In the evenings, you can find me prepping for the next day by signing off on our sons school work, laying out school clothes, giving baths, and a million other little things to make sure that we have a great start to the next day. My amazing husband takes my kids to school most days, and I am so grateful for that! #praisehands
However, loading them in the car and dropping them off is just one part of the equation. We all do our part, but when I am traveling this puts extra work on my husband. We all know how difficult it can be when you get off your routines Bryan and I really act as a team to make this all work. Today, I am sharing 7 things we do to make the week days easier. These tips really help us stay on track during the week. Especially, when I am traveling for work.
Seven Things You can Do The Night Before to Make the Days Easier:
- Pack meals the night before– We prep anything that needs to be cooked and fill their lunch boxes with everything else, so it is staged and ready to go. We make breakfast bags filled with simple meals like muffins, applesauce and milk for several days in advance too.
- Let the kids pick out their clothes the night before– Save yourself from the roaring independence of a toddler by making sure she has plenty of time to make her selections.
- No bath Tuesday– Skip the occasional bath! Let’s be real… skipping one night won’t be the end of the world.
- Early bath time– Whenever possible we get the kids in the bath as soon as we get home. There is nothing wrong with eating dinner in your pjs.
- Tidy Up– Pick up all the toys before everyone goes to bed, so you don’t add more mess the next day.
- Plan ahead for special school days– Show and Tell Fridays, Letter O- Orange T-shirt Day, Bring a Sleeping Bag to School Day (yep, this is a thing). Just set it in a bag by the door, so you aren’t scrambling the next day.
- Debrief the day– Usually, right before we fall asleep we take a quick inventory of what has been done and who is doing what the next day
As a mom of two, I wish I could be with my kids every day. Maybe not all day every day, but every day. Over the last year my role at work has changed, and it involves more travel than ever. I worry about my kids when I am not home, and I worry about my husband too. There is a lot that goes into making sure we have a good week at The Ripper House. Tomorrow, I head out of town for four days. That’s four days Bryan has to do all of this on his own, but it won’t be quite the challenge it used to be. There are still books to read, dinners to make, but thanks to a little planning… plenty of playtime. Yay!
I’d love to hear how you get ahead for the next day or your tips and tricks for when one parent travels. Give me all your best advice!