5:30pm
Bath at 6:00pm
- after the bath we pull out the clothes for the next day -
upstairs for bed at 7:00pmOnce kids are in bed, DH does the dishes and I make lunches for the following day.
Backpacks and coats are waiting on a bench by the garage door ready for the morning!
I go to bed btwn 9 and 930pm
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@cmomma17:
5:00 pm: Get home with LO from daycare & nurse
5:15-6:00: Playtime with LO
6:00: Dinner for LO
6:30: Bath for LO
6:45: Nurse & sleep for LO
7-9: Eat dinner with DH, watch a show with DH, pack my lunch for the next day, wash pump partsWe usually go to bed around 10 or 10:30
I always wash pump parts and pack my lunch in the evening. DH takes LO to daycare in the morning, so he packs her bottles (but that only takes a few min). He also feeds her breakfast. I lay out her outfit for daycare the night before, too.
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530: Get home, heat up R's dinner. I empty dishwasher, prep dinner for myself while she eats, then we play
6:15: Bath time, books, and bed
645ish: I start laundry (maybe 2 times a week), clean up the floor from her dinner, pick up toys, wash dishes, make my lunch for the next day, and cook and eat dinner
930is: bedtime for meShe gets a school lunch so I don't have to prep her lunch. I make her breakfast in the morning, since she gets a banana every morning, and I don't want to slice it the night before.
I am going to start working out right after she goes to bed and then just eating dinner after I guess. Unless I eat leftovers and then I will eat with her.
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Depending on when I finish up at work, either DH or I will pick up DD around 5:45. Then it's a mad dash --
- Throw something together for DD for dinner
- If it takes a while to heat up her dinner, let her play for a little while, either in the kitchen, the yard, or her play room -- ask her about her day
- Sit at the table w/ DD while she eats (or do dishes in the kitchen and talk to her from there)
- Usually by then it's time to go upstairs for bath and bedtime-- After DD is in bed (usually around 8 PM), DH and I get our own dinner ready, or we just get takeout if we're too tired and stressed out. After dinner I usually sit on the couch in front of the TV and do some more work on my laptop until close to midnight. I'll also throw diapers in the wash and tidy up a bit if I have any energy leftover. I also get the daycare bag ready for the morning. Then off to bed for us, and it all begins again!
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We have a pretty steady routine at 9 months
4:30 - I leave work for daycare
5:00 - arrive home with LO
5:00-5:30 - playtime, start dinner
5:30 - dinner time
Depending on her mood, we either let her play for a while or go straight to bathtime
6:00-6:30 - play or bath
6:30 - change diaper, sleep sack, bottle, bed!She's asleep by 7 every night. DH cleans the kitchen every night while I straighten up the house, do laundry and get her stuff ready/make lunch for the next day. I lay all her outfits out the weekend before. After that we usually watch TV and hit the sack by 9 or 10.
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5:15 - get home, start mixing/making Xander's dinner, give him milk while he waits
5:30 - feed Xander dinner
6:00 - bath if it's bath night, bed if he didn't nap well, playtime otherwise
6:50 - bedtime routine on a normal night, diaper change, pjs, milk & book, brush teeth, another book, bed - while Hubs does bedtime, I start dinner for us, wash Xander's dishes, pull out milk from the freezer stash for the next day
7:30 - Hubs and I have dinner, sometime run a load of laundry
9:30 - bedtime! -
I get home between 4:45-5:00pm. I play with LO until around 5:45. I then put together dinner and we eat all together between 6:00 and 6:30. We play from after dinner until about 7:15 when we start bedtime routine (bath, pajamas, song, etc).
When I take out the towel for his bath, I lay out his clothes for the next morning for the nanny to dress him. I make his lunch either when I get home or after he goes to bed, depending on when I have a few extra minutes.
Things are a lot saner for me because we have care in-home, so we don't have that getting home rush...she also helps me a lot with cooking and cleaning so I'm able to really spend time with LO when I'm home. I'm extremely lucky...I don't want her to ever leave me!
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I'm seeing two trends here so far ... DH's who help in the mornin or evening and LO's who eat dinner way faster than mine!
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@cmomma17: how does it take him? My DH isn't there during the week, so no help from him for me!
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I split my time - 2 days WFH and 3 days WOH, so it always depends on which I do. On the WOH days, it goes like this:
4:30: DH picks up LO or relieves whoever is here with him
6:00: DH feeds LO
6-6:30: I get home and either help feed LO or get his stuff ready for the next day
7:30/8:00: We head upstairs for bath and story
8:30/9:00: LO is asleep
9:00-10:00: DH and I try to work together to get everything ready for the next day
10:00-10:30 - relax before bet at 10:30 -
5:00 Pick up L
5:15 Get home and start dinner/give L a snack to keep her from screaming at me
5:30 DH gets home and tries to keep L busy while I finish dinner/wash last night's dishes. Every other day start load of diapers while dinner is cooking.
