Routines that work

[Ausmumof3]

If you have a routine or schedule that works to keep you, your family sane, the house somewhat tidy (not hoarderish) and all the subjects done, can you share? I really feel the need for some more routine and discipline right now.

[LMD]

Right there with you OP...

Listening!

[Slache]

Laundry is on a loop.

Chores are on a loop.

I don't do spring cleaning. I have a list of all of my spring cleaning tasks and do one every Saturday on a loop.

Once a month cooking has been the best thing for our household.

We have a nightly list that prepares the house for an easy day. I'm sure my list looks daunting but if you do it every day it takes 5 minutes.

 

Living & Dining: Desk, Tables, Bookshelves & Piano Picked Up & Wiped

Kitchen: Dishes Finished, Counters Wiped, Fridge & Microwave Cleared

Bathroom: Floor & Counters Picked Up, Shampoo, Toys etc. Put Away

Nursery: Picked Up & Dresser Cleared, Nothing on The Floor

Bedroom: Nightstands & Dresser Cleared, No Clothes on The Floor

Tasks: Dinner Out To Thaw, Garbage & Dog Out, Feed & Water Dog

Kids: Brushed, Flossed & Washed

[EndOfOrdinary]

We do a "morning meeting" where I go through asking questions about yesterday's independent work. it is quick and only about 20 minutes (unless a big glitch happens and direct instruction is repeatedly needed). Often times I can hang laundry, sort laundry, iron, or do the dishes during this time. Ds presents the information and we talk. Mindless tasks work well. I taught Ds to fold his own clothes, so he will sometimes do that during morning meeting if we are discussing a book or audio lecture he listened too.

 

Every Sunday I plan the entire week. I prep food for the whole family, I establish my own morning and evening chores, and I prep all of Ds' schoolwork. Without this, the week disintegrates. I have to force myself to do it after work, but it makes all the difference. Once I figured out what chores worked, I just kept them. Every Monday and Wednesday I clean the bathroom. Every Sunday I prep and clean the fridge. Every Thursday, I clean my desk. It is far less complicated than I was making it, but the whole thing only works if I stay up with the list.

 

My biggest thing is recognizing I *need* that routine. As much as I tell myself that I am tired or that one day will not matter, It totally matters for me. I have to make myself get up and do it! Once I slack, then it all compounds, I get overwhelmed, and boom! house dirt explosion with clutter everywhere.

[gypsymama]

:lurk5:

[Ellie]

The kitchen is kept clean all.the.time. Beds made daily. Clutter controlled daily. Quick vacuuming.

 

Monday and Tuesday: Official School Days. No leaving the house, no errands, no field trips, preferably no appointments, nothin'. Stay.home.

 

Wednesday: Library. Afterwards, we might visit friends, but usually we just come home and read the books, or generally goof off at home. :-)

 

Thursday: Field trip. Every week. Mostly just us, sometimes with friends I have hand-picked if a group is required; I only do field trips with the support group when/if they're on Thursday.

 

Friday: Clean house: dust everything, move furniture and vacuum, clean the bathroom, do all the laundry (which includes folding and putting away), wash the car. Once-a-month park day.

 

Weekends: Free to goof off, because house is clean and everyone has clean undies. :D

[Critterfixer]

I think the two keys to any schedule are consistency and flexibility. It usually takes about two weeks to see what you like or don't like about a system for house and school, and then you need to be able to alter it. That means you really shouldn't try to fit everything you do in a day into some sort of plan. You need to first look at what you are doing and figure out how long it is taking you to get through each task. I find it easier to round up when doing this, and also to look at large blocks of time and not fifteen minute increments.

 

As an example: on average I will spend 1.5 hours on housekeeping during the day, I will spend about 1.5 hours with meals and meal prep, I will need 5 hours per day for school, I am committed to 2 hours a day in front of my machine, writing, and am looking to increase that to 3. That's an 10 hour day, 11 when I get three hours of writing in. That's all I have time for. So anything I do to schedule that is built around the idea that I will spend no more than the set amount of time on those areas. The flexibility is such that I will not plan anything that will run me over those time slots, leaving me well able to move the day around--I could do housekeeping in the morning or afternoon. I could do school afternoon to evening if I wanted to write in the morning. Or I could start my cooking and make enough on one day in my 1.5 block to cover a couple of days, leaving me more writing time. 

