For This Day
September 2015, Vol.3 Issu.1
Setting Up your Home Routine: Lisa McBride I was recently asked to share my thoughts and ideas on how I set up our home routine on homeschool days, and as my kids and I start our 10th year at Coram Deo Academy, I had to laugh and think really hard about what I could possibly say that would be the least bit meaningful or helpful to anyone. You would think being here this long, we’d have it all figured out, but, alas, it looks quite different every year, even changing from day to day. (Confession: I am not totally comfortable with the word “routine,” nor am I a type-A, super-organized, highlystructured person. I have flashes of those qualities from time to time, but if I’m being brutally honest, I would probably use words like inconsistent, somewhat scattered, mildly to very impatient, and easily distracted.
In
addition, I am a night owl who stays up late, and therefore finds it difficult to get moving in the morning. yes, some days, I just feel plain tired and lazy).
So
So now that I’ve thrown myself completely under the bus, let me share with you some hints that have helped us to be more successful on home days. #1: Prepare your work the night before a homeschool day. When my kids were younger, our smoothest days were those that I had already gone through my children’s assignment sheets, gathered all the necessary books, supplies, and tools needed, and had them laying out on the table ready to go in the morning. Once breakfast was finished, we were able to jump right in without delay. #2: Start your day in the Word and on your knees. I have found that it is almost essential to my own mental state to have a few minutes of quiet by myself in my room to spend with the Lord and to get my heart right before the start of the day. There is a noticeable difference in the days in which I skip this. There’s something sacred about humbling yourself and committing your thoughts, words, attitudes, and your whole day to your Heavenly Father before you even climb out of bed and put your feet on the floor. For me, it changes how I approach my children and my tasks for the day. Likewise, praying WITH my children and/or sharing a Scripture or devotional before we start our school day can affect change in their hearts and attitudes as well.
#3: Have a set start time each day. This is difficult for those of us who are night owls and not super structured. But it has always been my goal to have books open and work started by 9AM (that may sound late—but have I mentioned we’re not morning people?). This may require mom and kids to set an alarm early enough to allow time for breakfast and normal wake-up chores and routines. #4: Rank your child’s most challenging subjects and assignments accordingly. I found that doing the most difficult assignments first, when our minds were rested, patient, and sharp, really lightened our mental load and lowered our frustrations later in the day. On the flip side, those areas where I’m very comfortable that my student excels, I feel the freedom to not spend as much extra time on those subjects, so we can focus more energy on the areas where there may be deficits. #5: Work in an area free from distractions. Our work areas have changed over the years. When they were very young, we would all sit at the kitchen table together. Soon, we graduated to individual desks to help eliminate the distractions caused by siblings. Eventually, everyone migrated back to the kitchen table. And now that they are older, it looks different every day. Their workspace may include the kitchen table, a desk in dad’s office, the coffee table in the living room, or on the floor in their bedroom. As long as they can get their work done well and in a timely manner, I do not care where they work. And in the same way, I need to remove distractions from myself as well. Sometimes this means turning my phone or computer off, or not trying to do housework or laundry during a homeschool day. If I take a phone call during a homeschool day, I inevitably lose the focus and concentration of at least one of my kids. BONUS TIP: Get a headstart on your homework the night before. If you find that your homeschool days are going long, or if you just want to spread the work out a bit or shorten your homeschool day, then you may want to consider doing some of the work the
day/night before. When my kids were a bit younger, I used to give them the choice of going to bed at 8:00 or staying up to do some homework. They almost always chose to stay up late and work. Even if you get one or two subjects out of the way, that can lighten your burden for the next day significantly. And if they’re feeling particularly motivated, they may even do more! Now that my kids are older, this is no longer optional, but a requirement necessary to complete all their assignments on time. While I’ve shared that I am not wired with a high degree of structure and organization in my own life, it is very helpful, if not somewhat necessary, to at least have a general routine. So while we are not rigid in a time schedule, we do have a flow that works for our family, and that is what is important for you. Find a flow that works for your family and wash, rinse, repeat each day. For the moms of littles who sometimes feel like they are drowning, be encouraged. Many of the ideas above were most helpful when my kids were in Grammar School. Now that they are all in Logic/ High School, I am beginning to see the fruits of our labors from over the last several years, as they are more independent in their work and I don’t have to micromanage them as much. And it is a beautiful thing. This doesn’t mean we’ve “nailed it” completely or have conquered all issues (these first couple weeks of school have been a rough re-entry!), but each year I have more confidence in the ability of my kids to manage and take pride in their own work. We still have difficult days, but then I remember how far we’ve come. And I’m reminded that the days are long, but the years are short. They will be graduating before we know it. For all moms, dads, teachers, and administrators, I am praying for you and for our school, praying for wisdom, humility, and unity as we start this new year, seeking to educate, disciple, and raise up these young people to follow hard after our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that they can make a difference in the world around them. Have a great year!