6:00 Sit down to eat
6:30 Play with L for 30 minutes.
7:00 Bedtime routine. L goes to bed
7:30 Watch 2 shows
9:00 Go to bed! (Well, shower, read, talk. Asleep by 10)I would LOVE to use the crockpot, so we can come home and eat right away. I would LOVE it if I would clean up after L goes to bed instead of dying on the couch.
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@cmomma17: Does your DH not help because he's at work or because he doesn't want to?
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DH picks her up, so he usually gets dinner started. I get home by 5:30. LO is 16 months.
5:15-6ish: dinner for LO, (sometimes us if we're on top of things)
6-6:30: playtime or bath
6:30-6:45: jammies, nurse,
6:45-7pm: brush teeth, storytime, snuggles, into bed>while I'm nursing, DH refreshes the humidifier, lays out her sleep sack, tidies up toys in her bedroom, vacuums downstairs, etc.
>while DH brushes her teeth and reads a story, I lay out her clothes for the next day, decide on my outfit for the next day, clean up clothes in the bedroom, etc.7-7:30: I shower and do my hair, do dishes, and get our dinner ready if we haven't eaten.
7:30-9 or 9:30: watch tv, pay bills, tidy toys downstairs, etc.
Before heading up to bed, we lay out coat, hat, and mitts, make sure we have a sippy cup for daycare, pack up any diapers/wipes that need to go to daycare, and pack up our work bags so they're ready to go in the morning.In bed by 9:30 or 10 at the latest!
ETA: I work from home 1-2 days a week (usually), so I can skip my shower and dishes in the evening if I'm working at home the next day. It's a nice break, and gives me a chance to do other things that need doing!
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@cmomma17: If Xander actually ate finger foods (which he doesn't, grrrr), then my routine would probably change to us all having dinner together, which would also both save time and take more time probably, but I'm guessing it would wash out in the end.
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Most nights my DH works til 930 or later so I do all the LO stuff solo. Then, when I do clear the kitchen sink of dishes, it doesn't last long because DH adds his pile when he gets home (he packs all his food each day, which is great). I also am learning that I have to be in charge of milk, baby food, baby clothes, diaper bag, etc or it just doesn't get done right.
I just feel so wiped and foggy-brained the last couple weeks and waking up to a messy kitchen makes things feel so much worse.
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@cmomma17: I would tell your husband that he needs to clean his dishes himself since he's contributing to them so late and it's messing up your mornings.
I also have to be in charge of milk, baby food, clothes, making sure daycare has everything, etc. Though Hubs does bring Xander to daycare in the morning, so that's one less thing for me to worry about in the morning - I just have to make sure everything is ready to go for him.
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@cmomma17: I think at least laying out clothes the night before would help, but maybe even lay them all out on Sunday? I also think you should ask your DH to take care of his dishes...doesn't seem unreasonable given everything else that you do. We bring a box of diapers and wipes to daycare at a time so we don't need to pack a diaper bag...the only thing DH brings each day is her bottles of milk. Would that be a possibility for you?
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LO and I get home around 6pm (or a little earlier)
LO’s dinner is served pretty much right away. She is a slowwwwwwww eater, so dinner usually takes until 7pm.
7-7:30: read LO a book or play, take a bath every other day
7:45-8:15 change LO into PJs, brush teeth, read 2 books and then say goodnight and leave room. She usually falls asleep within 10 minutes.
Once she’s down for the night……..
Eat dinner with DH
Clean up kitchen, load dishwasher, tidy up house, put LO’s toys away (one does dishes while the other does housework)
Get lunch for tomorrow ready
Get work stuff ready (put gym clothes in gym bag, put any papers together I need to bring to work, etc.)
Pick out my clothes for the next morning. DH loves to pick out LO's outfit each morning, otherwise I'd do that at night too.
Do laundry if necessary (usually have to do 1 midweek load and then just do the rest on the weekends)
Watch TV
Wash face, remove makeup, etc.
Bed around 11pm
@cmomma17: Do you have to bring a diaper bag to daycare everyday? We leave a stockpile of diapers and wipes at daycare, as well as an extra change of clothes that just stays in her cubby so once she was done with bottles we didn't have to bring anything to daycare each morning (except LO!)
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@Smurfette: Depending on the day (sometimes I go straight home to LO being watched by mom or DH on a day off, other days I pick him up from in-laws in a town 15 minutes away) we sit down to eat anywhere from 5:15 - 6:00 pm. It really takes at least 30 minutes most nights! I don't want to rush him, because them I'm afraid he wouldn't get enough to eat. He likes to talk a lot in his highchair, explore individual pieces of food before eating them, throw things at the cat, etc ....
