I write the article for the Front Porch starting around Friday or Monday prior to the Friday it's due to go out so it's always fresh and new. This past week, I didn't feel particularly inspired and left it for Wednesday night when I knew I'd be alone with my thoughts.

Wednesday rolled around and I was setting myself up on the couch to write about family, life, peace, etc. when I heard my husband's work phone ring. Before I could go into the room, he was out telling me to get dressed. One of our friends from his work, 5 months pregnant was driving herself to the hospital.

Of course we dropped and ran if nothing more than to sit in her room as they monitored her and the baby. They are both doing fine. Dad stayed home with the two little ones and was happy when mom arrived home safely.

BIO: Susie Glennan has been in direct sales for over 23 years,
home schooled and ran a daycare for 8 years, is a teacher, 
technology trainer, Toastmaster, Speaker, and Author of numerous 
articles that have been published in magazines and across the web. 
She teaches personality based time management & other 
seminars on various topics. Her passion is teaching others to use
their God given personalities to enhance their lives and relationships
by effectively managing their time and staying true to the values in
life that are most important.You can read about The Busy Woman, 
Inc. Personality Based Time Management by clicking on the link.

Susie has been happily married since 1982, has four children and 2 
grandchildren. Her home is in the beautiful CA. She is also the 
President of The Busy Woman, Inc. - DBA: 
The Busy Woman's Daily Planner®. The company provides daily 
planners, purses, car & home organizers, Memory Books, and 
other organizing tools to help enhance the busy life of today's family.
 The company contact info is: www.thebusywoman.com 
or 800-848-7715.

Homeschooling moms can use Personality Based Time Management© to help them with their family.  When you learn how to define your child's personality, it makes it easier to know when they will willingly work on chores or schoolwork and when they need time alone.  (The same goes for your husband; once you learn if he's the type that likes to play with the kids when he gets home or needs a hot meal first, it will make your relationship better.)  And since the original Personality Based Time Managment© E-Book is 19 pages or so, I thought this would be a good start that's short, sweet, and to the point.  Our original book is about Personality Based Time Managment© as it pertains to women, but watch for our new E-Book coming this summer on Personality Based Time Management as it pertains to kids!

We can simplify the aspect of Personality Based Time Management© or many personality assessments for that matter by using just a couple of variables. Now of course people are much more complex than this. But in this instant gratification generation, information such as this is fun, easy to read and doesn't take an hour to take a test.

Start with just two variables:

1. Are you a people person or no?

2. Are you organized or disorganized?

A people person gets energized by people. They find refreshment in going out to a crowded place or chatting for a bit with a friend. They tend not to thrive on quiet environments in general. Someone who is not a people person does not want to be around people when they need to get energized. Their energy comes from having the calm, quiet environment; ie: reading a book, taking a nap, resting their mind during this time.

For homeschooling families, if you have a child who is a people person, then putting him or her in a quiet setting could hurt his or her concentration.  This Type B child needs at least a little background music or others working in the room so it's not so quiet.  They can thrive in a somewhat unstructured environment as they get bored easily.  But some structure is needed for all people.  So try not to fly by the seat of your pants during the day.  The Type A child on the other hand likes the quiet, as this personality needs the structure and calm environment.

I'm a people person and it shocks others when I appear exhausted at the end of the day, yet get energized after a few minutes into my time with them. What many of them don't know is that I become more fatigued from being alone in front of the computer or alone in my office, than from working with people all day. Of course there's a balance and I LOVE that balance of 2/3 of the day with people, the other 1/3 without.   So can you imagine how a Type B child who is homeschooled would thrive on field trips, group projects, or other projects that would have them share with others?

Noticing how you or the kids feel during alone time or with people can help all of you learn when to remove yourself or the kids from a setting, or put yourself or the kids into one.

