"She has a fairly regular ROUTINE so she knows what to expect each day." ~ from 'Terrible Twos'
Today and yesterday have been pretty simple. The weather not so fun, and with J gone overnight for work, we carry on but a little blah. Yesterday morning was a cleaning day that started with an usual blackout when the toaster triggered the fuse for our loft. I was on Google Translator for a bit trying to decipher the box descriptions. By the end, I didn't learn anything useful, and with another look into the box, I flipped what looked like the main fuse. 'Ta ya', as Miss C-Jaz would say to imitate 'Ta Da'.
By late morning Miss C-Jaz was cranky as we headed out for a walk with her in the stroller. Ten minutes into the walk she fell asleep. I paused by the quiet canal just to sit, then I brought her back home to lie her down. By the time she awoke in the late afternoon, Ganma and Ganpa had returned from ICA, the grocery store pronounced 'Ick-ah'. She had an early dinner then played with her new Princess soccer ball with Ganma, and before I knew it, it was time for bed, though Miss C-Jaz fell asleep a little later than usual.
Before bed, Daddy called, and Miss C-Jaz was so adorable in her tiny voice saying, "Hi, Daddeee! Miss you! Luv you!" She was lying down in bed holding Bo and drinking Ka, but as soon as I handed her my cell phone and she heard Daddy's voice, she dropped everything and sat up. I could hear him ask if she was being a good girl as the phone slipped and she tried to prop it between her ear and her shoulder. It was just so sweet!
Today was just as quiet as yesterday with a little more rain. We woke up, and she started to play with Ganma and the Princess soccer ball again, that she often calls her basketball, until Ganma and Ganpa left for errands. Just after lunch she was asleep for her nap for a couple of hours. When she woke up we waited for Daddy to get home, doing some laundry and watching Monster's Inc., twice, while I tried to catch up on some SEO reading. Miss C-Jaz was playing a game with Ganma and Ganpa, also known as Cianna Says..."Ganma do dis," as Miss C-Jaz waves her arms around. "Ganma do dat," as she rubs her cheeks.
Happy that Daddy finally got back from his work excursion, we got ready for some fine 'Indisk' food as a goodbye dinner to Ganma and Ganpa - a little ironic having Indian food as they left Sweden heading back home.
As simple a day like the past couple of days or as busy as a Saturday out to the Zoo at Skansen, Miss C-Jaz's routine remains fairly consistent.
Wake Up Time between 7 and 9 a.m.
Wash Up and change for the day.
Breakfast Time follows soon after.
Outside Time or Play time (flashcards, reading, crafts) around 10 or 11 a.m.
Lunch Time follows then ideally a Nap. (I try to do house stuff, dinner prep, and currently SEO reading.)
Snack Time between 3 and 4 p.m.
Play Time or Outside Time.
Dinner Time around 5 or 6 p.m.
Clean Up Time, Wash Up and change for bed.
Daddy Time around 7 p.m.
Winding Down Time then Bedtime by ideally 9 p.m.
The earlier Miss C-Jaz wakes and the shorter her Nap during the day, the longer the day can be. When she sleeps well she's more cooperative and listens better to instructions, especially when she wants to help with daily chores: sweeping, washing dishes, laundry, etc. Miss C-Jaz loves the outdoors so if we can get out we will as it breaks up the day well. The evening can make the day feel longer if she gets crankier, which depends on when Nap Time ends also affecting how early or how late she falls asleep for Bed Time.
Miss C-Jaz's fairly regular ROUTINE helps her to know what to expect each day, almost a little too much. Sometimes in the morning as soon as we start changing out of pajamas she asks, "Mommy, where going?" When I ask her the question back she responds with, "Out. Somewhere. For a walk. Yet's go."
A simple day or a busy day, I rely on Miss C-Jaz's ROUTINE to get through each day to try and keep her from getting restless, tired, or hungry to avoid mood swings and temper tantrums. Embedded in ROUTINES it's important to maintain LIMITED CHOICES, LIMITS, avoiding TANTRUMS, and ensuring SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.
Routine is defined in many ways. Miss C-Jaz follows a 'usual or regular method of procedure'. Most days it's not a 'boring repitition of tasks', and on many occasions for my Bachoochie it looks like a 'set sequence of dance steps' evident in her 'Shimmy Shimmy'. (The Free Dictionary)
