The house is filled to overflowing with the blessing of children. How thankful we homeschoolers are. And... how overwhelmed we can become, as well!

There is the issue of when it is best to conduct "school" times. And, do we teach everyone at once? Or sequentially, over the course of a morning or afternoon? What if we are having trouble "keeping on top" of our chosen curriculum? And those babies and toddlers! What shall we do with their needs, activity and noise?

We women also realize that once the schooling responsibilities are out of the way for the day... we're still left with quite a chunk of home keeping to tend to.

Where do we start!? What can we do?! There simply isn't enough hours in the day, as the old saying goes.

Most wives and mothers can manage a small household relatively well, even without a routine or "set" schedule. Up until the time we had our fifth child, for example, it was not difficult for me to arrange my days without any "lists" to suit our particular housekeeping and homeschooling needs.

But, as our family has grown, this has changed.

My mother was (and still is) a very organized person. She has an immaculate house, and orders things easily with well-kept lists and calendars. But, unfortunately, I took after my father's side. Organization is not something that comes easily to me.

I've had to learn to create a "household binder" for all of the information so often needed in my home. And, I found a need to sit down and plan out a weekly schedule/routine to follow so that things would be sure to get done. I also plan my weekly meals, in advance, and we shop for groceries accordingly.

My only continuing struggle has been in the area of homeschooling. It's ever-changing!

We presently have two small toddlers, two preschoolers and one "kindergarten student". In addition, we are still teaching our three older children, ages 16, 14 and 10 1/2.  This poses some challenges, indeed!  Particularly since my husband works second shift, rendering the mornings "unavailable" for schooling.

What a blessing it is to have the insight and aid of other, more experienced, homeschooling wives and mothers. I've found such an immense amount of encouragement, advice and solutions to our difficulties in the following recommended resources:

• "Parenting From The Heart" - Marilyn Boyer. This book was written by the mother of 14 children, all of whom she and her husband have homeschooled. They began home educating in the 1980s when it wasn't acceptable, and have even been through the legal system because of it. This book was a wealth of aid to me, as a mother struggling to "make time" for everything. It has helped me, immensely. Please find a copy to read, and include in your own home library.
• "Getting It All Done" - Marilyn Boyer. Your choice of cassette or book. Very inexpesive, and filled to the brim with suggestions that work.
• "A Mom Just Like You" -  Vickie Farris. This excellent book was written by a mother of ten. She, too, homeschools and has gone through various "seasons" in her teaching needs. She offers much practical help and advice in every area that pertains to keeping a godly home.
• "The Organized Homeschooler" - Vicki Caruana. A lot of helpful advice on organizing storage space, chores, school supplies, etc...
• "A Survivor's Guide To Homeschooling" - White. Much help on coping with juggling both house and the children's education.

All of these books I've gratefully included in my personal "library". They are a constant source of advice and encouragement. I cannot recommend them enough.

Helpful websites on this topic, that have proved very readable in short snatches (which is all we busy women have) are:

• The Learning Parent  http://www.thelearningparent.com/ (the Boyer's personally-owned-and-run resource for homeschooling mothers/parents. EXCELLENT)
• OCEANetwork http://www.oceanetwork.org/highres.cfm (many, many seminars for parents - and even us mothers, specifically - on the topics of home education, organizing our time, juggling many grade levels and much more. VERY reasonable!)
• Toddler's At Home, Too http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/toddlers.htm (keeping the little ones happily occupied... and more!)

This will get you started!

Moms, there is hope! You can teach your children, successfully - all of them!!! (and still have a clean, organized home!).

Lean on the Lord for grace in the rough moments. He promises to give you strength where you need it. Pray, spend time in the Word.  

Sometimes... He speaks through other women with more experience than ourselves. Learn from them! They are your Titus 2 mentors!

God bless you and keep you!

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Shared by Kitty

I have one at home with me and sometimes feel overwhelmed, I can only imagine how you'll feel lol
Take care and thanks for always posting some very informative messages.
Kitty

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Shared by homesteadinthemaking

Vickie Farris's A Mom Just Like You was one of the first books I read when we began homeschooling. It's a great one. I will have to try out these other one's as well. Thank you.
Blessings,
Trixi

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Shared by mulberrylane

<<"The Organized Homeschooler" - Vicki Caruana. A lot of helpful advice on organizing storage space, chores, school supplies, >>

I borrowed this from the library and I agree that it is a wonderful resource! Wish I had a copy, but no funds and no room for more books... so I reluctantly gave it back to the library! LOL

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Shared by 7frenchs

Something that could be helpful for you, is to have a set naptime for most of younger children in the afternoon and school the older ones. Also, I believe there should not be to much pressure for all those little ones to do much school until they are either anxious to do it or between 7 and 9 years old. I do school with all mine at once right now, but I don\'t have anymore babies/toddlers. My youngest is almost 5 and she does a little school, but when she is ready to stop, she is allowed to (for now).



Small children learn sooo much just by their curiousity, our contuous time with them as stay at home moms, and sooo much from their older brothers and sisters.



I have discovered a really great way to keep them consentrating in the same room. I made a cardboard divider with 4 \"cubicles\". Each cubicle has a different material hot glued to it, according to the child\'s personality. Directly in front of each child is a picture of that child with mom and dad. My husband and I both wrote an encouraging note around the picture for them to see every day as they learn. This divider can be removed from the table and set against the wall. It has made such a difference in their ability to consentrate. I also input \"class rules\", such as \"no talking, raise hands for a question, wait patiently for mom to answer and so forth\". Though this does sound schoolish, I think it does help with my sanity.



Schooling has been slow for me. For a long time it was difficult with so many small children to do school. What I realize now is that I should have enjoyed my time with them and not been so stressed about doing so much schooling.



Anyway, just be encouraged that there is someone else who understands...



Shalom (peace) to you and yours,



Alicia

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