The Type A typically likes more solitude than the Type B. That's why the Type A child tends to appear more together than the Type B child. However, that doesn't mean that the Type A does not like to spend time with others. To me it means that their brain needs some rest to process all that's been going on.  They also like to keep their lessons in order and finish schoolwork before they take a break.  Don't be surprised if these kids have an organized list in their notebook of what needs to be done next.

The Type B typically will forgo finishing schoolwork if it's time for a break.  They like to get up and out to have fun with friends.  If no one is around the Type B child might get to some schoolwork, then either start daydreaming or wander off to find something to do where others are present. Type B's have a hard time completing work because, they procrastinate, daydream, or get overwhelmed easily.  I found with my 3 children, my type b's had a difficult time comprehending actual time.  That's why I went over time incriments and wrote about it in my article below called, "Dealing With Time From A Different Perspective."

An organized person thinks logically and is often able to organize with ease. This is typically (but not set in stone) the description of Type A people. Organizing comes naturally to them because their brain functions in a very logical manner. They can see how things should be organized whether it be schoolwork or cleaning their bedroom, just by looking at the space or work needed to be done, (which frankly used to drain my brain until I learned how to do the same thing. Organizing can be learned.).

Type A children are not naturally disorganized but can become that way if they are overwhelmed.  If they are the Type A perfectionist child then they tend to overwhelm themselves with trying to make things just right.  So mom, watch for the compulsive tendencies in your child to help them learn to lighten up, otherwise, they turn into adult heart patients.

Disorganized kids usually have too much on their plate or have not been taught "how to" organize. Therefore tasks of organizing or keeping on top of their schoolwork are daunting at best.  I've written an article on my website about learning to clean and organize my room called, "Chores Have Purpose."   But when it came to schoolwork, my parents (while being very well-meaning) did a lot of my work for me.  I could not comprehend time as it actually was.  Almost all tasks seemed so overwhelming that my parents either did their best to show me or if they couldn't figure out how to show me, they did the work for me to help me "feel" better.  Well now that I look back I see that I learned how to manipulate them into doing most of my work for me.  I can remember one time my mom read most of a Nancy Drew book to me over a weekend to help me finish in time to do a report.  She had me read a chapter and would show me how many pages I had to get through before she'd come in and read to me.  If I whined enough, she'd finish that chapter and go onto the next.  (Although I must admit that once I saw how an entire book like that could be read in less than two days off and on, I started to read a lot more.)

Here's a list of ideas that might help. Have your children:

A. Start with an easy task first.

B. Complete it and then choose a more difficult task.

     Remember that giving only a couple of choices lessens confusion.

C. Complete the difficult task and start on another easy task again.


Then show your child how far they've gotten. See if that helps them get going.



D. Help them figure out what they can do on their own.

E. Enlist one of their Type A friends to help with some of their projects.

F. Reward them for what they've accomplished.

G. Learn their moods and what makes them feel good or bad.

And Finally...

H. Try to have kids over who lift your kids up, not tear them down. Nice kids are very important in your child's life.

Click here to purchase our Personality Based Time Management™ E-Book and use this coupon code: 9bd7fa5d66 - to receive $5 OFF!

©2007 Susie Glennan

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            BIO: Susie Glennan has been in direct sales for over 23 years, home schooled & ran a daycare for 8 years, is a teacher, technology trainer, Toastmaster, Speaker, and Author of numerous articles that have been published in magazines and across the web. She teaches personality based time management & other seminars on various topics. Her passion is teaching others to use their God given personalities to enhance their lives and relationships by effectively managing their time and staying true to the values in life that are most important.     

For more organizing articles & free downloads for homeschoolers, click here and scroll down to the homeschooling section.   

Susie has been happily married since 1982, has four children and 2 grandchildren. Her home is in beautiful CA. She is also the President of The Busy Woman, Inc. - DBA: The Busy Woman's Daily Planner®. The company provides daily planners, purses, car & home organizers, Memory Books, and other organizing tools to help enhance the busy life of today’s family. The company contact info is: www.thebusywoman.com or 800-848-7715.          

