How do you get everyone up, chores done, breakfast made, eaten, and cleaned up and still start school on time?
I love to live by a schedule. It keeps me disciplined and it lets my kids know what's coming next on a day-to-day basis. Our mornings follow a flow. Brian and I get up at 6 and the kids get up at 7. Brian eats breakfast on his drive to work, but the kids and I eat an easy breakfast before we dress or do chores. After clean-up, we scatter to tackle our individual responsibilities. Because each child has a set list of things to accomplish and because they have a time limit, I am free to wash the dishes, do a load of laundry, make my bed, or finalize school plans without worrying if work is being completed in the rest of the house.
As much as I love my schedule, being too rigid is a detriment to us all. Our goal is to finish our work and begin the school day at 9, but does it happen every day? Absolutely not!
A schedule is for our benefit. We are not slaves to the schedule. Some days Alaine needs more of my attention in the morning or Brian goes into work late or we get a phone call or any number of things may happen. Maybe a child didn't sleep well the night before or someone has a cold. Whatever the reason for the delay, we simply begin school when we're able and continue to follow the flow of the day.
In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.
I love to live by a schedule. It keeps me disciplined and it lets my kids know what's coming next on a day-to-day basis. Our mornings follow a flow. Brian and I get up at 6 and the kids get up at 7. Brian eats breakfast on his drive to work, but the kids and I eat an easy breakfast before we dress or do chores. After clean-up, we scatter to tackle our individual responsibilities. Because each child has a set list of things to accomplish and because they have a time limit, I am free to wash the dishes, do a load of laundry, make my bed, or finalize school plans without worrying if work is being completed in the rest of the house.
As much as I love my schedule, being too rigid is a detriment to us all. Our goal is to finish our work and begin the school day at 9, but does it happen every day? Absolutely not!
A schedule is for our benefit. We are not slaves to the schedule. Some days Alaine needs more of my attention in the morning or Brian goes into work late or we get a phone call or any number of things may happen. Maybe a child didn't sleep well the night before or someone has a cold. Whatever the reason for the delay, we simply begin school when we're able and continue to follow the flow of the day.
*****
My How Do You...? series is back for a few more weeks. I'm in need of some fun ideas for topics. What do you want to know? Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page. In the meantime, you can browse the archived index of past topics.
I'm glad to know we're not the only ones who sometimes have trouble starting school on time :) I'm still working with the kids on getting all their morning work finished without reminding. We'll be focusing on that this summer, so hopefully our mornings will run a little smoother when we ease back into full-time school in the fall.
ReplyDeleteI love love LOVE that you remind us not every day is the same and sometimes a child might need us more than the others... and not to be a slave to that schedule. It's something I've learned the older I get (well, still learning...) That's our goal, too, to start by 9, but does it always happen? Nope. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for these How Do You... series... I'm looking forward to scrolling through and seeing what I've missed when I have some time. Have a lovely day, friend!
I am speaking to myself here! I need the reminder that it is okay to be flexible and respond to the needs of my family over keeping a strict schedule. So thankful for grace!
DeleteRunning related How Do You......: stretch-out pre- and post- run (are there specific exercises you do, for a certain length of time, etc.)?
ReplyDelete