What Does a “Normal Routine” Look Like in Your House?

Somewhere, summer is slowly dwindling away. The evenings feel a little cooler, the sun sets just a bit earlier, and those back-to-school sales seem to be popping up everywhere I turn. Part of me is dreading the start of the school year… the lunch packing, the alarm clocks, the never-ending piles of laundry and yet, another part of me is quietly ready for the return to “normal.”

But what does a normal routine even look like in our house?

If I’m being honest, no two days are ever exactly the same. We’re a busy family of faith, like so many of you reading this, with three children in different stages of life and a calendar that always seems full before I even add the school obligations. Some mornings are smoother than others: the kids wake up on time, everyone eats breakfast without fuss, and we manage to get out the door with shoes on the right feet and backpacks zipped. Other mornings…well, let’s just say the coffee pot works overtime, and I’m praying my way through the chaos.

Adding to that, my husband often works overnight and frequently picks up double shifts that run straight through the morning and back into the day. Because he works in our town, he’s sometimes able to stop at home for a brief moment in between, just long enough for a quick hello or goodbye before he’s out the door again. Evenings can feel like a balancing act too… trying to carve out time together as a family while making sure he’s ready for the next round of work.

I’ve grown used to many nights alone, though the cats certainly keep me company, often filling up the bed along with the occasional child who sneaks in after a bad dream. It’s not always easy, but it’s the rhythm of our life right now.

And as we prepare for another school year, I find myself reflecting on what really anchors us in the midst of it all.

For us, a normal routine isn’t about perfect schedules or tidy houses. It’s about the little rituals that keep us centered: morning prayers at the breakfast table (whenever we’re all together), dinner as a family as often as possible (even if it’s just pizza on paper plates), and trying… sometimes failing, but always trying to end each day with gratitude. These small rhythms remind us who we are and whose we are.

Do I still get overwhelmed? Absolutely. There are evenings I collapse on the couch and wonder how I’ll do it all again tomorrow. But I’ve learned to see the beauty in the ordinary. The car rides where the kids chatter about their days. The quick pop-ins from my husband that remind us we’re still connected even in the busyness. The laughter at the dinner table that makes the hard days worth it.

So as the school year approaches, I find myself both dreading and looking forward to stepping back into the familiar routine. Because even in the messiness, there’s purpose. There’s grace.

And now I want to ask you: What does a “normal routine” look like in your house?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Maybe we can all share some encouragement with each other as we gear up for the year ahead.

God Bless,

Sarah Ackbarali, CMO

The Modern Apostle LLC.