            Related Tags: homeschool mom, time management, personalities

In 1992 or so, I had to make a decision. I was running a daycare out of my home and had a direct sales business. My oldest child was in public school and things were looking grim for her. The school did not treat advanced children well. So my husband and I made the decision to take her out and home school. I was organized, but now it was imperative that the whole family get even more organized so I could be an effective teacher while running a day care and my little direct sales biz out of the house at night. With God and a wonderful husband I was able to take 3 weeks off while we got the house ready for all that would be happening inside. I explained to my young children what we were doing and as a family we got ready to home school by cleaning out everything we no longer needed, putting things in proper and permanent places and learning what type of schedule worked best for each of us. I used an empty scheduling template and printed out 10 copies. Here's a link to the PDF Blank Schedule. I put a child’s name at the top of each one and each night I’d map out the next day. I even did one for myself. Each day I’d change things around that did not work and leave things that did. I had 3 children of my own 2, 4, and almost 7, then several day care children who came in and out at different hours on different days. Here's a PDF of our sample Full Daily Schedule So picture stopping in the middle of whatever it is you’re doing because you notice that a particular thing is not working. I would say to the kids, “Okay, guys, this is not working. Let’s regroup.” I’d go over what I thought was not working and ask the 4 yr old about it or the 7 yr old and we’d actually discuss things. They loved having a say and being respected. After a little less than the 3 weeks, we were like a well-oiled machine. I was fortunate enough to be able to plan 6 months in advance for most things, such as field trips, days off, & vacations with the family, which is such a blessing! Here is one of our last type of schedule from when my youngest was old enough to be able to handle the after school routines but still needed the school time routine set before her. Simple Daily Schedule I think this made all three children feel better to see it. And we had such a joyful time while homeschooling, that the kids will never forget it. If you’re a type A personality, getting into a routine and scheduling come naturally or is at minimum easier for you than the type B personality. So let’s give the type B woman some time here. There are several ways to organize with the type B mindset. A. Have a Type A come and help. She’ll do most of it for you and it will be done THAT DAY! (Okay, so it might not be done “that day” but it certainly will be leaps and bounds ahead of where it was.) B. Do as much as you can in 5, 10, or 15-minute increments. This helps you get revved up and keep going. If you truly don’t have the time, then it also serves as a means in giving you permission to stop. Let me get into some detail to help you visualize. I’m a “learned type A”. My father was a type A and therefore I learned by experiencing. My father physically taught me how. When my bedroom would get out of control, he’d come in and take everything that was out of place and put it in a pile in the center of the floor. He’d have me put away everything I could and then I was to get him. He’d come to my room, help me a little, and then leave me to work some more. By doing this I learned how to view the room the way it “should” be and then put the out of place things where they belong. If you can do that for each room of your home, one room at a time, you’ll gain instant gratification as well as have the ability to go through the out of place items one at a time. C. Multitask by visualizing your home as it is at the time you plan on cleaning and set out a path in your head: for example, I start in the kitchen collecting anything that does not belong. I stop in the laundry room along the way to put up a load, then put away the things I collected in the kitchen before returning back to the kitchen, etc. I start by putting all dirty dishes in the dishwasher and get that started. Then I clear off the counters, spray and wipe down everything I can before putting things where they belong. I put up a pot of coffee and go back to the laundry room to put the wash to the dryer. After this I’m ready to start my workday in the home office. There “can” be benefits to doing things this way. If you get on a roll like I do, it gets my heart rate up while accomplishing all the housework. By working on things this way each morning, you can move onto the next level of cleaning a little at a time, each day. For me, that meant more time on the weekends with the family. Of course there are the times when I turn into a type A and plan out my deep cleaning on a weekend. Then I gather all cleaning supplies for the area I’m starting on. I go from top to bottom in that one area before taking a break. However, the type B in me needs to visualize the time of day I’d like to be done so I’ll still have time to rest or go out. Many type B women do what we call, Piggybacking tasks so that they feel they are accomplishing more in less time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If the type B woman can train themself to do the visualization of the house and what needs to be done, they can map out their piggybacking of tasks and get the job done. What type are you? ©2007 Susie Glennan ---- BIO: Susie Glennan has been in direct sales for over 23 years, home schooled & ran a daycare for 8 years, is a teacher, technology trainer, Toastmaster, Speaker, and Author of numerous articles that have been published in magazines and across the web. She teaches personality based time management & other seminars on various topics. Her passion is teaching others to use their God given personalities to enhance their lives and relationships by effectively managing their time and staying true to the values in life that are most important. For more organizing articles & free downloads for homeschoolers, click here and scroll down to the homeschooling section. Susie has been happily married since 1982, has four children and 2 grandchildren. Her home is in the beautiful CA. She is also the President of The Busy Woman, Inc. - DBA: The Busy Woman's Daily Planner®. The company provides daily planners, purses, car & home organizers, Memory Books, and other organizing tools to help enhance the busy life of today’s family. The company contact info is: www.thebusywoman.com or 800-848-7715. Related Tags: homeschool mom, relationships, mom organizing,nurturing, help for mom, mother, mom

