Happy Hour (sarcastically) at my place tends to creep in around 4.00pm and lasts until I finally manage to get all the children in bed around 7:30pm.Typical Happy Hour at our house – Master 2 is bawling and hanging on Mum’s leg, Miss 8 and Miss 6 are drawing while Miss 3 is trying to take the pencils off Miss 8 and Miss 6. In the meantime, Mum is trying to make dinner, bathing and generally holding everything together. And if you were wondering, Husband is rarely home until the children are in bed.
So…. I invented the activity affectionately called ‘Cot Time’. It involves a child, a Cot (or bed) and books. At about 5.00pm, after bathing, Master 2 and Miss 3 have learned to enjoy ‘Cot Time’. This gives Mum a chance to get dinner on the table and Miss 8 and Miss 6 have a quiet moment to draw. Works wonders for me.
Cot Time Guidelines
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When it is time I say in a happy voice “It is time for Cot Time!”. I place my children in their beds with a range of interesting age appropriate books (but toys can be used instead).
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30-40 minutes duration (you may need to break the child into this routine by doing 10 min a day until you are up to about 30 min). My children enjoy this time now. So does Mum
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Don’t OVER use ‘Cot Time’ – it will backfire on you.
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When Cot Time is over (usually when I have dinner ready on the table) I say “YAY! Cot time is finished…. time for dinner!”.
If your evening sounds like mine you may want to make ‘Cot Time’ a routine at your place. For me, it helps me get dinner on the table and is a positive experience for the entire family.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your blog Kel, and the ideas that you have… I need all the help I can get!
Hey Kelly,
I've always wanted to be a fun mum, so your blog is great
But seriously, great blog, great ideas, keep it up!
Geoff
I like the idea of Cot Time!! I call happy hour, "Arsnic Hour"!
haha Happy Hour, Arsnic Hour and Suicide Hour….
Geoff, I sure you would make a great FunMum but a better FunDad
I'm following your blog 
Great post Kel! I am going to test cot time out sometime soon.
Love Nic
Your passion for being a mother is off the charts! You are an awesome Mum.
Carla.