Drink eight glasses of water a day. Take the stairs. Put the phone away when the kids are around. Be on time for work. Be on time leaving work. Pay attention during homework time. Eat five servings of fruit and veg a day. Don’t let the kids watch too much TV. Get seven hours sleep. Don’t eat red meat every day. Answer every e-mail. Buy the low-fat version. Don’t buy the low-fat version. Remember to take a multivitamin. Remember to email the boss. Don’t forget to put out the bins. Make creative and healthy school lunches. Don’t eat processed food. Don’t spend that small window of time with the kids on cooking and housework. Lay out clothes the night before. Don’t forget the money for the school trip. Make sure the kids get sixty minutes of physical activity per day. Don’t leave deadlines till the last minute. Wash out the yogurt cartons and recycle them. Pay attention to the kids. Pay attention at the meeting. Pay attention to your other-half. Pay attention to the rules.
Deep breath.
I have some other rules in place:
Wednesday night is cake night. Have some one-on-one time with each of the kids every day – even if it’s just a two minute chat and hug. Meet friends for coffee even when there’s no time to do it – it’s a tonic. Have a cappuccino every single day. Go shopping, especially after a bad sleep. Thursday night is wine night. There might be some other wine nights too. Shoes are a functional purchase and should never generate guilt (even if they’re pink). Take the kids for coffee and cake and chats. Watch another episode of Fargo, even though it’s nearly 11pm. Saturday night is pizza night. Buy some new nail varnish. Have a glass of Prosecco. Get down on the floor and tickle the smallest. Pay attention to yourself.
And breathe. But no pressure.
I like your list better! ‘Specially the wine parts!!! Oh, pick your battles is another one I try to remember and also does it really matter if he wants to wear his top inside out?
Wonderful Wagon recently posted…Stuff My Kids Think I Need
Yes, yes and yes! I am a big fan of picking your battles, and I have so stopped worrying about what they wear. If it’s not a wedding or a communion, anything goes
Love your rules…especially the bit about the shoes!!! I’m trying to live by one rule…;wake up…be grateful. But there is ALWAYS room for shoes and wine
Elizabeth MacDonnell recently posted…Switching Off
Your rule is a pretty important one – I’ll have to add it to my own list 🙂
Another you make me smile moment! As I agree totally with all your rules 🙂
Good! Good to know we’re all following the same rules 🙂
And of course the first set of rules usually insists that you make time to relax….
With your rules there would be no need 🙂
looking for Blue Sky recently posted…What does your child need in school?
True – there’s a lot of relaxing going on now that I think about it – more so in theory than in reality but it’s a good aspiration 🙂
Every day with a “y” in it is wine night yes? 🙂
Aedín recently posted…A mother by any other name
If that’s what you’re telling me to do Aidín, I’m in!
Those are some beautiful shoes. And I like your rules better than the other ones. Now where’s my prosecco?
Maud recently posted…Feels like America
Thank you – the shoes (and the rules) are surprisingly comfortable!
Great list… I feel like printing out your rules and sticking them on my wall. Best bit…. Remember to breath… I have to say this out loud to myself sometimes 🙂
Naomi Lavelle recently posted…Ten things that parenting has taught me
The good thing is, you don’t even have to print them out because they’re really easy to remember. Thursday? Open wine 😉
how did I not comment on this first time around? I remember reading it. I love the new rules. We have some fun rules around here too, I think it’s a great idea to give kids a positive view of rules. Ours include an icecream a day on holidays and hot chocolate after a cold walk:) I also tell them that I’m always open for hugs:) great post
Sinead @bumbles of rice recently posted…Baked Beef and Almond Curry
Oh that’s funny – we have an ice-cream a day rule on holidays too! I love rules – or rituals, which is I suppose what they often are. We also have a new rule, invented by the five-year-old, that we have your Blueberry pancakes for breakfast on every family member’s breakfast!
Oh I love this one! We need more rules like this in our house! First stop… cake night!