The mundanity of routine

A new baby brings with it a new routine - or at least it does if your lucky enough to have one that enjoys sleep.

Fortunately our new baby (number 3) does enjoy sleeping - something the other two seemed to hate.

There was a time, not very long ago when spontaneity was my middle name (well that and James) and the very thought of routine would fill me with dread.

Now - every little bit of routine and every little ritual is observed with extremist religious devotion.

Before sketching out this blog post (on a piece of paper and by hand) at around midnight I had just finished watching two shows I had previously sky plused (Kingdom and Ashes to Ashes) as thats the only way I can watch TV now.

I sat on the sofa to watch them with my wife - she fell asleep (as she had done the previous five nights) on my lap while my son was asleep in his seat in front of me.

After the TV shows had finished I went up stairs to get ready for bed. This is where the routine kicks in.

First I prepare the three nappies I’ll need for the night - a liner in each and then put them into a nappy sack.

Then I get a towel and hang it over the changing mat - then put it all, with a pack of baby wipes, a drink for myself and a drink for my wife and a book next to the bed.

This series of rituals means 1) I get to watch some TV 2) I don’t have to get out of bed in the middle of the night and 3) It gives me an extra five minutes in bed in the morning.

Incidentally - the book is for me to read while my wife is feeding my son - it’s so I can stay awake during the feed to be able to change him and put him into bed afterwards.

I’ll also prepare all the lunch boxes the night before and make sure the TV is set to 613 (CBBC) so my four year old can just turn it on himself without me having to get out of bed at 6am.

Doing the lunch boxes the night before means (after getting up at 7am, giving the kids breakfast, getting them dressed, brushing their teeth and packing their school bags) I have about 15 minutes to myself to write a blog post, to read my book or to read the news.

Routine - a symptom of ADHD/OCD or the saviour of a new father?

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