 

It works really well for me. It also makes me much more aware of where my hours are spent, and I've become very protective of my time and of the time that my children have to explore their own interests. 

[HomeAgain]

The routines that work are the ones you can ease into slowly.  We have a lot of on-our-way routines because that is how we functioned best when incorporating new things in. For example, the laundry room is on my way from my bedroom to the kitchen.  Therefore, I do laundry on my way to make coffee in the morning.  It was a simple change to our day years ago that stuck because I didn't have to work hard at creating new habits. ;)

 

School: all the books/supplies are plopped on the table in the morning.  School is done when they're all put away.  Each subject is put away before break.

Organization: I don't put lids on anything.  Open shelving works best for us, and bins when necessary. A bin next to the front door is rotated out seasonally.  Right now it holds a wetbag, hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.  Fill wetbag, take it with.  Throw it in the bin when we come home.  I don't have to go open the bathroom medicine cabinet for sunscreen, take sunglasses from children's drawers in their rooms...Hooks are placed strategically -for example, backpack is hung in the bedroom next to the door.  Library books are kept in the bedroom.  Backpack is easily filled/emptied on library day.  We have hooks inside the cabinet doors for flashcards, rulers, and protractors.  Easy grab and go, put back when done.  We had drawers...they weren't used properly and things were always out of order.

 

Be lazy.  :D Make small changes and ease into new routines. 

[Hobbes]

Housekeeping: I plan each week on Saturday or Sunday - fill out my planner page, plan all the meals.

 

Each day has a chore:

 

Mon - laundry washing, kids clean sinks and dust upstairs

 

Tues - laundry sort, fold, put away, everyone who is able does their own. Bake.

 

Weds - wipe down bathrooms, kitchen and bath laundry. Kids sweep upstairs and dust main level and basement.

 

Thurs - errands/day out (library, groceries, etc)

 

Fri - sweep main level thoroughly. Kids sweep basement and clean out van.

 

Weekends - odd jobs as needed... windows, garden, etc.

 

I do daily decluttering, tidying, etc. Kitchen is cleaned as we go, I do spot sweeping, etc.

 

Schoolwork: I print out a daily checklist for each child each week over the weekend and put it on their clipboards. School bins are set near the table the night before and we work through the checklists.

 

Schoolday routine:

 

6:45 - I wake, nurse the baby, get him back to sleep, shower, pour coffee.

 

7:30 - kids come out of rooms/I get the toddler. Anyone awake earlier than that reads quietly. They get dressed, clean their rooms, make beds.

 

8/8:30 - eat breakfast. I eat faster and immediately begin our morning time reading while the kids finish. Once they finish, we clear dishes, finish morning time, and keep moving into schoolwork, etc.

 

Late morning - they are done with school and head off to play/do chores/practice piano. I do various household work, take out what is needed for dinner, etc.

 

Noonish - lunch

 

1:30-3:30ish - quiet time. Toddler naps, older kids listen to audio books and do art/projects/Playmobil, etc. I do housework and nap with baby.

 

4-6:30ish - make dinner, DH home, have dinner, clean up dinner. Kids finish up chores if needed, and set/clear table.

 

8pm - kid bedtime

 

Evening: I finish up necessary chores and do my setup for the next day - set breakfast table, grind coffee, set out school bins, lay out clothes, etc. Relax/read/school plan, etc.

 

Bed - often too late, but working on that!

 

I get bi-monthly-ish calls from a donation pickup charity and I almost always say yes. I have a box that I'm constantly filling with things to give away and that helps with clutter.

 

That's our standard rhythm - it does flex as needed, but we do best when we mostly stick to this. We are out Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and on weekends for church/etc, otherwise we stay home as much as possible. At some points during the year there are swim/ballet lesson, etc, but I try to keep it to a minimum and it has to work with the overall routine for everyone.

Edited May 18, 2016 by indigoellen@gmail.com

[Ausmumof3]

Thank you all. I think I've had a bit too much out the house stuff going on. But I want to keep it all ... Need to reprioritise a little next term and be more efficient.

 

I definitely need to get the morning and night routines happening consistently.

[Ausmumof3]

Laundry is on a loop.

Chores are on a loop.

