Schedules

  I have been taking this Autumn season slowly. I have had nothing to rush to really. I am home every morning until at least 12:30 every morning but Friday, and on Fridays I don't need to leave until 10:20am. The days have been long sometimes. This is good because there have been times and seasons where life is so chaotic; my mind is spinning trying to keep up with everyone and all they need. Having a schedule sometimes helps life seem less chaotic and more rhythmic, but maybe sometimes the schedule is so busy it doesn't help. My schedule has been quite helpful this season. I thought I'd share it with you.

~ Keep in mind this is the very first time I have been able to have a schedule (or stick to it) for any length of time because of where all my children are at in their developmental stages. It has never worked before. This time it has and I am grateful.~

  I get up when I wake up, but I aim to be up at 7:30am. 7:00am would be ideal but my body seems to naturally wake up around 7:30. I immediately get up and get a glass of water and then do a simple, no equipment needed, exercise video. It isn't intense but I figure this helps my lymphatic system and helps me stretch a bit. It also helps my mental state as I am not a morning person. As I am exercising (in the living room) I am directing everyone to have breakfast. Since my oldest is almost fourteen it is not a big deal for her to help my four year old get breakfast, and my eleven year old and eight year old can help themselves. Choices are simply cereal, toast, or french toast or fried eggs but they have to make it themselves and clean up after themselves. After they eat I direct them all to dress, brush their teeth, and get ready for their day. My four year old can dress himself and choose his clothes but he needs help with teeth brushing still. One of of his siblings help him. My goal is to start the homeschooling day at 8:30am.

  When we are ready we all sit in the living room and I do a bit of a devotional, some memorization, some poetry and some novel reading. I have a novel series all ages are appreciating except my four year old. He is MUCH less of a challenge this year than he was last year but still he does not want to sit and listen so he needs other distracters. After this is done then everyone has something they need to go do but I have it written down on a piece of paper for me, broken up into each day, so I can follow it. I try to get Math done pretty quickly in the morning before they are tired and not as fresh. We try to get a majority of our school work done by noon. We take a break around 10 or 10:30 for a snack, and then lunch is at noon. After lunch I often need to drive someone somewhere, but if not then it is outside or creative time. TV time comes around 3:30 or 4:00.

  This might not be very thrilling and we are not getting out and doing a lot outside of the house but we are accomplishing a lot with learning all we need to cover this school year. For grades nine, six, and three it seems like a lot! We are focused and accomplishing things with out too much stress. During times (if there are any) where everyone is distracted and working (not needing my help) I will try to quickly load the dishwasher or get a load of laundry going. I also try to have some sort of snack prepared.

  As you can see the days are full, but since we are home, and have a system then things are accomplished. Like I said this is the first time since I have been a mom that I feel like a schedule and system are doable. I am getting the most sleep I have ever had since I became a mom, and that has made a huge difference. Not having a screaming busy teething baby or toddler has helped immensely as well!

  I hope you are doing well. November where I live is pretty dreary month. However there have been sunny days and beautiful moments and I am trying to get my children outside each day for at least an hour if not more no matter the weather. It makes such a huge difference for them.

  One more thing: I have children that have trouble winding down and falling asleep. Something I have started implementing is after dinner if I remember I try to get everyone to clean up the living area of the home. Then around 6:30pm someone runs a warm bath with quite a bit of epsom salts in it. Each child has about a fifteen minute bath and then gets in their PJ's. I brush everyone's teeth, sometimes read them a story, and then tuck them in. One child has a heating pad in their bed which helps them fall asleep, another has a hot water bottle and some of them have a CD player and listen to stories or quiet restful music. If they typically come out for water then they have to have a water bottle by their bed. It has helped everyone relax and fall asleep more quickly. I try to have everyone in bed and quiet by eight at the latest. Once again this is a first for me as my children as babies all would stay up so late and wake up over and over again once asleep. So having these quiet evenings is has been lovely. I would ideally be in bed by 10:00pm, 10:30 at the latest, but often I am up till 11 or later. However I find my body does best if I am in bed by 10:30.

 None of this is set in stone and lots of days things don't go smoothly. Many nights someone has a hard time falling asleep but these little schedules have helped us.

Have a lovely rest of your week

Love Tansy