Aug
2012
Getting Back Into A Routine
I wish I had some fun witty post to take us into the weekend, but I am coming up short. My blogging schedule has been anything but normal this week because going back to school week is exhausting!
It’s mentally and physically exhausting.
I’m drained. Tapped out. I have lost all focus.
The good news is that the kids are off to a fantastic start at school.
The bad news is that the dogs and I are having issues getting back into a set routine.
In the summer I get up whenever the spirit moves me, or when Sherman starts to pathetically breathe hot air in my face.
During the summer I don’t have to add in extra time to pack lunches, get the kids dressed, fed and happy before I send them out the door, so I set my alarm 30 minutes later. I have to be at work at various times throughout the week. One day it’s ten o’clock, the other it’s eight thirty. So a set in stone routine is not what we have during the summer.
Look Sherman I know I got up at 6:30 yesterday morning but today is Wednesday and I don’t have to get up until 7:45. How many times do we have to go over this?
Now, any good, organized mother would of started the new routine earlier in the week to get everyone accustomed to the change.
Yeah, not me. I sucked every last second out of my morning sleep that I could. The first day of school was the first day of the new routine.
The new routine involves getting up at a set time every morning, which means the dogs are let out and fed at the same time now everyday instead of trying to guess when I was going to feed them.
“Oh, she’s walking by the food bowls! Do you think she’ll feed us now?”
“Maybe now?”
Oh shoot I forgot to feed the dogs!
Stop it! I never forget to feed the dogs!
Anyway, the dogs are kind of being hit with a double whammy right now, because not only are the kids back at school my husband has also gone back to work after being laid off for a few months. So that means that when I am at work they are alone.
Poor, poor doggies. All alone.
Have no fear though, I have managed to make that transition a little easier for them.
When summer started I dropped one of my short days at work to spend more time with the kids. Since it was my shortest shift of the week I decided that I am just going to leave it as dropped so that I can spend time with the dogs. On my longer work days(8-12 hours) I am able to come home for lunch for an hour. I’m able to let them out for a potty break and sometimes we even share some lunch.
Our nighttime routine will be even tighter since the kids have homework, after school sports and the days are getting shorter. The dogs will accompany me to more football practices to get them out and about and walks will be done strictly at 8:00.
I’ve also decided that on my days off, when the weather gets cooler, I will be focusing on doing one on one activities with the dogs. Sherman and I will practice our draft work and I think that Leroy and I might start doing some hiking. I’m trying to figure out what intrigues Leroy. I know he”ll do the draft work I just don’t think he will enjoy it so I figure I might try something new.
The thought of Leroy and I hiking somewhere together, alone, scares me a bit. You know, all of a sudden he might get the urge to push me off a cliff or lead me down the wrong path on purpose.
You never know with him.
So yes, I’m exhausted. The hustle and bustle of back to school and settling into a new routine is tiring. By next week I’ll be fine. I will have gotten accustomed to waking up with the other crazy people who get up when it’s still dark out and the dogs will have gotten accustomed to being fed at the same time everyday and being abandoned for several hours three times a week.
So about you? Do ever find it tough to get back into a routine?
Bassetmomma
August 24, 2012 at 3:26 am (299 days ago)Getting back into a routine can be very daunting. Now that I have no kids at home, our routine stays pretty much the same around here. Which is good ’cause basset hounds are not good with change! Good luck when you start hiking with Leroy. I sure hope he doesn’t lead you down the wrong path! LOL!
Jen
August 27, 2012 at 11:43 pm (295 days ago)LOL! Me too!
Daisy
August 24, 2012 at 5:53 am (299 days ago)It’ll settle down….you just have to go with the flow.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
we three doxies
August 24, 2012 at 5:59 am (299 days ago)My mum feels your pain and we only has one kid…but, we is all exhausted here too. We is incredibly routine oriented and when it has to change, it takes furevers to get adjusted.
I am so happy dat your husband has gone back to work, I imagine dat was purty stressful.
