The schedule

how do you explain a schedule to an almost-nine-year-old?

You already know I'm a list-maker and slightly obsessive. (If you don't, read this). I prefer to consider it as being organised. Seems this runs in the Zajacek family. A recent trip to visit my sister in Brisbane revealed that she may be even worse than me. Perhaps it's because she's a working mother...?

I arrived on a Friday and that night there was a soccer game, a baby sitter and a James Morrison concert. My sister had drawn up a schedule and we were sticking to it! Her husband and I made jokes about it at her expense, but the schedule did work. At precisely 6.57pm as we were backing out of the driveway, I cheekily remarked: wow, we're three minutes ahead of schedule!

Jack (eldest son, almost-nine) then asked what that meant and we ended up discussing schedules and their merits in great detail. All the way to the concert.

Anyway, either my explanation was very good or he must have inherited his mother's love of schedules because exactly one week ago I was awoken by Jack at 6am. He was armed with a pen and paper. He wanted to plan our day together and do a schedule. (Rachel was lecturing all day/night and I was going to babysit my nephews, Jack, and Myles, just turned seven).

Here's what we came up with:

0700 = M in shower (that's me, and I was 15 minutes late!)

0730 = boys dressed

0745 = boys playing

0830 = walk to cafe

0900 = breakfast...

We had to factor in quiet time, a walk to the shops, me sewing Hannah's bedroom curtain, watching a DVD, reading a book(s), bath time, dinner, more quite time, Mum's return at 7.30pm, then bed.

You can see the schedule above. Even evidence of us checking the schedule during the day and crossing things off as we did them. Sometimes we were ahead, sometime behind. But the important thing to note is that schedules provide flexibility. You can re-schedule stuff if you have to. You can even clear your schedule if something better comes along!

PS: that's Jack's writing. Mine is a bit neater, and I can write on the lines!

PPS: I case you are wondering what I was supposed to be sewing at 11.00, here is the BEFORE shot. Rachel saves all the sewing for when I visit. Even the hand mending. Poor Hannah had to make do with a cot bedsheet as a curtain for months!

Comments

[greenolive]

I like to think I am!

[fiona]

you know there are support groups for list makers!!!, you sound like a fantastic aunty!!