The July '02 Tailor Made topic of encouragement was called "Organization:  Home and School Tailoring Apprenticeship.  We all brought our favorite organizational ideas and concerns to the table.  Some brought books or other organizational tools that were no longer neede by their families to share with those who would find them beneficial.  We met at Melony's beautiful home.  Cheryl and Jerri helped cater and some people decided to get a carpool together for the scenic drive. 

We realized that we've all been adversely influenced by the "women's liberation" movement.  World War II had a lot to do with the way our grandmothers and mothers were raised before us.  This impacted the way we were raised.  "Rosie the Rivetor" didn't want to go back home from the warplant after the war was over.  It just didn't seem as exciting to cook and clean as it did to be a part of the war effort.  (How ironic?!?....aren't we actually as wives and mothers actually a very strong part of every day's individual "war effort"?) 

Well, the attitudes that many of us have learned from our mothers, grandmothers, and maybe even great-grandmothers have been to some extent poor, more or less.  That's where thinking about our relationships with our mothers can be helpful in pinpointing our own negative ideas of some of the things we need to do as far as organizing our homes and homeschooling responsibilities are concerned.  If we look at our mothers idea of the "job" of homekeeper, we might find that she though of it as a lowly task.  With several technological advances in the area of homekeeping, many may find it boring because of convenience.  After all, how many buttons do we push now?  No more washboards means lots of time on our hands. 

Or, we may have had a mother who didn't learn many homekeeping skills because of grandmother's poor health.  Polio may have been a factor or some other illness that kept Grandma from being able to do many things around the house.  This would mean that mother didn't learn many things to pass on to daughter and may not have even known that this could create frustration down the line.

Society gravitated toward the "be all you can be" and "you've come a long way baby" slogans.  Being at home all day cleaning and taking care of children became anything but glamourous.  Whole new generations were being raised to chime in with the "what about me?" syndrome as a sort of motto.

But, what about Titus 2:3-5?  "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that they word of God may not be dishonored."

As far as organizing the home for homeschooling is concerned, we can learn to teach and appreciate this time by utilizing the "12 Brain Triggers".  These can be found by visiting the CrossOver website at http://crossover.ellison.net.  The article is called "Twelve Optimum Ways to Trigger the Brain".  It is amazing how little brain organizers can help smooth things out and save us so much time. 

"School" can become learning at home when we implement a little bit of homemaking skills into our children's days.  While teaching them to keep their things organized and to help keep the home in order, much of the "burden" is taken off of Mom which will ease some of struggle to stay on top of things. 

Proverbs 15:13,15-

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken...All the days of the afflicted are bad, But a cheerful heart has a continual feast." 

If we keep a cheerful attitude about this, our mission field, we will be more motivated to stay organized in our homes, in our learning, and even in our help with other responsibilities. 

There are many benefits to learning homemaking skills.  We can become very inventive, skilled, and creative.  We can develop a better "self image".  Having an orderly home will encourage our husbands and children to be happier because they will be able to learn and rest better in an organized home.  Satisfaction will come from increasing our knowledge and ability in this area.  We can also enjoy the opportunity to show hospitality to others as we'll welcome the chance to entertain others in our homes whether it is planned or on a whim.

Proverbs 16:3-

"Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established."

We decided to make up our minds as to whether we are willing to plan our work and work our plans.  That takes courage and determination!

Some hints from the group:

Keep a note pad with tear out sheets.  Jot down needed items and plan the route for errands.

Keep a calendar for appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, field trips, workshops, meetings, etc.

Plan menus to keep the grocery budget organized and eat fruits and vegetables in season to keep the cost down and stay healthy.

For lesson planning, use a journal or your calendar to make a "skeleton" of the week.  Flesh it out daily/weekly/monthly to check the accomplishment of goals.

In states that require grades and attendance, note them on the calendar right by the assignment with the child's initials.

Hopefully, these ideas will motivate all of us to begin to make our homes a more comfortable place in which to live and learn.