I was talking to someone tonight and made a comparison that I haven't before, at least to my knowledge, but it's one I feel is true. In a nutshell it is this: As budgets are to freedom, so is a schedule to a homeschool family.

Before going on a budget a person feels certain it will be constraining; they are fearful, resentful even, but deep down they know that they ought to be on one to effectively manage their finances. It's just a fact, when records are kept and amounts are set, we know where the dollars are going more. Unless there is always plenty of money and we never have to think about it, having this information is a great stress reliever. Gone are the concerns in the store of, "Can I afford this? I wonder if my husband will be mad?" Life is simpler and more pleasant with limits. We see this with small children and it is true for adults as well.

Schedules are basically budgets for our time, and they work in just the same way. If we are discontent with school, I contend that it is very often linked to a lack of a schedule. Becoming an educated person takes consistency, diligence, and fortitude, and providing for that takes all of that plus good old grit and determination. As teachers, we have to be adults about the matter and do what needs doing whether we feel like it or not. We have to train those in our care to do the same. Without these skills, we will not enable our children to reach their fullest potential.

Slacking off as an adult, after we've received degrees, had careers, and accepted Christ is one thing, but it is an ENTIRELY different matter to children whose lives are being shaped by everything we say, do and subtly model. There are studies that show children who go to bed at an early, consistent time thrive academically, and it's my belief that schedules bring about the same result. Attitude, of the mother, is about 90% of the issue. Children can see when they can work us over, and if we've allowed them to develop habits that resent hard work or just give up when the going gets tough, we can be sure that it will not be easy to turn the direction of our schools if we decide to go from loose to structured. It's similar to a parent who doesn't spank their child but around age 3 realizes they should have been. The battles will be far greater for that poor mother than for her counterpart that began at the first sign of defiance. The same is true for making and keeping a schedule. It is not easy, but the rewards are great, and once you get one made up and stick to it the vast majority of the time, contentment will follow.

So, just what are some rewards of a routine?

1. The mother doesn't waste time fretting over what she 'should' have gotten to, day in and day out.
2. The children expect to do a certain amount of work each day, eliminating debate and discussion on that matter (which wastes time and drains a mother's energy).
3. More free time for the mother, by this I am referring to NOT having to constantly figure out what to do the next day
4. True free time for the child (time "off" isn't couched in a feeling or setting of "we really should be doing more work, but go ahead out and play", or playtime followed by dinner, followed by work that should have been done hours prior)
5. Spontaneous breaks, or changes in schedule for a day, are ok because the mother can immediately see what has been accomplished up until that point in time.
6. It eliminates a built in excuse, which isn't a valid one, for why the school year just didn't go as mom wanted, AGAIN.
7. It can save a family a lot of money. When a schedule is built around curriculum, the mom is more likely to follow through with her selection. The flip side is this-no schedule so the curriculum is more subjective. It often gets looked at as "sub par", so mom spends lots of time and money researching something better. The secret is, there is nothing perfect. There is usually always room for improvement, but is a mom's time being used as wisely as it can be if she is devoting hours of time evaluating rather than TEACHING? As Yvonne Bunn says, "Anything works if the  mother does." I believe this wholeheartedly.  
8. Helps mom get time with each of her children instead of just the oldest.

In closing, I think a lie that many homeschool mom's have bought into is that it's just going to be chaotic and that excellence can't happen. It can happen. It happens by not packing the day's too full, by not running out of the house too often, by focusing on teaching during school hours (no phone, no internet, no tv), and by taking the responsibility seriously. Sacrifice of "me" time is a total given when you are a homeschooling mother. We simply can't work a bunch of that in from 8-4 and expect to be effective. Children need our attention and direction, and eliminating distractions will help everyone perform better.

So, mom's, roll up your sleeves, get a good night's rest (talking to myself here!), and start fresh tomorrow! It's a new day, and we decide how it's going to be--not the kids!