Monday, July 27, 2009

Schedule & How to De-clutter Toys

Little Wonder asked so here goes:

Monday
5 - 6 AM Snuggle time with Jordan
6 - 7 AM Shower, dressed, coffee
7-7:45 Make-up beds/brush teeth and hair/get dressed/strong sitting/yoga, breakfast/clean up (in that order)
7:45-8 Walk/Run/Bike (any high energy activity)
8-9 Language Arts
9-9:15 Sensory Integration games and Occupational Therapy
9:15-10:15 Language Arts
10:15-10:30 Relay races
10:30-11:30 Language Arts
11:30-11:45 Walk/Steps/Mini-Tramp/bike/scooter
11:45-12:30 Lunch/Clean Up
12:30-12:45 Learning Breakthrough
12:45-1:45 Language Arts
1:45-2:00 Relay races
2:00-3:00 Play bonding games
3:00-4 Sensory integration games
4:00-5:00 Dinner/Cleanup
5:00-6:00 Play Time
6:00-7:00 Bath, brush teeth, Reiki, bedtime stories or independent reading
7- 8 PM Clean up house, wash and dry laundry (the girls do all the folding and putting away). J does all her own ironing.
8 - 9 PM Check email/read blogs and something to help my girls therapeutically (usually blogs because y'all give me so many ideas). Veg out. Read for fun.
9 PM Stick a fork in me. I. Am. Done.

Everywhere you read Language Arts it changes by day. On Tuesday's it is Math, Wednesday's are Language Arts Extension's which are lessons within a lesson, Thursday is Science and Geography, Friday is art and spelling. Art can be a play (we're about to start on the kids Shakespeare plays thanks to Pioneer Woman's recommendation, crayons, making a craft, etc.

We change up as needed and if one is stuck we move through it or have down time to help with regulation. I have to have a schedule or it would be too easy to roll with the day and nothing would get accomplished. I really, really try to stick to it.

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Get ready to realize I'm the worst mom ever. I NEVER pick up toys or clothes. Ever. Unless it's to throw them in the trash. The girls know that if I have to pick up something or they leave something out at bedtime that it will be going directly in the trash. I NEVER have to ask them to pick up their room or put away bicycles, bubbles, scooters or anything because before they go to bed everything (every single night) is picked up and put away. Nice and neat. They also pick up after themselves all during the day so that it's never bad at bedtime. They're probably terrified that I'll throw it away during the day too. ;-) Don't judge, it works for me. ;-) Clothes go in the hampers in the laundry room. Sorted at the time of deposit. Our towels are color coded (J is pink, Sk turquoise, mine are white) so J knows which ones are hers and Sk can identify too. SK is now Chief Laundry Folder and delivery girl. Doing quite well too.

Three things are accomplished. #1 Things never get out of hand (meaning really big mess) in a way that is too overwhelming for them to clean up. #2 I never, ever have to nag. Ever. I like that. I have to repeat myself over and over and over and over during the day about important things but at least I never have to nag about this stuff. I will never replace anything that has been thrown away but they can earn money to buy a replacement and I'll take them to the store. #3 I never have to sort laundry. Just throw it in and press start.

It was horrible to implement. On me that is. My wallet started shaking in my purse because all I could think about was the money I was throwing away when those toys landed in the trash can. I hate being wasteful and it felt terribly wasteful. I will admit that the leap fr*g quietly found it's way back to the toy box. However, J lost about 3 toys and 1 outfit before it clicked. Sk hasn't lost a thing yet because J made a believer out of her. I'm sure she'll have her turn before it's over. ;-)

Having them take the toys/clothes to a thrift store or salvation ar*y would be effective too but for J seeing it in the trash can worked like a charm. Plus at that time I wasn't doing much but surviving and didn't want to go through the public meltdown either.

Now if I could just get my stuff as organized and neatly put away as they do I'd be a real winner. Or wiener...depending on how you look at it.

9 comments:

The Accidental Mommy said...

You must have been an absolute BEAST at accounting. Seriously! Knock the sass right off of those numbers and stand them in line! Your schedule is amazing- wow. I know it has to be a huge advantage for the girls recovery to be able to count on and rely on their daily plans. Having that predictability would take a ton of stress out of their days.
Awesome!

Mama Drama Times Two said...

PHEW. I am tired just reading the schedule!!! I Love the "Pick Up or Throw Out" Tip. You are so brave (and clever)!!!! Periodically I find I need to go through Bucksquat's Room and do a mini purge and reduce the excess. I explain it as "Gee, it looks like you have too much stuff to manage - so we'll help you. It will be easier to manage less stuff." He has a tendency to hoard and is relieved when his room is back in control. Our positive focus on "Management" has helped us all.

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous your girls get it. We throw away stuff too but the only kid that gets it and picks up after himself is my youngest.

~Dinah said...

WOW!! THis is great! I would be dead dog tired every single night! I'm surprised you dont' have an afternoon rest time...my kiddos both need rest time from about 1-3 (my 9 year old & my 5 year old).

You are an awesome mom! I'm totally behind the throw it idea. I do that with the business aspect of my home (but not the personal --I'm a slacker) and yes it totally works!

Thank you so much for sharing! :)

J. said...

you never cease to amaze me!

Mom of these kids said...

Wow...I want to be like that! My hubby just says, throw the crap away...but the sentimental, and the pocket book in me can't do it. I want to be like that...I will say it again. I am going to try. So, to begin implementing it, do you first give them a warning...like...go clean up...but from this day on...in the trash it goes. Oh wow...I will try. I want to have a neat house..but I am not a very disciplined person...but with all that I have going on, I have got to get my act together. I need a schedule bad.

Jillene said...

You never cease to amaze me Lisa!! You are such an AMAZING mother!!

RyanDallasmom said...

You rock! I am a weenie about throwing unpicked up stuff away. I mostly just chunk them in garbage bags (while D screams his usual chant "just give me one more chance pleeeese Mom!") and clutter up my garage. :-/

I've thrown out junky stuff, but held onto expensive stuff. He has no idea of value of things, just knows what he likes... so my choice of throwing away or timing out things is random to him. He now knows he'd better pick up or he might not get an opportunity to earn it back.

He improved a LOT on picking up after the time I "threw out" his bike helmet. That leads to loss of many loved things... his bike, skateboard, Rip Stick and scooter)

I'm pretty mean. He thinks so anyway. LOL.

Christine said...

Holy cow, that is a brilliant idea! When I have kids, I am definitely implementing that rule.

Just out of curiosity, do the toys actually go in the trash and to the landfills, or do you donate the toys or sell them?