Nice came up with this idea to invite moms to answer and share their thoughts on various issues about mommyhood. I’d like to join in and share my thoughts, too. 
For this round, her question is: Do you have routines for your kids? Care to share? Does it really help?
Here’s My Answer:
Yes, we do have a routine. How could I afford not to? Hehe! Having a routine not only gives Ninna some kind of structure in her life, but it also helps keep my sanity intact. Routines also foster discipline in kids. By giving them a list of “acceptable” things to do on a daily basis, they have a sense of what they can and cannot do.
However, it is also important to veer away from the daily routine once in a while. Real life doesn’t run like clockwork, right? Therefore, the child has to be introduced to small changes in the routine, too, so that he/she will not freak out when you expose her to the unpredictability of the outside world.
So anyway, here’s the gist of my and Ninna’s routine:
At 9am, Ninna wakes up and takes breakfast. I also let her watch nick jr or playhouse disney in the morning. 11am is bath time, and then she can do pretty much what she likes until lunchtime (right now, since we recently got the Wii console, addict kami pareho, haha!). After lunch, which is at around 12-12:30, she helps me with housework (haha! child labor?). Then (after ko siya pagurin), she (and minsan me, too, hehe!) takes a nap until about 4 or 4:30. Then we relax a bit by watching the foodnetwork or hgtv together while having a snack, haha! She then helps me a little in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Then by 6pm, we go out of the house to bike or play at the playground (para lang makalabas ng bahay, haha!). Then we have dinner at 7-8pm, depending on what time hubby comes home. After dinner, it’s Ninna’s time with his Papa (and they can do whatever they want to do). Bedtime ceremonies are at 9 (punas, toothbrush, etc) and then bedtime is anywhere from 9:30-10:30, preceded by our evening prayers.
That’s it. Eversince Ninna turned 4, I have relaxed our routine considerably. From the time she was a baby, our routine was very specific and, admittedly, even a little rigid. Now, as long as she knows when to do the important stuff, she knows she can try to do new things on her own.
One of the things she learned from all of this, which I’m very happy about is, when she wants to do something that’s not “prescribed”, she would come to me and ask: “Mama, may/can I do this?”. Hopefully, when she’s older and someone tries to influence her to smoke or drink, she’ll come running to me to ask the same question. 
MrsWorkingGirl :: May.07.2008 ::
MommaStuffQs ::
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