Puddles
Jen
August 27, 2012 at 11:44 pm (295 days ago)Stressful it was indeed! Thank you and good luck with your new routine!
emma
August 24, 2012 at 7:42 am (299 days ago)It is always best when mom is home with us doggies but when she is gone we have each other and your Newfs have each other so they are not totally alone. I am sure they will be fine and remember the old routine in no time!
Finn
August 24, 2012 at 9:04 am (299 days ago)Maybe you should share some of those fries so he doesn’t push you off the cliff!
Good luck with the new routine!! Glad the kids are off to a great start.
Jodi
August 24, 2012 at 9:28 am (299 days ago)We don’t have school age children so our routine only changes on weekends and vacations, not usually enough time to become habit. As long as they get fed twice a day, my dogs are usually up for just about anything.
You might want to get one of those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” buttons for those long walks with Leroy. 
Julie, Leonardo and Grady
August 24, 2012 at 10:15 am (299 days ago)Our back to school routine starts Sept 4th. I keep saying that the kids and I will start getting up earlier, but so far, it’s a “no go”.
Leo and Grady will have a hard time adjusting to the empty house, but I will also have a difficult time adjusting to not having my boys around all day. Wish school would allow me to bring them to work. It could help my special student have a better day and help my boys not find things to get into while I’m away.
Eva or sometimes Priscilla
August 24, 2012 at 10:46 am (299 days ago)I had a good long break with Rosie in London and Germany and when I was home, the good world tumbled down and what I was facing were the endless unpacking, jet-lag, all other commitments that I used to have before I left home. Alas! It took me about a week to settle down completely and I still miss my sweet break on and off ; )
Good luck with your new routine. It will be fine!
Tim
August 24, 2012 at 10:46 am (299 days ago)Our going back to school this year included our 23 year old moving 6 hours away to go to grad school. He took his year old newf, Jozo with him. So Izzy, our 3 year old newf, and us our missing both of them bad. Our routines are all messed up.
Roxy the traveling dog
August 24, 2012 at 11:08 am (299 days ago)I feel for you Jen. When my kids were little I loved the summer. No homework, no lunches to make, no routine. Summer was always way to short for me. But, before you know it they will be out of school and grown up, then the summer lasts longer, and routine is what you make it. School time is hectic, but have fun with it.
Jen
August 27, 2012 at 11:44 pm (295 days ago)I know, time is going by so fast already:(
Sam
August 24, 2012 at 11:11 am (299 days ago)Yes! My husband was laid off for over two years. When he started up we had a hard time with the boys being left alone without anyone for even the shortest period of time. It has taken a while, but we are adjusting.
Sam
Jen
August 27, 2012 at 11:45 pm (295 days ago)2 Years, Wow! I’m sorry to hear that. Glad to hear that he is back to work and everyone is adjusting!
Blueberry's human
August 24, 2012 at 11:14 am (299 days ago)Gosh – hope he doesn’t push you off a cliff! When I hiked with my foster dog that weighed close to 100 pounds – if she’d see a lizard or anything else, she’d try to go after it – usually when we were hiking near a drop off. I feared for my life at times – so I urge you to proceed with caution. Leroy is a big fella – although I probably don’t have to point ou the obvious to you!
It’s just me and Blueberry – so we have a pretty good routine and she is really good about letting me have an occasional sleep-in. She’s just so darn easy going it’s easy for me to take advantage of that sometimes. I’m sure that by mid-September you’ll have your routine down pat!
Jen
August 27, 2012 at 11:46 pm (295 days ago)I promise, I will proceed with caution, maybe we will stay away from steep edges for awhile:)
Blueberry's human
August 24, 2012 at 11:17 am (299 days ago)Rats, I meant point “out” – gosh I hate when I miss a typo!
Kristine
August 24, 2012 at 11:48 am (299 days ago)I don’t know how people like you with children manage it all! The fact you have remained (mostly
) sane with so much going on is quite impressive. You should be celebrating every day you all make it through with everyone fed and everyone healthy. That is a feat worth bragging about to be sure.
