How do I get everything done? Balancing homeschooling, family and housekeeping is not an easy job. It's taken me 13 years to get to where I am now. In the process, I have tried many types of schedules, read many different scheduling books and heard several seminars on time management and scheduling. I've come to the conclusion that there is not one schedule out there that is perfect for my family and I must come up with my own.
I bet you were hoping that I would give you the secret to a happy, well-balanced schedule, but alas, I can't. I have found parts of something and used it sucessfully in our home. I'll give you some ideas on how to make your family's schedule.
Back around 1996, I purchased the book Managers of Their Homes (MOTH) by Terri Maxwell. During the summer I remember devouring this book and happily making my schedule just like the book suggested. But when school started, I failed misserably. At that time I had an 8 year old, 3 year old a 1 year old. It was a hard time in my life and this type of schedule didn't work at all for me. One reason was because each day seemed to be different. It just wasn't the right time for me to have a schedule. I found that while I had babies, schedules didn't work.
Now I have to stay that I have taken what I liked about MOTH and intigrated into my schedule. My youngest is 6. My children like the block method of scheduling and we loosely use this. To find out more about the book I'm talking about, visit http://www.titus2.com/ I have just learned over the years, not the let the schedule control me. I'm a perfectionist and I would let it rule my life. If I didn't follow the schedule exactly, the day was ruined. Okay, I've mellowed immensly over the years.
For chores, I have used Choreorganizer successfully with my children. This method has cards with pictures and words so that the young children will know what they need to do. If they complete the chore, they received a mom or dad dollar. The dollars can be used however the parent decides. We have moved away from using cards and now have a basic morning routine for each child (get dressed, make bed, clean up room, brush teeth). Then in the afternoon, I have a chore for each one to complete and I rotate it. I have a certain area to clean each day and spend 15 minutes on each area. I have tried to do Flylady.com off and on throughout the years, only never to live up to my expectations. I now just take what I want from that program. I like the 15 minute chore and shining your sink before bed.
My house is definately more organized and neater than it was when I had so many little ones. I just have decided you just can't homeschool your children, take care of babies and feed them and also keep an immaculate house! If you are trying to do this, just stop! You will save yourself from feeling like a failure or maybe letting the idea of putting your kids in school cross your mind.
In conclusion, I alway think of that poem that I read years ago that helps me keep this in prespetive:
Babies Don't Keep
For children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!
