Making plans, establishing routines

I'm a person who likes consistency. 

I'm type A.
(That's like a big "duh" to anyone who truly knows me.)

As a fifth grade teacher for 12 years I saw first hand how being consistent, keeping a schedule, and preparing students for upcoming changes helps them succeed.  I believe (and have seen the proof) that kids can be more flexible when they know what to expect on a regular basis because then when a change needs to happen or just happens it feels safe to them.

The M&M's gotcha day was July 31st and tonight marks our twelfth day together. 
In some ways it feels like it's been months already, and in others - not so much.

Miss M loves to plan out our days the night before and talk through what we "expect"/"plan" to happen.  We pick out the cereal the night before, we lay out her clothes, we pack her lunch.  We discuss about what time I think I'll be there to pick her up from after school care.  We make a plan about what we might want to do after we get home before bed that night.

Usually I spend this time of year setting up new routines in my classroom...
From how to behave to where to find the lined paper to when you are allowed to sharpen your pencil.

Not this year.
This year, it mean setting up and practicing routines in the house.
Routines for an 8 year old - to keep the surprises to a minimum.
(Heaven knows she's had the rug pulled out from under her too many times in her 8 years.)
It is my job to give her be in a stable, consistent, safe place
       for as long as the Lord wants her to be in my care.

Weekend morning routine:
Stay in bed until 7am. Close my bedroom door.  Play with toys and watch TV to channel tuned in to.  If I'm not up by 9am - come and wake me up.  Weekend breakfast choices are eggs, pancakes, waffles, or french toast.

Nighttime routine:
Put on pjs, read chapter book, read Bible.  Brush teeth, play roses and thorns, and pray.  Ten minutes of independent reading and then tucking in to sleep.

Car routine:
Get in the car, buckle up, talk, and maybe use the iPod depending on how far we are traveling.

Mommy Visit routine:
Pack your toy bag.  Pack two or three snacks.  Get your mommy journal from me and make sure to switch it out with last weeks' journal with your mom.

School Morning routine:
Get up, eat breakfast, rinse dishes, put dishes in dishwasher, get dressed, do hair, brush teeth.  Pack lunch into backpack and check for red folder.  Weekday breakfast choices include cereal with yogurt or toast.

Saturday Night routine:
End Zone at church (play room for volunteers' kids), Mission Kids class, and then dinner date and allowance distribution.

There are more:
-Dirty clothes routine
-Shower routine
-Pick up from school routine
-Shopping routine
-Dinner routine
-Drop off to school routine
-Laundry routine
-Toy clean up routine
-Etc, etc, etc.

Good thing I like routines.  :-)
Good thing she is responding well to the routines. :-)

Praise Reports:

• Miss M loves church and I love getting to be the storyteller at one service and be in service the next.
• I got the week's dinner menu ready today and was able to do our grocery shopping while Miss M was visiting with her mom and siblings. (Woo hoo - you know how I feel about shopping with her...or anyone for that matter!)
• Tomorrow Miss M gets to meet my Arizona relatives!
• I spent some time watching a little mindless TV this morning when Miss M was gone.  The vegging out nice.
• Miss M seemed to enjoy her time with her mom and siblings.
• Miss M received this amazing cat coin purse/bag from a talented friend/parent of two of my former students.  I presented it to her this evening when I gave her her weekly allowance.  She said she is going to keep it forever and always think of me when she uses it.  :-)

I love the zipper pulls! A mouse and a piece of cheese!  So cute, so clever.

Prayer Requests:

• Tonight during roses and thorns one of Miss M's roses was that she and her sister, who is 10, talked about having her sister come and live with us. Supposedly they talked about it with their mom and parent supervisor as well.  According to Miss M, the parent supervisor told her she would look into it and see what could happen - but it would probably take a month or two.  Now this is something I have thought about, but as I have learned more about Miss M, I have just put that on hold and am leaving it in God's hands.  Nothing may come of it - something may.  Please just pray over it.  I can't even go there in my mind right now - it goes too many places with too many emotions.
• Continue to pray that I have the correct words and clarity of words on Monday at 2:30 to help get Miss M the help and resources she needs to continue to grow, mature, and heal.