Tuesday, 1:00 pm - Write a blog about schedules.

This past weekend Paul and I sat down and put together a schedule. This is something we've been talking about for years. I think part of me has always been against a schedule because I claim (on a regular basis) to believe life is better when I can just do what I want when I want and leave the possibilities open. This form of thinking hasn't worked too well for us, and I have recently realized that I DO NOT believe that. A lot of the time we end up sitting on the couch staring at each other saying, "So, what do you want to do?" over and over and, at times, forget to do important things we should have done.

So we finally did it. I think it seems even more appropriate now that Madeline is in our lives. Children should grow up with stability, rules, and guidance. If you let them do what they want, when they want, all of the sudden one day you'll have an eight-year-old who eats candy for breakfast, doesn't go to school, still poops his pants, and hasn't bathed for a week... oh and he tells you what to do and disobeys you on a regular basis.

We planned out major events for the year and marked down times Paul will be out of town or off from work, birthdays, holidays, etc. We have two months up on the board by the fridge for display as well as a detailed schedule for the current week - We'll sit down each week and do this together.

We've included things like exercising, family activities, naps, even play time for kitty... the posibilities are endless!

I also decided to incorporate a meal plan. This is going to help with spending big time and waste reduction big time. Every week I go grocery shopping we end up throwing out a bunch of food we didn't eat to make room for the new food that will be wasted. We can't do that anymore. Also, now that Madeline is having breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner, a meal plan helps me make sure she is getting all the foods she needs. It also helps keep my mind from exploding. All schedules and meal plans are tentative, and I know that a baby won't stick to a plan perfectly, but at least we have something to follow and an idea of how things will go.

We've only been following a schedule for two days now and I feel like a 50 lb. weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel much calmer and together and it's sort of like a million little worries in my head have POOF! disappeared. I feel cleaner. I feel like I am more attractive as a person because I am following a schedule... seriously!

I highly recommend making a schedule for you and your family if you aren't already following one. Do it for peace, do it for happiness... do it, for your looks.