I was asked last week to come up with a list of article titles on self-directed learning.  Well, I said it would be very short.  Last week, it was.....this is what it looked like then.

Let go.  Let God!

Simple is as simple does.

Reading.....once they can, require them to do it.

Math........just the facts, Ma'am.

Writing......daily, need I say more?

Conversation:  Talking, listening, listening, talking, the perfect testing environment.

Chores.   Mastery then responsibility.

Time management VS. Teacher maintenance.

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The answering machine is on "do not disturb."  This may seem extreme to some, but it's a home management tool for me at this point in life. 

Our days are simple, when we don't let everyone else's schedules dictate our routine.  Harsh?  Not really.  They all have their own schedules, agendas, and plans.  I understand the need to figure out ways to accomplish more than humanly possible.  But, I have to do that for my family, not everyone else's at this point.  So, to avoid my notorious inability to say "NO," I have set up a daily "prevention."  This controls me and controls the outcome of our days. 

It's nice to know that I can actually use an answering machine as my own personal secretary.  Heh!  She screens my calls for me and takes a message.  I can call back when I have time later in the day, or the next. 

This way, we get the necessary done before the non-emergencies of life.  We put the necessary on hold for quite enough time over the years.  It's back to the pleasant days of peaceful learning at home.  No need to change the schedule, just manage the distractions.

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If I don't get my eating habits back under control, I will be dealing with Type 2 Diabetes.  I considered joining Weight Watchers as my sister-in-law has done excellent on it and is keeping her weight off over a year after joining.  But, the cost and distance are prohibitive at this point.  We could squeeze to do it, but it's a matter of self-control.  I need to do this because it's the right thing to do, not because I have to weigh in front of others.  I have to weigh in front of God (even if I don't weigh). 

I do well when I have set things that I can eat.  Controlling options is very liberating for me.  It works with school, it works for the toy/game situation in our house, and it works for my eating plan.  So, I bought some of the South Beach Diet frozen dinners.  I need to mostly stay away from carbs to keep yeast at bay anyway, so this is the one I chose.  I won't do this very often as my plan includes recycling the little dishes that they come in to make my own dinners from the food that I cook for my family.  The choice of meal doesn't matter.  It's whatever's in the next box.  No decision necessary.  The portion is controlled.  Grab the box, heat it up, I'm good to go.

Breakfast has an A/B rotating plan.  Every other day it will be different.  A:  oatmeal, small banana, glass of milk.  B:  2 scrambled eggs, grilled onions, cheese, grapes.  I like these two breakfasts.  They are quick, they give me the energy I need to get through the morning, and I don't have to think about it.

Snacks in the evening are suggested on the Type 2 Diabetes chart.  1 starch, 1 milk.  That means popcorn and milk, or granola and milk.  Simple.  I can rotate this every other day, or stick to one, then the other for a while.

Exercise:  Early morning pilates stretches are a must to get my back in shape again.  Morning walk with the stroller and the kids on bikes.  Afternoon rebounding when our study time is finished.  Evening walk to the pond and back with Daddy. 

I have 35-40 pounds to lose to get to my target BMI weight.  When I stuck to the Type 2 plan after our fourth child turned 2, I lost the 30 pounds that I needed to get to that weight.  I will do this!

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