I don't do spring cleaning. I have a list of all of my spring cleaning tasks and do one every Saturday on a loop.

Once a month cooking has been the best thing for our household.

We have a nightly list that prepares the house for an easy day. I'm sure my list looks daunting but if you do it every day it takes 5 minutes.

 

Living & Dining: Desk, Tables, Bookshelves & Piano Picked Up & Wiped

Kitchen: Dishes Finished, Counters Wiped, Fridge & Microwave Cleared

Bathroom: Floor & Counters Picked Up, Shampoo, Toys etc. Put Away

Nursery: Picked Up & Dresser Cleared, Nothing on The Floor

Bedroom: Nightstands & Dresser Cleared, No Clothes on The Floor

Tasks: Dinner Out To Thaw, Garbage & Dog Out, Feed & Water Dog

Kids: Brushed, Flossed & Washed

It does look like a big list? How does the loop work? Is it like you just pick up where you are in the process and start there?

[Ausmumof3]

Housekeeping: I plan each week on Saturday or Sunday - fill out my planner page, plan all the meals.

 

Each day has a chore:

 

Mon - laundry washing, kids clean sinks and dust upstairs

 

Tues - laundry sort, fold, put away, everyone who is able does their own. Bake.

 

Weds - wipe down bathrooms, kitchen and bath laundry. Kids sweep upstairs and dust main level and basement.

 

Thurs - errands/day out (library, groceries, etc)

 

Fri - sweep main level thoroughly. Kids sweep basement and clean out van.

 

Weekends - odd jobs as needed... windows, garden, etc.

 

I do daily decluttering, tidying, etc. Kitchen is cleaned as we go, I do spot sweeping, etc.

 

Schoolwork: I print out a daily checklist for each child each week over the weekend and put it on their clipboards. School bins are set near the table the night before and we work through the checklists.

 

Schoolday routine:

 

6:45 - I wake, nurse the baby, get him back to sleep, shower, pour coffee.

 

7:30 - kids come out of rooms/I get the toddler. Anyone awake earlier than that reads quietly. They get dressed, clean their rooms, make beds.

 

8/8:30 - eat breakfast. I eat faster and immediately begin our morning time reading while the kids finish. Once they finish, we clear dishes, finish morning time, and keep moving into schoolwork, etc.

 

Late morning - they are done with school and head off to play/do chores/practice piano. I do various household work, take out what is needed for dinner, etc.

 

Noonish - lunch

 

1:30-3:30ish - quiet time. Toddler naps, older kids listen to audio books and do art/projects/Playmobil, etc. I do housework and nap with baby.

 

4-6:30ish - make dinner, DH home, have dinner, clean up dinner. Kids finish up chores if needed, and set/clear table.

 

8pm - kid bedtime

 

Evening: I finish up necessary chores and do my setup for the next day - set breakfast table, grind coffee, set out school bins, lay out clothes, etc. Relax/read/school plan, etc.

 

Bed - often too late, but working on that!

 

I get bi-monthly-ish calls from a donation pickup charity and I almost always say yes. I have a box that I'm constantly filling with things to give away and that helps with clutter.

 

That's our standard rhythm - it does flex as needed, but we do best when we mostly stick to this. We are out Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and on weekends for church/etc, otherwise we stay home as much as possible. At some points during the year there are swim/ballet lesson, etc, but I try to keep it to a minimum and it has to work with the overall routine for everyone.

Do you mind me asking how you got your kids in a good routine for dressing, and making the beds, tidying their rooms? Mine are 9,7 and 4 and I just don't seem to be able to get that part of the morning running smoothly? The oldest is starting to keep his room a bit tidier but is not very good at getting showered and dressed without being nagged. My middle will be up and dressed but her room is an explosion of toys and clothes. My youngest still needs help with all the steps obviously.

[Slache]

It does look like a big list? How does the loop work? Is it like you just pick up where you are in the process and start there?

The list is done every night and is therefore usually mostly done before we start. The loop is do the next thing.

Mom: Diaper bag, kitchen's "face", laundry room, bathrooms, nursery, fridge/freezer/pantry, dust

Dad: All trash, vacuum, clean out car, all trash, vacuum/mop, dog's teeth

 

Do you mind me asking how you got your kids in a good routine for dressing, and making the beds, tidying their rooms? Mine are 9,7 and 4 and I just don't seem to be able to get that part of the morning running smoothly? The oldest is starting to keep his room a bit tidier but is not very good at getting showered and dressed without being nagged. My middle will be up and dressed but her room is an explosion of toys and clothes. My youngest still needs help with all the steps obviously.

