Mar. 22, 2006 - New Week and New Beginnings
Home Management

 This weekend I was able to do some more reading in my Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit.  I am now on Chapter 4 which is the chapter on Organization (of time and home).  This has always been an area of strength for me but the last 6 months I have let my life (and therefore my family's life) just spin into complete chaos.  We are now moving on from this tragic time in our lives and it is time for mom and children to get their acts together!

     Sunday night I stayed up late (remember the ongoing insomnia) and created hard copy morning and bedtime routines for the kids.  The little ones had pictures so that they could easily identify what they needed to do.  FOr the older ones I created a "Home Helper Notebook" and inside this I put their morning and bedtime routines, basic weekly schedule, chore assignments, upstairs cleaning routine, and cleaning routines for their bedrooms. The kids all loved their routines and had a very successful day using them.

     Monday night I worked on our MOTH 

schedule.  Since I had our old schedule that worked really well I didn't have to start from scratch.  Instead I was able to update it to meet our current needs and adjust the little one's schedules.  I actually keep my moth schedule in excel and use a different color for each person.  The initial copies that I am making are all black and white.  I will work with these schedules for a couple of weeks, continue to pray about our days and modify as needed. I have a copy of the schedule posted next to my computer, in the kitchen, in the school room, I have a copy in my Home Management Notebook and the older two have a copy in their Home Helper Notebooks. 

     In the schedule I made sure I allotted plenty of time for school, chores and structured time with siblings.  We had gotten really lax with the kids and chores.  They are at an age now where they need more than just one or two chores.  They need to learn and understand that they are productive citizens of our household and as such they have certain responsibilities to make sure our home is running at its best.  Since we are having with such horrific trouble with sibling problems I made sure to put plenty of opportunities in the day for the kids to have positive interactions with each other.  Needless to say one of the most important areas we are working on in our home is character (parents included! YIKES!)

     Needless this new schedule didn't go over so well with the older two.  They complained about not having enough free time to go play with friends.  I explained that their free time with friends was limited because it was hard for me to send them off with other children since they treated their own siblings so horribly.  After all, how was I to know they wouldn't treat someone else's' children the same way!  It was hard for them to argue with that.  Over all they did really well adapting to the new schedule today.  We even had to abandon the schedule to go clean horse stalls (Princess C's (8) very occasional job).  But that really wasn't a problem, when we got back home we picked up where we needed to and just moved on. 

     The kids did a great job of doing their chores without complaining.  They cleaned out and straightened their sock and undy/panty  drawers, They put away their laundry.  Prince T (10) moved a couple of drawers around in the kitchen and made sure everything was neat and organized in their new homes.  Princess C cleaned out the cup lids and through away the cracked lids and she also cleaned up the breakfast cabinet.  They were very pleased with their results and so was mom!

     I am sure that over the next two weeks I will tweak some things, but overall I think we are off to a wonderful start on the schedule.  IF you are interested in copies of anything thing I have done I would be happy to share.  Just shoot me an email. 

Until we meet again...

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Mar. 22, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by CreativeHomeschooling

I like that...having the kids get involved in organizing (not just daily upkeep)!! I know what my dc will be doing in the next few days! Thanks for the tip!

Jennie von Eggers
www.TimesTales.com
www.CreativeHomeschooling.com

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Mar. 22, 2006 - Kids organizing!

Posted by Littlebitofeverythingmama

Okay, b, I need help in this department! Where did you get the ideas for the kids to have their own home helper notebooks? Where did you get the organization ideas that you knew they could handle? Did you have to walk them through what to do? Or did you just pick things that you knew they could do on their own?

I MUST know! Daily upkeep is one thing, but I always feel like the job of organizing is mine. I have them help me with some things - like handing me this or that - putting this away or that, etc. But mostly it is my own job. I want them to know how to organize their own homes when they have them.

Princess P is the worst! Her room is horrible - ALL THE TIME!! So, that is the job for tomorrow. We have gotten rid of just about everything we know to get rid of. Prince P will be bringing in a bookshelf from the barn to put in her room to help with knick knacks and books. Then we will go from there.

I also like teambettendorf's idea on just doing dresses - instead of skirts and tops - this makes sense - no matching required!! LOL I think Princess P is going to pick out a pattern or two and we are going to making up a slew of dresses and pantaloons for the summer. She prefers bloomers, and that is fine with me, too.

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Mar. 23, 2006 - Got "Spring Fever"?

Posted by DandelionSeeds

Please spread the word...




In Him,
Amy

(Thanks for joining us!)

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