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@lawbee11: Most days it is because he's not there. On his days off, he does more (but also doesn't pack a big bag of food). Part of the problem with the dishes is that he gets home so late and is beat after being on his feet all day for work. I will have started the full dishwasher and gone to bed, so for him to keep the sink clear he'd have to put away a full load of dishes first (if they are done). Can't blame the guy for being tired, but of course, I am too!
ETA: outside of the dishes, he just isn't a "plan ahead" kind of guy. So if he is taking LO to the in-laws (like today), 5 minutes before leaving he's all stressed and doesn't know what food to pack for LO. Or what clothes to pick out. So I figure it's just easier to do it all myself so he can just grab and run.
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@cmomma17: R can take up to 30 mins to eat too. Lately she is done in 15-20 mins cause she is shoveling the food in her mouth.
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@cmomma17: It takes S 45-60 minutes to eat dinner most nights. Sigh. It's painful!
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I wish I had some "wisdom" for you, but I don't! I also am a flustered hot mess every night, but this is what we do:
5:00 get home. Usually go for a walk or do something outside because LO eats a late lunch (2:00).
6:00 cook, eat dinner/clean up, brush teeth, read books.
during this time (while I cook) DD2 is usually just waking up from her evening nap and DD1 is watching Frozen or Bubble Guppies.
8:00 try and put both girls down at the same time (we do baths in the morning). I usually change DD2 and put her down first, and then give DD1 her bottle and try to get her down while simultaneously returning back to DD2 and giving her her paci.
9:00 The chaos dies down, both girls are asleep, and I usually work, drink wine, pack bags for tomorrow, and wait for my husband to come home at 11:00-12:00.
12:00 pump -
@Adira: It will probably be a wash. It's nice to eat at the same time, but then finger foods can make a huge mess too! So extra clean up.
I'll have you give my DH a call about the dishes I think it's easier to just do a lot of these things myself sometimes, but DH waits too long and then throws stuff together. Like one day he packed rice and beans in LO's lunch. Except it was just plain rice and plain beans, and a HUGE portion. Nothing else! To be fair, I feed/eat with LO way more frequently so I'm more in tune with what he likes and how much he eats. DH also frequently drops LO off to the in-laws in just his pj's. No change of clothes.
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@yoursilverlining: No diaper bag daily. Our childcare situation is so confusing. I think that's part of what messes me up honestly, since week to week it is never the same. DH has 1 -2 weekdays off per week, this varies each week of the month. If DH works Monday or Tuesday, LO stays home and my mom comes over. If DH works Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, LO goes to my in-laws. Depending on the time DH works, I drop off and/or pick up LO, or DH does one or both (so confusing). In-laws have their own crib, diapers and wipes, but not clothes (we don't have enough clothes that we can just leave some there, but we did do that when LO was smaller). On in-law days I pack milk, food, outfit and back up outfit, bibs, water cup, jacket, shoes, pacifier.
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@Rainbow Sprinkles: kudos for you for doing it with TWO! Much wine for you!
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@cmomma17: I'm not trying to offend, but it sounds like part of your problem might just be relinquishing control. You say your DH doesn't do it "right" but if he never has the chance to do it, why should he be expected to? Maybe it would be good to give him a set task that is "his" responsibility. Like he has to pack the diaper bag each night. Then he will eventually learn through trial and error what he missed. And it's not going to hurt anybody if LO stayed in his PJs all day while DH learns to remember to pack clothes.
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5:30-5:45 get home with LO, DH or I starts dinner
6:30-7ish start dinner
7:-7:30ish we wrap up dinner. One of us cleans up dinner and the other one baths L.
7:45-8 L goes to bed. If DH puts L to bed I try to pick up around the house.
then we usually hang out downstairs. I try to fold clothes during this time but sometimes I sit on my butt and watch TV.
in bed around 1030-11 pmThings are SO MUCH BETTER now that I don't have to mess with prepping/washing bottles and pump parts or pack lunches.
@cmomma17: That sounds really confusing. I'd have to write out a weekly schedule each week on my fridge or microwave if I was in your situation.
I got one of these for my meal planning (only mine is horizontal.) maybe it would help you? http://www.staples.com/Martha-Stewart-Home-Office-Avery-Dry-Erase-Vertical-Weekly-Planner/product_982829?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:982829&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=982829&KPID=982829
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@kiddosc: I'm not offended because I will confess to being a total control freak.
PJ's all day when itty bitty isn't too big of a deal, but LO is walking now, so MIL would like to get him dressed, take him outside to play, etc. Plus, in our case we don't have endless sets of jammies, and LO re-wears for a few nights. Wearing them all day gets them dirty IMO.
I have tried giving him things to do (ex. washing bottles and pump parts) but he's big on "I'll take care of it in the morning ...." and then I end up doing it anyways.