In my house you do not eat until your bed is made and your stuff is picked up. If they're hungry they'll do it.

[Ellie]

Do you mind me asking how you got your kids in a good routine for dressing, and making the beds, tidying their rooms? Mine are 9,7 and 4 and I just don't seem to be able to get that part of the morning running smoothly? The oldest is starting to keep his room a bit tidier but is not very good at getting showered and dressed without being nagged. My middle will be up and dressed but her room is an explosion of toys and clothes. My youngest still needs help with all the steps obviously.

 

We did it all together for a long time.

[Ausmumof3]

The list is done every night and is therefore usually mostly done before we start. The loop is do the next thing.

Mom: Diaper bag, kitchen's "face", laundry room, bathrooms, nursery, fridge/freezer/pantry, dust

Dad: All trash, vacuum, clean out car, all trash, vacuum/mop, dog's teeth

 

In my house you do not eat until your bed is made and your stuff is picked up. If they're hungry they'll do it.

Would a loop work for a longer list I wonder? It's kind of what I need I think because if I have a set routine I often run out of time to do it all which means the stuff at the end gets done rarely. But I am pretty much it for housework here which means a loop would have to have everything in it.

 

Actually I have done a kind of version of it in the past where I would do kitchen laundry vacuum on repeat through the day.

[Hobbes]

Do you mind me asking how you got your kids in a good routine for dressing, and making the beds, tidying their rooms? Mine are 9,7 and 4 and I just don't seem to be able to get that part of the morning running smoothly? The oldest is starting to keep his room a bit tidier but is not very good at getting showered and dressed without being nagged. My middle will be up and dressed but her room is an explosion of toys and clothes. My youngest still needs help with all the steps obviously.

It hasn't been magical, but I think the biggest thing has been to make it a consistent part of every morning, without debate. In the beginning, I oversaw it all - beds, dressed, brush teeth. I just did it with them until it was habit and they did it on their own. That said, there are still days that need a lot of reminders to get at it. But a day doesn't move forward (i.e. no breakfast!) until those things are done, so they have just become routine.

 

There isn't too much room cleanup in the morning. I make them clean up before bed if it's really messy. It's rarely horrible, though... I see decluttering and teaching them to do so as my responsibility, so if there's getting to be a regular room disaster, it's time to get rid of a lot of stuff. That helps with the cleaning, as they are otherwise overwhelmed.

 

 

Don't know if that helps?

[Ausmumof3]

Thank you all, the other thing I forgot to mention was Im really desperately needing to fit some exercise in somewhere. That is part of the tweaking. Walking each day is the best type though I sometimes to yoga first thing but I really need consistency to stop the weight gain which seems to be going crazy. I'm not fussed about intense stuff and I don't necessarily care about losing but as long as I don't exercise I'm getting progressively heavier.

[Slache]

Thank you all, the other thing I forgot to mention was Im really desperately needing to fit some exercise in somewhere. That is part of the tweaking. Walking each day is the best type though I sometimes to yoga first thing but I really need consistency to stop the weight gain which seems to be going crazy. I'm not fussed about intense stuff and I don't necessarily care about losing but as long as I don't exercise I'm getting progressively heavier.

I work out before the kids get up.

[Ausmumof3]

I work out before the kids get up.

Do you use video workouts? I think I remember something from the exercise thread way back.

 

Easily my most achievable exercise is walking with the crew but right now it's more like 9ish before it's warm enough to get out. Workouts and yoga by DVD often seem to leave me with back and knee pain. Maybe it's bad technique or too much too soon.

[Slache]

Do you use video workouts? I think I remember something from the exercise thread way back.

 

Easily my most achievable exercise is walking with the crew but right now it's more like 9ish before it's warm enough to get out. Workouts and yoga by DVD often seem to leave me with back and knee pain. Maybe it's bad technique or too much too soon.

Yes, I do. Have you considered Piyo? It's supposed to be good for things like that. I have no personal experience.

