My (privileged) routine

I have wanted to write this post since earlier this year, before the last school year ended. And now I realise that today is the last ever day of that routine so it's now or never. It's Lily's last day of school in Pully. But up to and including today my routine pretty much runs like this...

In the mornings we get up whenever the kids wake up. But preferably no later than 7.30am or 7.45am (although this morning it was closer to 8). Eat breakfast (porridge and frozen blueberries for me, Weetabix mixed with another cereal like Special K for the girls) then we get dressed. I just get into my walking gear - shorts/pants and t-shirt and sneakers. Pack the snack boxes and water bottles in their bags and we try and head out the door by 8.25am.

Lily needs to be at school at 8.30am when the bell rings. There are always parents and kids waiting outside the door (in what MK called the airport waiting room) but we are never one of them. More likely Lily runs ahead of us and says her goodbyes as she flies in the door.

Then Charlotte and I turn around and re-trace our steps to Coop where we head off in the direction of garderie, all of a couple of minutes walk. After dropping Charlotte off at garderie, at about 8.45am, I go for my 40min jog/5min walk along Lake Geneva. I love the view...always changing and dramatic. Stunning. And it's always quiet along the Lake...some dog walkers, fellow joggers, people taking a stroll. It's very low key. I go all the way to Lutry, out along the first jetty right to the end. Do 40 step-ups on the rock at the end, then turn around and jog the same route home. Coming up the walled road is steep and tough, but it's my Hill of Shame. I go as far as I can thinking of all the crap I've eaten!

I'm usually home around 9.30am or a bit later. Have a shower and do a few things around the apartment (which is what I'm doing right now). I can hear the noises from the square below us as people are heading into Migros. Cheerful voices, kids crying...all three levels below us. I usually head to Migros as well before picking Lily up.

At 11.25am I leave to collect Lily who comes out at 11.30am. We pop into Coop and pick up a few things before going to garderie to collect Charlotte who's out at noon. Walking home the girls are sometimes crabby and I try and do lunch as soon as we get in. But often they get home and become distracted by toys. Lunch here is often a main meal and it's not uncommon for people to go home for it. For us it's often just a toasted cheese sandwich. Lily loves it when it's pasta!

The girls have some playtime and often ask for a video. They can watch some tv but they are aware that the tv goes off when it's time to take Lily back to school. Around 1.30pm we start getting ready for the walk back to school and Lily needs to be there by 1.45am when the bell rings.

Charlotte and I come home just before 2pm and that's quiet time. Last school year this was the time I'd put C down for a nap but she's not the super-sleeper Lily was and if I do put her down for a nap the extra sleep keeps her awake at bedtime at night. So we skip it now. She usually watches tv and I have my precious one hour on the white couch with a cup of tea and a magazine. I love that time.

At 3pm I start making moves to collect Lily and we leave at 3.10pm. Lily is out at 3.15pm. We usually come home for a snack and the girls play. I like to have dinner early, around 5.30 - 6pm, so bath and bedtime doesn't get too late. When MK is at work (afternoon shift), it's not uncommon for the girls to be in bed between 7.15-7.30pm. With MK it's closer to 8pm.

This routine is every weekday except Wednesday when there is no school or garderie. And every Monday the cleaner (Catarina) comes for 2 hours (10.15am-12.15) so I usually head out and do jobs around here. And depending on which shift MK is on, it can change as he helps out. Although I prefer to drop the girls off in the morning as it sets me up to exercise. On Thursday Charlotte is at garderie all day (like Lily used to be when she went there) so I just have Lily to pick up and drop back to school in the middle of the day. I don't pick C up till 4.30pm. These last two Thursdays Stephanie has picked Lily up from school at 11.30am and taken her to garderie where she's had lunch. Then Sarah has taken her back to school for 1.45am. This is the perfect Thursday and it's what Mhairi were doing last school year when I'd have Lewis home for lunch every Tuesday and she'd have Lily every Thursday. That hasn't continued this school year as I think Lewis has been going to friend's house (another boy in his class) for lunch.

How lucky am I? I walk everywhere, rarely need the car and when I do need to go into Lausanne it's easier to take the bus as it there's one every 10mins, it only takes 10mins and you're in the heart of the city.

Man oh man my life is going to change bigtime.