January is here. 

Birthday is Over.

Christmas is Over. 

Life is settling back into a manageable routine. 

In the mornings hours, we usually have something that gets us going, out of the house, a routine that keeps us sane.  
The afternoons, however, are The Worst time of day for me. Things start going downhill the time right after lunch and the few hours before I pick up Evie from school. 
I finally pinpointed the problem as to why this time is so miserable. 
The boys don't nap anymore, and the alternative activity "quiet time" is a struggle (I.E doesn't happen....) So,  I'm left really tired and frustrated as the triplet mob circles the house, searching for me. 
They are tired, or hungry again, or want something or WHATEVER...but their main focus is on how they are going to get Mom from not getting anything done or sneaking in a little quiet time herself. 


Sometimes I can get really depressed in these afternoon hours. I don't like the feeling that I'm just trying to pass time, and I really don't like feeling that I can't get anything done. And I really really  don't like being stalked around the house. 

But each day at around 1:00, I start to get this sense of exhausting dread. 
SO....after realizing that the boys are not going to change their behavior, I decided to change mine. I decided to implement some sort of semblance of schedule to this mayhem.

It obvious that the tension is with me wanting to be left alone, and the boys wanting me. Thus, I decided to designate a block of uninterrupted time to them, each afternoon, with the negotiation that they then will in fact let me have some time to do what I need to do. 

This time has structure.
               It has purpose. 
It has intention and my hope is that this will fill up their little "mom shaped hole" and be content for awhile. 

So, here it is. Time with Mom.


Monday: Muffin baking day! (Bake and eat a new muffin recipe)
Tuesday: Train Day! (build super train tracks together)
Wednesday: Game day! 
Thursday: Cuddle and read day!
Friday: Write letters and draw pictures to family and put them in the mail. 

After trying this out, I am happy to report it is a success! ⭐⭐⭐ 
Each afternoon my mindset is on them, knowing I have a designated activity to focus on with them. 
The boys enjoy their time with me and then are able to go off by themselves for a bit so I can do what I need to do. 

Things I'm learning: If there is something in my schedule I don't like or that isn't working, I have the power to fix it. 

One aspect of myself I want to work on this year is being more proactive than reactive. I don't want my emotions to dictate how I am as a person. I want to make ways so I am approaching problems and situations before my emotions take over. 
It's tough, but I am learning its a worthy goal, especially when dealing with little humans who hunt and attack your existence at all hours.