The Reason I Started…
When the corona virus slowed our ability to go out and many of us were stuck at home, I was both overwhelmed and elated. I was literally being paid to be home with my littles, Corrina, 4, and Jerod, 1. I knew that it would be difficult. Juggling full-time mommy and full-time work from home was a major shift. Not to mention, I was also in grad school. But, as a Native mom, I knew that we had this. Our Indigeneity really shined through and I reached back into teacher bag of tricks and created some systems and routines.
Here's the thing. We only have a few special years, and for us working moms a few special hours in the day, with our little ones. Routines are important because they build agency and help decrease meltdowns. Toddlers have meltdowns because they are unsure of the world around them. I created a checklists for my littles to help them with their morning and evening so we could spend our special time together in a productive and loving way.
Always being the teacher that I am, I wanted to share what I have learned with you. This blog is my love letter to all the moms and caretakers of young children. I want to share what I have found out, the easy way and the hard way, so that you have a resource. My Indigenous values for raising children tell us that we are supposed to raise our littles are part of the community. Traditionally, everyone had a role and a responsibility to our future. I hope that we can build our community together.
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How I use these lists:
1. I put the lists front to back in a single sheet protector and clip it on a clipboard. I also used a dry erase marker to check off eah task. Corrina has one and Jerod has his. They are both on the same clipboard. (Corrina is 4 can check, but my one and half year old, Jerod is not ready for the power of a marker.) I also hung the list in their room where they could reach it.
2. When starting any new routine, it is important to take time to talk about the list and what happens next. I wrote their names on their list so that they sees their responsibilities. The pictures will help them remember what is supposed to happen next.
3. The checklist is not about discipline or rewards. It is about growing responsibility and routine. We do not punish if they refuse to do an item, we simply do not check it off. Same thing with rewards. We do not give prizes for completing the checklist. I am creating an expectation which will build as they get older. They have a responsibility to take care of themselves and clean up after themselves.
4.Sometimes, we did not do an item. We don't take a bath every night and that is fine. Some days (a lot of them actually) we never left home and didn't need shoes. And that is fine. We would still address the item by saying, "Put away shoes. Oh, we didn't wear any shoes." I would cross it off instead of a check, just to show that we addressed it, even though we didn't do it.
5. Made sure everyone taking care of the kiddos in the morning and evening is on the same page about the checklist. Let me be honest, I am not a morning person and before COVID-19, Joe, my husband, was the morning caretaker. And during quarantine, we switch roles and Joe became the evening caretaker since I was the main daytime caretaker. Having the lists for morning and evening, and both of us following them, made sure that no matter what was happening, the kids knew what was next.
6. Consistency. You don't run a marathon without practice and training. It takes 21 days for a consistent routine to become a habit and 100 days for a habit to become automatic. It takes time, patience, and practice. And it took us a while to get there, and eventually, we did.
7. I used the morning checklist usually at breakfast. By then, they have completed some of the activities and we can talk about what else needs to get done. The evening checklist is the last thing we do before we read books and go to bed.
The Morning and Evening Checklists have been a wonderful tool and I would love to share the Morning Checklist with you! Make sure you sign up for the email, and receive the printable Morning Checklist for free.
