Finding Contentment

A home schedule

Yes, I am a stay at home mother. To my friends and extended family, this should mean that I have plenty of extra time during the day to keep the house spotless, take the kids places, etc.

So why is that since I quit my job last June to stay at home, it seems that I am busier than ever? I never seem to get the things done I feel that I should be getting done. Recently, there was talk on a Yahoo group that I am a part of about home schedules. We don't have a schedule at home, and God has led me to believe that is one of my problems. But what kind of system should I use? Some people suggested Sidetracked Home Executives, which I actually used about 12 years ago when I took a year off work after my first child was born. But I only had one child then, and I certainly wasn't homeschooling. I felt I may need something a little different this time.

Someone else had suggested Managers of Their Homes, which is geared toward homeschooling families. Others said they had used it and hated it. One gracious lady offered me her old book that she no longer used - I just sent her the money for shipping it.

When it arrived in mailbox I was intrigued. "Managers of Their Homes:  A Practical Guide to Daily Scheduling for Christian Home-School Families" explained the hows and whys of scheduling not just myself but all the kids, also.

I took about a week to read the entire book, make a schedule for everyone and have my husband read and approve it. We had our first day on the schedule Monday, and everything went well. The book warns that much of the first couple of weeks will be spent training the children on the schedule. It also said not to get discouraged because most people didn't actually go 100 percent by the schedules.

All in all, I was very satisfied with our first day. I woke up a little late, so we didn't really jump into the schedule until late morning. But once we got with it everything went great. The kids spent a lot less time with the computer and video games and more time outside and reading. I got two batches of laundry soap made (one for us and one for a friend), cleaned the house and caught up on the laundry. The kids had scheduled outside time in the afternoon, which they are required to take since they don't really get P.E. at home. After they had played a while, I fixed a picnic basket up with snacks and bottles of water. They were thrilled to take a basket outside and spread a blanket next to the chicken coop. Sorry this picture isn't great, but I was trying to take it from up at the house so I wouldn't disturb them.

Once again, our morning schedule was off today. In part because the power apparently went out very early this morning and my alarm never went off, and partly because one of my brothers showed up to visit. But a schedule isn't any good if it can't be flexible, right? I hope we can stick with this because I am so much more productive on a schedule. We'll see how it goes.

Hello!

12:32 AM, Wednesday, May 16, 2007 .. Posted by rellamom

Schedules are for the birds.

GO WITH ROUTINE. :-P

So often things come up like what you've experienced. Power going out, sick children, unexpected company, etc...

So long as you have a routine of things to do... this first, that next, etc... You'll be FINE. :-)

I used to get sooo frustrated trying to keep up with a time-based schedule. It never succeeded... or stuck.

I know you said you didn't think the picture was good that you posted... but I thought it was fun! Thanks for sharing!

(Trying not to be envious over your coop/chickens!)

Love,
Carrie