I've finally caved in.  We're trying a schedule.  After years of avoiding any such thing, I am now willing to try anything.  Distractions were taking over our school day and something had to change.  I ordered Managers of Their Homes and set about making my grid with tiny little squares and sticky-tac.  This was actually quite fun, although required a lot of thinking to get it all put together.

When I first mentioned to my oldest (dd10) that we were going to try a schedule, she cried.  Yep, cried.  This is the same child who always wants to know what we are doing next.  Go figure.  Then, the night before we were to begin the new schedule, I heard her talking to a sibling.  "I can't wait until tomorrow.  I'm so excited.  We start the new schedule."  Yes, the same child who cried.

I must say, we've done 3 days with the new schedule, and I am really liking it.  I only scheduled out the day from 9-3.  Plus, I wrote out a morning routine that must be done before 9.  But, when we get up is entirely up to us, as long as the morning routine is completed before 9.  I have two kids who sit in their rooms waiting for the clock to turn 7 so that they can come downstairs every morning.  One would sleep until 10 or so if allowed.  And one who gets up when she hears the two early birds.

It is nice to know what is coming next.  And, it is nice to know that if we stick to the plan, all of the important things will be covered.   I actually feel relieved having the schedule in place, which very much surprises me.   'Schedule' always sounded like a bad word to me.  lol!   Yet, it actually allows freedom.  Freedom from guilt because I know we're staying on track.  Freedom from stress because I can't seem to pull it all together.  Freedom from decision-making, because 'what comes next' has already been decided.

I'll let you know how it progresses.  I am commited to sticking with it. 

Posted by 1crazylady5kids

Congratulations on your new MOTH schedule. Shortly after the birth of my 4th child a dear fried (with 8) lent me her copy of MOTH and it was life changing for our family and homeschool. My biggest surprise was learning that I really couldn't do it all :0) I was trying to do way more activities than I had hours, and getting nothing done in the process.
That has been a number of years ago - and we still live by our schedule. We have 5 children now, and I review and revise our schedule about twice a year.
God Bless - Trish

Edited by 1crazylady5kids on Jan. 4, 2007 at 1:30 PM

Posted by misty316

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog sometimes I think I am the only one who reads it but there were a few tonight uhm. I wish I could get a schedule to work for me that well, I have somewhat of a schedule but I can get that feeling of guilt when it does not all get done.
Where do I get that skip and count that sounds good.