August 10, 2002

Fall has begun! I care not what the thermometer says. I care not about Autumnal Equinoxes. When teachers return to their classrooms to get ready for their new students; when the high school football teams began practicing, the summer is over.

Gone are the days of lazy self-indulgence - the spontaneous existence - the impetuous scheduling - the whimsical calendar. Here are the days of the routine - the grind - the habitual - the ordinary - the predictable.

By the time August arrives each year, I am ready for some structure in my life. When June comes next year I am sure that I will be ready for a break, but now I am ready to mark my days by more accomplishment. I am ready for Saturdays packed with yard chores to be worked around football games. Fall has arrived just in time!

Children need the routine that school imposes in the fall - a time to go to bed and a time to get up. School teachers need to be given children in the mornings who are rested and ready stay on the learning task. The younger the child, the earlier he/she should be in bed.

Every elementary child ought to be in bed by 9:00 p.m. This is my line in the sand! Parents who are interested in helping their child learn will see to it that their child is rested when he/she arrives at school.

Here is a fall schedule that will work - Turn the TV off at 8:00 and begin getting children ready for bed. If there are favorite shows that come on between 8:00 and 10:00, tape them. Use the time between bath and 9:00 for reading to your child. For those children who just cannot go to sleep at 9:00, allow them to read until they get sleepy, but only in the bed. Wake your children in time for them to eat breakfast and get to school on time without having to rush unduly.

If your family has had few or no routines throughout the summer, expect a howl of protest from the children. Put them and yourself on a schedule anyway. They will love it when the routine begins to give form and focus for their day.

Remember this - PARENTS ARE THE ARCHITECTS OF THE FAMILY SYSTEM. Parents, you decide on a time for going to bed and for getting up. Put the family on a schedule. Try it successfully for two weeks (work days only), and you will be able to notice a difference.

The mental health of family members is dependent upon the family system providing a certain amount of stability in a topsy-turvy world. A person can tolerate huge amounts of stress caused by chaos in the outside world if there is order and stability at home. Stability in the home will be promoted by routines in the family - a time to go to bed, a time to get up.

WARNING: Your biggest challenge to a routine will come from the adults in the home. Self discipline is the hardest task of all.