 Get Organized in 2007 with These Top 5 Organizing Tips

What is the one resolution that tops most lists every year? Yes, many wish for that extra weight loss and better health, but what most long for is more time with their family & friends. Time to enjoy life and connect with those they love the most. Quality time not spent doing or achieving, but loving and believing. What’s the best way to get this extra time? Simple, organizing your life, every aspect of it from your business to your home, to your car, to even the purse you carry. Spend less time searching and more time enjoying. This is especially true for homeschooling families.

If you're a busy woman you MUST stay organized and on top of every little detail in your day. You must learn to prioritize, take time to plan your day in advance, and schedule in free time. We based our entire Busy Woman line of products on enabling you to do just that. Now who of you here at homeschoolblogger.com are not busy? The general public has NO idea how busy yet productive the average homeschool family is.

Here are my top 5 organizing tips for 2007:

1) Find the Right Daily Planner – Look for one that is right for you and your busy schedule and use it religiously. Keep it with you! Everyone has different personalities and different tasks to accomplish so personalize it according to your needs. Always have your planner easily accessible. For example, keep it open on the passenger’s seat while driving and on a central counter or table at home.

2) Learn How To Use Your Planner for Best Results - There are many ways to schedule and plan in a daily planner. But because your brain functions in a rational order and focuses on the first appointment it sees, you should write things down in time order. Other planners have you schedule according to person, which makes you search for the first appointment of the day.

3) Schedule the Night Before - Block your time on your daily planner pages the night before. This will keep you from feeling hurried while writing out your schedule during the morning rush. Giving yourself the opportunity to plan your day in a focused, calm environment, without pressure will help you stay on target. Also, consider putting your planner on your nightstand in the evening. That way as things come to you during the night, you can easily write them down.

4) Schedule Travel Time - As homeschool moms, we have a lot to deal with. So if we don't learn to leave earlier than we need to, chances are someone is going to need to go to the bathroom "one more time" or one of the kids will have forgotten to grab something. And if you're a homeschool family with a lot of children, this could go on for 15 minutes. Schedule your trips and don’t forget to schedule the time needed to gather all the important items that must go with you. Jot down those items in your daily planner. Then remember to check your planner right before you leave.

5) Use the right tools – Look throughout your home and office and locate areas that need to be organized. With the right tools, you can easily organize your office, living room (no more looking for the remote), kid’s room, bathroom, car, etc. Look to The Busy Woman website to fulfill all your organizing needs.

This year, you can keep those resolutions. Stop by The Busy Woman website to find tips and articles, as well as a complete selection of daily planners and organizing tools. See how with the right tools, you can do it all.