 

https://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/piyo-workout.do

[Critterfixer]

I trained for and ran a 10K by using my longish driveway as a track and progressing to tackle the big hill on my road. I did that with the boys either watching me from the yard, or by running a lap, checking on things, then running another lap...

You do have to make time for it, and often that might mean giving something else up. Priorities are always a big part of figuring out how to manage the time. Like it or not, one just can't do it all, so sometimes worthy things have to go because they just don't take precedence at this one time. They may fit in at a later date. 

[Vida Winter]

Bumping. I love to read about routines. I wish I could keep one.

[My3girls]

Ya'll are amazing.  We have too much outside the house stuff going on to keep a good schedule.  We don't want to give any of it up, though, so it is what it is.  We do field trips at least twice a month, baseball 2-3 days a week, archery 1-2 days a week, music coop and marching band take up all of Friday, 4H is one day a month, and we are adding in art classes in the fall.  I, also, work outside the home 2 evenings a week.  My house is never entirely clean, and we school year round to fit in all the book work.  I have tried and tried to keep a schedule and do everything and have finally come to accept that that just isn't who we are. lol

[Critterfixer]

 

Ya'll are amazing.  We have too much outside the house stuff going on to keep a good schedule.  We don't want to give any of it up, though, so it is what it is.  We do field trips at least twice a month, baseball 2-3 days a week, archery 1-2 days a week, music coop and marching band take up all of Friday, 4H is one day a month, and we are adding in art classes in the fall.  I, also, work outside the home 2 evenings a week.  My house is never entirely clean, and we school year round to fit in all the book work.  I have tried and tried to keep a schedule and do everything and have finally come to accept that that just isn't who we are. lol

 

That's totally okay, too. You are keeping a good schedule if your outside the home commitments are high priorities, and you have accordingly adjusted your expectations elsewhere. You cannot keep a schedule and expect to do everything because it's on the schedule.That way madness lies. :laugh:

That said, there are times when it is prudent to drop one or more things that are wonderful to make room for things that are more important at the time. At some point, there may come a time when you may need all of Friday for something else. You just adjust according to the season of life you are in. No big deal. As long as you don't suffer from the feeling that everything has to get done, or has to get done the way you want it to.

 

A schedule isn't there to force you to get everything done. It's to help you see what you can get done, and to see what won't get done, no matter how much you want it done. Then you can decide whether it's worth letting something go, or adding something new, or figuring out how to outsource what must be done that you can no longer do. Or you can ponder whether it is really the best use of your time to spend x minutes or hours doing it in the first place. It might not be.

 

Schedules and routines are not there to order one about. They are there to create an structure in which one can impose some order if one wishes it. 

[Ausmumof3]

Ya'll are amazing. We have too much outside the house stuff going on to keep a good schedule. We don't want to give any of it up, though, so it is what it is. We do field trips at least twice a month, baseball 2-3 days a week, archery 1-2 days a week, music coop and marching band take up all of Friday, 4H is one day a month, and we are adding in art classes in the fall. I, also, work outside the home 2 evenings a week. My house is never entirely clean, and we school year round to fit in all the book work. I have tried and tried to keep a schedule and do everything and have finally come to accept that that just isn't who we are. lol

Haha... That is why mine started falling apart all the out stuff that I really want to do!

[Ausmumof3]

"You cannot keep a schedule and expect to do everything because it's on the schedule.That way madness lies. :laugh:"

 

That is exactly exactly what I do!!! 😆

[Critterfixer]

 

That is exactly exactly what I do!!! 😆 

 

 

Well, then that's got to stop. :laugh:

The only things that can go on the schedule are the things you do. Not the things you wish you did, ought to do or think you could do. Only when you see where your day is currently going can you make changes or decide that what you've got is fine, by golly, and life goes on!

 

ETA: Seriously, it's a really interesting exercise to see what happens to your time in a day. There was a post on the chat board a while back talking about the concept of blocks of time vs time confetti, where you have "free time" that isn't any use to you, because it occurs in little five to ten minute snatches that are typically spent where you couldn't do a thing with them even if you wanted to. You want to aim to schedule blocks whenever you can. 

Edited May 23, 2016 by Critterfixer

[BlsdMama]

Thank you all. I think I've had a bit too much out the house stuff going on. But I want to keep it all ... Need to reprioritise a little next term and be more efficient.

