I like routine. I always have, and I’m pretty sure I always will. I like to know where I’ll be and how I’m getting there. I like to know when I’ll have some time to myself during naps. I like things to trundle along in a routine.
And I think kids like this too.
As much as you might say or have said, ‘I’ll never get in a routine.’ When you have a routine, you know when naps will happen. And you can plan some YOU time. A workout. A nap. Some TV. That time is yours!
I have two girls, two years apart — exactly, almost to the day! They are 2 and 4. Not yet at school. Here’s a typical day in the life of me when I’m with the girls and Matt is working. If you want to hear more about life with two under two, read my blog What’s a two year age gap like?
A day in the life of having two kids two years apart (2 and 4)
6-7am – Wake up. Make breakfast. Find the exact purple spoon required. And the exact bottle top for Marfs. Drink coffee.
7am-9am – Play at home, watch TV. In this time I sometimes walk the dog if Matt is home. This is a little time I get to myself and I usually use it for movement and to listen to a podcast or audiobook.
9-12am – Take the girls out. If it’s a Tuesday I might go to:
- – Lynx Gym (read my review here)
- – Rush trampolining
- – Town for a slow walk around
- – Somewhere on the bus
- – Somewhere on the train
- – Whizz Kids/Soft play
- – Meet a friend in the park
- – Local garden centre
- – Cha Cha Chimps in Chinnor
- – Rainbow Tots in Chinnor
- – Puddle jumping
- – Coffee shop for baby chinnos
- – Library
- – Connextions Cafe
There are just a few things we like to do that are relatively local and under £10.
See a full week of free activities in Chinnor on my blog here.
12-1pm – Have lunch at home if possible. We watch TV here, a film or something like Bluey or Superkitties. I told Ida that Roma and Diana doesn’t work since we moved the TV. I just can’t cope with it anymore! I also think the values are raising questions, but maybe that’s another blog.
1-1:30 – Martha has a sleep (sometimes!). I wash up and reset the living room. Do some colouring with Ida or make cakes. We love making cakes!
2pm-4pm – We go to the park usually in the afternoon. Or puddle jumping if it’s been rainy. Afternoons I try to keep it simple. It’s less time to fill and their batteries are usually running lower in the afternoon, AKA more chance for a meltdown.
4:30pm – Home for dinner. Sometimes it can take ages to get home from the park. Everyone’s tired, hungry and wants to be carried. When we’re home I pop the TV on for them while I prep dinner. The girls eat and I usually help them eat some of theirs food. Because by now I’ve usually racked up 15k steps and am in desperate need of some plain pasta or bread and butter. On a Tuesday plain pasta has never tasted so good!
5:30 pm – Matt comes down from work and we have dinner together.
6pm – We all go up to start bedtime. Which can last two hours. Chasing Marfs around to put her in a nappy can take 20 minutes. Then there’s a few rounds of hide and seek. Wibbly Wobbly Daddy climbing frame. It all takes time.
We’ve not (yet) nailed the whole “Night then, see you in the MORNING.” No. We are very much in there with them until they fall asleep, and I’ve made peace with that. Sometimes I feel myself getting angry (tips to stay calm at bedtime here).
I’ve found reading my book when I’m lying with Martha to be the best solution. I know one day they’ll not even give me a kiss goodnight because they’ll be tucking themselves in, so I’ll take the next few years. And it means I’ve read six books in 3 months which is a record for me!
Daily routine with a 2 and 4 year old
So there it is. I wrote this blog because when I first had Marfs I was scared to go too far or do much. I was worried they’d both have a melt down! I found some great places to go locally, even if it is just out the front of our house.
We generally go out, rain or shine. But sometimes if they’re not feeling it or if they’re happy at home playing, I don’t force them to go out. They’re at childcare 3x a week and sometimes I think they just want to be home. I remember the feeling as a kid, just wanting to stay home and play with toys.
If they’re happy playing and engaged in a game, I make bread or clean. I get my book out occasionally but there’s something that happens when I sit down and look too comfy – they start to think I’m a climbing frame.
Daily routine with a newborn and a two year old
I wish I’d written this blog at the time when Ida and Martha were new and two.
But I do remember pretty well what it was like. I’ll keep this one short because if you’re reading it then it’s likely you’re pregnant with an 18 month old or have a new baby and a two year old – most likely knackered.
5-6am – Wake up and feed Martha. She’d usually go back to sleep. Ida is up for the day.
6am-9am – Watch telly, play games, feed Martha.
9am-11am – Take Ida to ballet or to the park. When Martha was in a little routine I managed to get out with Ida on my own as Matt works from home and was with her while she slept. Martha was quickly into a routine and so I knew she’d be down for a couple of hours. This really helped me adjust to having two as I still got time with Ida.
When Marfs was really small I’d wrap her up in the sling and we’d all go to the park, a toddler group or just out walking.
1-2 pm – JOINT NAP! It didn’t happen every time but if I managed to time it right I’d get a whole hour to sleep, cook, read, work – anything. This hour was much needed.
2-4 pm – Meet a friend out the front, or go to the park. I always like to keep it simple in the afternoon!
4pm-5pm – Prep and eat dinner
6pm – Bath and bedtime
Daily routine with kids and a dog
I tend to walk the dog on my own when Matt’s home. But when he is out at work all day, I take her out the front with the girls. I have low expectations and never stray too far!
What’s your routine like?
I wrote this blog because I was always curious how my days might look when I had two with two years apart. Some days are harder than others. This usually depends on everyone’s mood. If it’s good, it’s really good, but it can go South in seconds. In the last two years I’ve found some coping methods for when this happens (Things to do when you have no patience with kids.)
I hope this gives you some ideas, and maybe takes the pressure off feeling like you need to do too much.
Fromthemotherside 
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