©2007 Susie Glennan

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BIO: Susie Glennan has been in direct sales for over 23 years, home schooled & ran a daycare for 8 years, is a teacher, technology trainer, Toastmaster, Speaker, and Author of numerous articles that have been published in magazines and across the web. She teaches personality based time management & other seminars on various topics. Her passion is teaching others to use their God given personalities to enhance their lives and relationships by effectively managing their time and staying true to the values in life that are most important.

You can read about The Busy Woman, Inc. Personality Based Time Management by clicking on the link.

Susie has been happily married since 1982, has four children and 2 grandchildren. Her home is in the beautiful CA. She is also the President of The Busy Woman, Inc. - DBA: The Busy Woman's Daily Planner®. The company provides daily planners, purses, car & home organizers, Memory Books, and other organizing tools to help enhance the busy life of today’s family. The company contact info is: www.thebusywoman.com or 800-848-7715.

Related Tags: day planner, daily planner, time management, scheduling, organizing

Here we are! It's 2007 and as usual, there are a LOT of writings about New Years Resolutions and dieting. It's the same every year. The only difference is YOU. Every year many people are set on doing it right “this” year. New Years for most is like a "do over". But unless you have the determination and dedication, it's going to be the same this year as it was the last.

I get a LOT of sales this time of year by well meaning people trying to do it right. Starting fresh and new each year gives people hope. For the most part with our training, support group, articles and consulting, the ladies seem to get a handle on things and feel better. But part of our consulting talks about regrouping throughout the year, not just once a year.

Seasons change and so do we. That's why we constantly need to reassess our phase of life. Take a weekend off to rearrange and organize. I’ve become the purge queen because of the reassessing of my life. And it feels oh so sweet! During each season for example, we wear different clothes. In the winter we wear cold weather clothing and stay inside more often. This requires us to have our warm weather clothing readily available as opposed to summer clothes. While your changing out your clothing, why not try to get rid of some things you didn’t wear the previous season. Why pack it away when you’re not going to use it the next time?

During the summer, we wear lighter clothing and swim suits. Towels might get a workout depending upon what part of the country you're in. So there's probably more laundry, which means more time needed to put up the wash. Why not purge through the old towels? Put the ones from the house that you don’t want for the family into the garage to use for washing the car or cleaning outside, and any of the garage towels that are trashy into the trash.

Fall is back to school time and everyone goes shopping for neat, new school supplies and of course, new clothes. How about having a family clean out day to make room for all of the new items? After all, just how many old binders, tiny pencils, or half used notebooks of paper do you need sitting around?

Each of these phases or seasons is a time where we should regroup - reassess the needs of the family during that season. I remember when I was little, my parents would plan one day for us to swap out clothing, (not that we need to change much of what we wear in California). Dad would take me to the nursery to change out the seasonal plants too. It’s such a sweet memory.

So are things different for you this year? What are you going to do to change it? What are you going to do differently this year?

BIO: Susie Glennan has been in direct sales for over 23 years, home schooled & ran a daycare for 8 years, is a teacher, technology trainer, Toastmaster, Professional Speaker, and Author of numerous articles that have been published in magazines and across the web. She teaches personality based time management & other seminars on various topics. Her passion is teaching others to use their God given personalities to enhance their lives and relationships by effectively managing their time and staying true to the values in life that are most important.

Susie has been happily married since 1982, has four children and 2 grandchildren. Her home is in the beautiful town of Thousand Oaks, CA. She is also the President of The Busy Woman, Inc., and The Busy Woman's Daily Planner®. The company provides daily planners, purses, car & home organizers, Memory Books, and other organizing tools to help enhance the busy life of today’s family. You can contact her at: http://www.thebusywoman.com or 800-848-7715

To learn more about Personalities as they pertain to Personality Based Time Management, click on the hyperlink and order today!

Related Tags: Daily Planner, Day Planner, New Year Planning, Time Management, Organizing, Scheduling, Planning, Prioritizing, Work at home mom, WAHM, CWAHM, Christian Work At Hom Mom