A dilema- how to organize the household, if I work nights?

[mudnuri]

Time has come for some of us the kids are heading back to school! Each fall, I come up with the BRILLIANT ideas on how I'm going to have a stress free morning/evening with the DD's...and each fall, it backfires. Well, this year theres a good chance it's going to be even worse- however it will be all on DH's shoulders. I may be accepting a job that is 4 nights a week from 7pm-5am (with overtime in the AM 2 outta the 4 nights)..which means, those 4 mornings, I wont be home for DD's to get on the bus, and those 4 nights, I wont be home to put em to bed...DH's got his work cut out for him!

Let me just say that I have always had a job that starts after they go to school, and I'm home before them since DD6 was in Kindergarten.....

I worked nights before (am a natural night owl, and could sleep all day!)...but the DD's are smaller, DD8 was 2, and DD6 was 6 months...DH had just sold a company and wanted to stay home with them...so okay...he did for 6 months!

Now- the only activity these DD's will have other than school is Soccer, of which I coach....well, I did, and hope to coach with another mom again this year. My schedule will most likely include Sunday as 1 of my nights, Saturdays are off, so that leaves my chances of having to work on a soccer night 50/50 just about!...

DD's are in bed at 8pm. We eat supper at 5pm (or always have...will keep this I think!)...

DH gets home Mon/Tues by 3, Wed at 5, and Thurs/Fri at 6...though once winter hits store closes early and will be home by 4 at the latest...

I know I should make their lunches the night before, but PB&J gets soggy...

So here's my daily schedule- tell me what ya think...and fine tune it for me if ya would!

310pm- kids get off the bus

310-330 snack
330-430 unload backpack, homework (each has 20 minutes reading, then 4-6 sentances of what they read M-Th nights, and math they get on Monday due on Friday..Spelling comes on Tuesday/test on Friday)
430-500 mom makes supper (starts while kids are doing homework at the kitchen table, so I can still help em etc.)
430-500 kids free...
5-545 eat dinner
545-600 mom leaves for work...
545-630 relax/free/tv if everythings done
630-715 showers/pj's
715-730 clothes out for tomorrow, backpacks reloaded...
730-800 lay in bed quietly with book
800 bedtime

(soccer nights (probably mon/wed), homework until 430, supper at 430 (think QUICK) soccer till 700 eat snack on way home, shower upon arrival home, in bed....DH will reload backpacks and get their clothes out for tomorrow....anytime left is down time laying in bed, reading etc.)

530 DH wakes- makes lunches
630am Wake Up for DD's
630-700 breakfast
7-730 - dressed, teeth, hair, face, make bed
730-745 load lunch into backpack, double check back pack
750- head out to bus stop (neighbors house)
755-800 bus comes...

So, what do you experienced oh wise ones think?

Brandy

 

[Kallison]

Don't ask me -- my kids ages 14-12 and 10 have completely taken over. They go to bed after me, I just tell them to turn out the lights.

Actually your plan sounds good. As for lunches do they like those Smuckers premade pb&J's (I like them!). Also you could try just making up a batch of pb&j and freezing them. I used to send frozen bagels to lunch a lot with the kids. My oldest DS had 10am lunch and he said they were thawed out by then.