Time after Time

I did bath and bed for both boys tonight whereas normally we do one each when Stu's around.  It was slightly more frenetic than usual as they were tired and it left me reflecting on generally how much easier the bedtime routine is now they are a bit older.  I remember when Zak was nearly two and Seb was only a few weeks old flying into a complete panic when Stu had to work a bit later one night than normal.  "But... you HAVE to be home for bath time, how on earth am I meant to do both of them on my own otherwise?!"  Somebody more sane than myself would probably have sacked bathtime off for that night, put CBeebies on and had a large gin and tonic.  I always strictly adhered to the sacred bedtime routine however and could not break it, whatever shit was going down, (and a lot of shit went down in those days)!

This all led me to wondering what people in the 'non-small kid world' filled their time with in the busy tea/bath/bed time between 5 and 7pm?  I know it is no different to filling two hours any other time of the day but it is so ingrained in me now though that I can't possibly imagine what I would otherwise be doing.  I'm slightly afraid to imagine that Stu and I may well fill that time in the future firmly in the pub.  Surely not on a no-alcohol Monday though?

I'm a right clock-watcher.  Our whole lives run to a military-style regime that is ruled over by the Great Master Time.  I remember a friend quizzing me a few years ago on what really would happen if my kids' tea was served up at 5.05pm instead of 5pm one night. I'm sure nothing untoward would happen but I doubt very much that we will ever find out.

I am fully aware of how anal this all sounds but it works for me.  Shelley can't understand how I always cram so much in and am never late.  She claims it is because I know precisely how long everything takes and can't understand how that is.  I guess you learn how long things take when you do them at EXACTLY the same time each day...

I honestly have no idea how Stu fits into all of this, normally quite cheerfully.  At least the kids have been born into it so don't know any different.  Stu had a carefree, easy existence though, fluidly not worrying about any time, apart from maybe what time he arrived at work each day.  I guess he has just been trained; conditioned; brainwashed?  It amused me when he went to stay with a single mate of his a while back and came home honestly disgusted about how dirty his house was.  A changed man from the one whose open packet of green chicken slices I surreptitiously binned from his fridge the first night I stayed over there!

Anyway, forgive me, must dash.  It is 7.38pm and the dishwasher will need emptying in a moment in the Corrie adverts.  Joking!  Or am I?