I am sure you and the dogs will have it all figured out again – just in time for next summer!
Have a great weekend!
Jackie
August 24, 2012 at 1:49 pm (299 days ago)I’m with Kristine. I don’t know how people with young kids do it all either. We (obviously) don’t have kids, and since I work at home, our routine is not that bad – just focused on the hubby’s work schedule. Luckily he doesn’t have to get up super early, since none of us – even the dog! – are morning “people”.
It’s nice that you can come home at lunch to visit the dogs. I’m sure they love that!
Two French Bulldogs
August 24, 2012 at 12:20 pm (299 days ago)Routines are very important around here. If something changes I get nervous
Benny & Lily
Jan
August 24, 2012 at 12:27 pm (299 days ago)I’m exhausted just reading about your daily life, routine or no routine. Although it does sound like you have a happy, fulfilled life.
Nichole
August 24, 2012 at 12:52 pm (299 days ago)Getting back into routines always bites!
But hey, at least it’s Friday and glad to hear the kiddos had a good first day!
sprinkles
August 24, 2012 at 2:06 pm (299 days ago)I start school on Monday. I’m looking forward to it for the most part, but not looking forward to having to get up early. I had a work meeting this morning, so I had to get up early. My boys looked at me all weird, like, “Why are you getting up NOW? It’s still dark out!”
I’m sure I’ll be exhausted by the end of next week. Vitamin D *REALLY* helps a lot with the tiredness. It doesn’t take it all away, but it makes it much more manageable. I noticed an improvement from the very first dose, and can feel the difference on days when I forget to take it.
houndstooth
August 24, 2012 at 2:56 pm (299 days ago)Oh yeah! 5:30 comes really early here! It makes me think we should all really work less.
Dachshund Nola and her Mom
August 24, 2012 at 4:26 pm (299 days ago)We’re really more just go with the flow type of people
Pip
August 24, 2012 at 7:46 pm (298 days ago)Don’t even get me started my blogging has been way off the last few weeks for similar reasons!
Mango Momma
August 25, 2012 at 7:48 am (298 days ago)When we had kids at home, I got into the habit of taking the week of labor day as a vacation week. It was great to be able to have time home alone to help me adjust to the new routine. Even though the kids are long gone, I still enjoy my labor day holiday whilst everybody else is getting frantic to find their school year groove.
Great news that your husband is back to work. Losing a job in this economy is so scary.
It’s wonderful that you can get home at lunch. There have been times when I have had to do that. My dogs never really got the hang of “mom is home now and we better hurry up and have some fun” as lunch time is typically nap time for them (they usually snooze until early to mid afternoon).
Special one on one activities on the weekend will be great fun for all of you. I’m sure the boys will adapt.
Mango Momma
Jen K
August 26, 2012 at 8:56 pm (296 days ago)lol @ Sherman! Moses does the same thing – he won’t directly wake you up, but if he thinks I should be up by now (lucky for me, that’s pretty late, but it does happen), he’ll just sit beside the bed and look at me. Breathing. Breathing heavily. It’s like a serial killer from a movie is watching you sleep; it’s hilarious and a little creepy all at once.
2 brown dawgs
August 27, 2012 at 7:35 am (296 days ago)My routine (especially blog reading) has been a mess since hunt test season got into full swing. I will be happy when it is over…lol. Love the pictures. I think I am going to quit complaining about the brown dawg drool.
Misty Shores Chesapeakes
August 28, 2012 at 9:38 pm (294 days ago)Absolutely!! And it isn’t getting any better…LOL
lauren
August 29, 2012 at 8:56 pm (293 days ago)This post made me feel two things: jealous of your fries and relieved to hear about your routine/schedule. All this time, I thought that you were working standard full-time, and taking care of the kids, and taking care of the dogs, and going to shows, and doing the blog. At the same time somehow. I was always like, how does she do that?? I do only 1.5 of those things and I can’t get it together!