 

I definitely need to get the morning and night routines happening consistently.

Being out of the house can be a killer. I think the important thing to figure out is, realistically, can you commit to four days at home or do you need a plan that incorporates being out of the home?

 

If you need to be out of the home start looking at what you can do via audio in the car.

 

If not, when is your most active time? Mine is morning. If it's not done by naptime then it might note get done. I get up and start laundry immediately. School, structured table work, is best done in the AM here. Our afternoons are ALWAYS nap or quiet/reading times. There is a pick up time before daddy comes home and then dinner.

[birchbark]

Every morning:

Beds

Dishwasher

Animals

Bathrooms

Kitchen floor

(Divided among kids)

 

Every evening:

Clean sweep or pick-up of the house before supper or before bed. I try not to worry about the house during the day. (Each kid has their zone.)

 

Weekly:

Each bedroom's laundry- boys do their own, I do the rest

A whole-family housecleaning. This is when we do the deep-cleaning, such as vacuuming, dusting, windows, deep-cleaning bathrooms. With everyone pitching in, it takes less than an hour. This is usually done on the weekends, but some weekends are just too busy for cleaning and we just catch up later as we can.

 

School:

Most is done during the late morning, with remainder in the afternoon. Except for lunch break, the kids do not get free time until schoolwork is done.

 

Exercise (ETA): During the warmer months, I take an evening walk, and then a nighttime walk with DH after kids are down. Each of these are between 1-2 miles. During the colder months, I use a Gazelle, but I haven't found a good routine for this and it often doesn't get done. :(

 

I am the one to clean the kitchen and load the dishwasher. The family will help with this for the supper meal.

 

Keep meals very simple.

 

It does help to get into a routine, but it seems the kids will always need reminders to do their responsibilities.

Edited May 23, 2016 by birchbark

[AngelaNYC]

I work 5 days a week, so I'm out of the house from 9am to 7:15pm from Tuesday to Saturday.

 

Before work I make my bed, put away the dishes, and get a laundry bag ready for when I get home.

 

After work I put on that laundry, eat dinner while doing math and science with ds (dh gets home before me and cooks), hang/dry the laundry, wash the dishes, clean the counters and stove, sweep and swiffer the kitchen floor, do a quick bleachy bathroom wipe-down, and bring out any garbage and recyclables.  I shower at night and clean the tub sometimes while in there.

 

On my days off I dust, windex, change sheets, and sweep/mop the rest of the house.

 

Once a month I pick one room and deep clean for a few hours.

 

It doesn't always go so smoothly, but it works nicely when it does.

 

[Homeschoolmom3]

Thank you all, the other thing I forgot to mention was Im really desperately needing to fit some exercise in somewhere. That is part of the tweaking. Walking each day is the best type though I sometimes to yoga first thing but I really need consistency to stop the weight gain which seems to be going crazy. I'm not fussed about intense stuff and I don't necessarily care about losing but as long as I don't exercise I'm getting progressively heavier.

 

I am listening in to this thread can always improve!  :-) 

 

In regards to exercising I try to walk/jog 3x week on the treadmill and then I do a toning video 3x week.  I try to get up before my 5 yr. old because if I don't do it in the morning it won't happen.  However it only lasts 20 -25 minutes but it has kept my weight off.  I don't have a ton of time but just a little bit makes a big difference!  I am kinda embarrassed to tell you the video I use but hey it works!  It is the Biggest Looser workout, after my youngest was born it took me a little longer to bounce back and needed to loose 30 lbs.  It really worked well and I loved that it was only about 20 minutes (because shame I know I don't always follow their warm up/cool down stretching I just do a quick one.  :-)  Also for me as long as I don't eat past dinner I will not gain weight.  Maybe you can try that tip too!  ;) It can be hard though and I cheat about once a week!  :sleep:

Edited May 23, 2016 by Homeschoolmom3

[Homeschoolmom3]

I have tried to keep a schedule but lately it has gone out the window and we are on survival mode.  This year has been so stressful being out of the house three days this year has been way too much!  I need to be at home where I can have order.  I can't handle my house a mess because I am OCD.  :-P  I have had to learn to let some things go while homeschooling but have learned this year that too much running around makes home not a restful place to be.  So I am listening into all the suggestions.  Thanks for everyone taking time to post!  :D