Over the past few months, I have put out a couple of posts on what a week in the life for our family looks like during the summer or homeschool year. I figured I would give you a glimpse into my family’s evening routine since I don’t go into much detail about it in either of those posts. Please keep in mind that my family’s evening routine is not super structured but more a routine or flow that we follow beginning around the 5’o clock hour and ending when Sam and I head to bed.
5p Prepare and Eat Dinner
Usually while I am preparing dinner the kids are either finishing up schoolwork, playing, or watching a show. They are allowed to watch TV if they have completed all their schoolwork and chores for the day. During dinner we talk about our day. Go around the table and ask questions from the Ramsey Solutions Questions for Humans Conversation Cards for Parent and Kids. When we are all finished, everyone cleans up their own space putting their plates and cups in the sink. Then Sam or I will help the little boys clean their hands and face.
6p-ish Head Out for a Walk. Weather Permitting.
Once we have cleared the table from dinner, everyone puts on their shoes. Sam will get the stroller ready for Anderson to ride in. We head out the door and go for a walk around our apartment complex. This usually includes stopping to pick flowers. Observe spiders in their webs. Watching dogs play in the Dog Park our complex has. Blowing bubbles or even decorating the sidewalk with chalk. Once we get back to the apartment the kids take off their shoes and put them away.
If for some reason we are unable to go on a walk, then the kids will play or run around the apartment. The noise level can get pretty loud with four boys all needing to get out some energy. Other times if the kids clean up and get ready for bed early, we will make some popcorn and let them watch a movie before bed.
7p-ish Bedtime Routine and Clean Up the House
After our walk we all pitch in to clean up Livingroom. The kids will use the restroom and change into PJs followed by brushing their teeth. Sam and I do help them with this part since they think brushing for 5 seconds counts. Then the boys get to play with either blocks or Duplo Legos in their room. I will play some music while I clean the Kitchen and do other Household chores. Olivia either finishes schoolwork or chores she didn’t complete during the day. This typically looks like her cleaning her room. She usually puts this off until the end of the day as this is her least favorite chore. Anderson continues to play in the Livingroom or pester his big brothers wanting whatever they are playing with.
8p-ish Prepare for Next Day and Relax
Around this time, we get Anderson to bed, and Olivia will read books in her room. The Boys clean up. Get hugs and kisses and are tucked in for the night. We are usually met with numerous interruptions from them as they need to use the bathroom. Discover a rogue block that didn’t get cleaned up. Or they just want to come out of their room to see what Sam and I are up to. Once the house is picked up and the kids in bed, I will make myself some tea and plan for the next day. This may look like writing out a to do list. Preparing anything we may need for school the next day. Or getting the Diaper Bag and other items I need to take with us ready if we will be out of the house the next day.
Once I am prepared for the next day, then Sam and I will spend time together talking. Watching TV, or I may read a book while he plays video games.
1030p-ish Go to Bed
Ideally this would look like changing into PJs. Getting in bed and reading a book around this time. But honestly my bedtime is all over the place right now as I am in the third trimester of pregnancy. I need to be better about having a consistent bedtime, but insomnia keeps me up pretty late some nights. Other days I am wore out and take a short nap soon after the kids are in bed. Then 45 minutes to an hour later, I wake up and start cleaning the house and preparing for the next day thus keeping me up late. I am hoping by the new year once we are in a good routine postpartum that I can get back to a better bedtime routine for myself.
Thanks for reading about our family’s evening routine! Please share with us what an evening routine looks like for either you or your family in the comments below.
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