Witching hour is not my favourite time of day. Usually it starts from around 4pm. When I see the time on the clock, I know that my husband has an hour left of work plus travel time to get home and it is game on getting 3 little kids fed, bathed and ready for bed. It’s a routine I should enjoy more. But it’s hard and an intensely busy couple of hours. For me, the key to feeling less stressed at witching hour is to be as organised as possible. Here are some tips if you find witching hour your least favourite part of the day too.
- Be organized with dinner. Know what you need to get out of the freezer to defrost. In winter slow cooked meals and ready to bake meals are easy to cook while you entertain the kids before dinner is ready. I find any type of cooking at the stove with a 1 year old and 2 year old hanging off my legs is stressful and frustrating for everyone.
- Get the older children to set the table ready for dinner. It makes one less job for you to do. Even if the kids get the order wrong with the cutlery, having the cutlery on the table in the first place is a great start.
- While dinner is cooking away in the oven or slow cooker, head outside. It’s often cooler and darker earlier in Winter, so make sure the kids are dressed accordingly. Get the kids to look up at the sky and find the moon and any planets or stars that are visible at dusk. I find getting outside with my three girls calms not only me, but gets my girls out of the kitchen where dinner is being cooked. The change of scenery does wonders for their mood.
- Resort to the TV or some sort of game or device that will keep the kids entertained while you serve dinner. By this stage my husband is home to help with dinner or he plays with the kids to keep them occupied while I get dinner served.
- Make an effort to sit at the table for dinner. Every family situation is different. Some dads (or mums) come home late after dinner should be served to the kids. But if you can manage it, it’s still a great tradition to start and keep.
- Tag team with your partner on when it comes to bathing the kids and cleaning the kitchen. Our girls aren’t old enough to help in the kitchen… but I can’t wait until they are.
- Usually we read books and say prayers as we put each of our girls to bed. For a different idea, why not practice mindfulness by doing some colouring in. Use crayons or pencils to ensure the kids don’t get colours on them since they’ve had their bath. It’s a great way to wind everyone down for the night.
How is witching hour in your house? Is your routine similar to mine?