And again, I think our wacky schedule contributes to the problem. 4 days in a row it's my job since I'm the one home, and then on day 5 DH is suddenly the parent in charge of everything while I rush to work. -
@dagret: I'm close to the end of the road with pump parts and bottles and I can tell it's going to be GLORIOUS not washing them anymore!! I love the dry erase board idea. We do share a google calendar with the work schedule on it (shared with our moms too so they know when they are 'working') but I still get confused.
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@cmomma17: I'm just saying, if the PJs get dirty, it's really in the grand scheme of things not a big deal. And then your MIL tells DH he forgot clothes, and he eventually learns to remember to pack them. And if he pulls the "I'll take care of it in the morning" and then you just do it anyway, where is his incentive to change? Try to suppress the control freak girl!
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@kiddosc: but MIL doesn't tell him, she tells ME
And I'm all like, I swear, we dress our child sometimes. DH will drop him off, I'll pick him up (like today). He won't be home until 10 pm tonight. So he never really hears about it.
Then I have to take care of certain things in the morning, because I don't have enough spare pump parts, so I have to wash them when I get up in the morning, so they are clean and dry in time for me to pack my pump bag and leave. Still a control freak or slightly justified?
Or with dishes left for the morning ... we have a small kitchen in a small apartment. So if he leaves dirty stuff, I will have to move it out of my way in the AM to make my breakfast, etc.ETA: totally didn't intend for this to become a DH rant! I swear!
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Can't you run the dishwasher after he puts his pieces in?
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DD is 19 months
Get home at 6pm
Make dinner - put in oven
eat dinner
play with LO
make bottle at 7:30
take a bath
read
help her to sleep at 8pmI go to bed at around 9-10pm
I wake up earlier than everyone (6:30)and its easier to get ready. DD gets up at 8am and we dress and have breakfast and wait for her nanny at 8:30 and I leave at that time.
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I am robotic about our evening routine but it's a lot easier for me to keep up with it because my husband does 50%. For example, he does the bath while I put laundry away, hoover round, change LO's bed etc (I race around like a crazy person and achieve loads!). But sometimes I have to do it alone - tomorrow, for example, DH has an evening gig - and this is what I do:
5.30pm - get home with E
5.30 - 6pm - play with E
6pm - give E her bottle (and medicine)
6.15pm - take E upstairs and put her down to play (in her crib or on her play mat) for 5 minutes while I run the bath, put her towel on the heater and quickly put last night's clean laundry away into E's wardrobe.
6.20pm - Bath E.
6.30pm - Put E to bed.I then quickly tidy around upstairs while she falls asleep - put any grown up laundry away, get my work clothes out for the next day etc (it takes less than 10 minutes!).
Then I go downstairs, sterilise the bottles, put a load of laundry in (I keep on top if it as much as possible, one load a day) and then make dinner. While dinner is cooking, I tidy downstairs, hoover the sofas and floor, and get LO's daycare bag ready. I also put her paci on the strap in the car seat and put her coat in the seat, ready.
7.15pm ish -eat dinner.
Then I load the dishwasher, quickly clean the kitchen and lay out LO's breakfast things (plus my coffee things!) ready for morning.
8pm - Sit down with a glass of wine!
Mornings are then really easy because:
- Her breakfast stuff is laid out
- Her outfit is laid out and anything else I might need (eg she might be sick on her first outfit!) is hung up in her wardrobe or in her drawers to hand.
- Her daycare bag is ready
- Her car seat is ready with her paci and coat ready & waitingHope this helps.
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@cmomma17: I think it's reasonable to take care of your pump parts, but I would tell MIL it was DH's responsibility to pack clothes for LO and then text him or leave him a note letting him know he didn't do it. It just sounds like you're bending over backwards and stressing yourself out taking on ALL the responsibility when your DH is present and perfectly capable of helping. If that were my situation, DH would not get a free pass to shirk all responsibility. He would have certain tasks that were delegated to be his.
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Leave work at 5:00 & pick up LO from daycare (right across the street)
Get home 5:15-5:20
5:20: Start dinner prep & play with LO
5:45 DH home & takes over playing & I get dinner done
6 pm: eat dinner
6:30: play before bath
7:oo pm: bath
7:30: bed timeThis has changed now that the weather is nice, I play outside until DH gets home and he takes over and I run inside and quick a quick dinner and then we do walk after dinner before bath. Bed has been getting pushed back to around 8 on these nights.
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@looch: well, of course. In these instances I'm running the dishwasher because it's completely full. Other people must have bigger dishwashers and more dishes maybe?
And I'm all like, I swear, we dress our child sometimes. DH will drop him off, I'll pick him up (like today). He won't be home until 10 pm tonight. So he never really hears about it.Subscribe to our newsletter
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