Adjusting Our Schedule

Since our trip, I've been MUCH more motivated at home.  That has definitely included school time.  I've made a couple of minor adjustments to our daily schedule owing to this, and I'm really liking it!  I still spend the first half hour of our morning for my personal study, but then I've starting inviting the kids onto my bed for a family devotional before I get dressed.  We've always had a family devotional before bed time, and started school with a song and prayer, so this was a slight adjustment/ addition.  HOWEVER, it has added an increased element of peace to our days.  So now while we have our usual snuggle time, we also read from the scriptures, pray, learn the Articles of Faith, and sing.  I borrowed this idea (meaning doing it on my bed) from a friend.  (Thanks Shiloah!  Even though you had no idea I borrowed this...)  I'm finding that this time is much more meaningful than our other devotional times.  It helps me to do it in my room because then I haven't had the chance to become distracted or focused on everything else I need/ want to do that day.  The moment I leave my room is the moment my mind starts working on the day.  :)

 

Another minor adjustment we've made is to intentionally have math time every day.  I know that sounds strange, especially because most homeschoolers would naturally have math time every day, but it wasn't something I was feeling a need for yet.  It was interesting how it came about.  I was feeling like it was finally time to do it, but hadn't said anything to the kids about it.  Then Logan came to me and suggested it!  I'm still undecided about math curriculum because everything I've looked at hasn't fit our needs.  Right now I have a big problem spending money on a book that mostly covers the basic functions because I can easily teach those to my kids without spending a dime; I'm not going to neglect that part because it's what stands out in my mind as 'math'.  It's the 'other' stuff in those books that I want as a reminder of what to cover (i.e. telling time, measuring, geometry, etc.).  So the problem is that I'd only be buying a book for the 15% or 20% that covers the 'other' stuff at this point.  I'm sure I'll figure it out...

 

Anyway, the last adjustment we've made to our schedule is our family work time.  We still do a little bit before starting school in the morning as needed, but I've moved the other normal work time back a couple of hours.  We were doing between quiet time (AKA my sanity break) and dinner.  Now we're doing it right before quiet time.  As soon as school is finished, the kids straighten the whole house, I make sure the kitchen is totally clean, and I do any other little chores on my personal list.  This is helping with my motivation to put away laundry too.  :)  The kids are responding well to this, and are working harder than ever.  They've cut their chore time in half actually.  They've also been a lot more conscientious about cleaning up after themselves during the rest of the afternoon/ evening since we made this switch.  I'm liking it.  I haven't felt this on top of the housework in ages.  Perhaps it's the calm before the storm; I'm sure things will feel crazy for a while when the baby is born.  I think I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.  :)    

 

This picture is indirectly related to our family work and not at all related to the rest of this post.  Preparing meals is solely my responsibility (for now), but Logan has expressed a strong desire to help me with that ever since we found out I was pregnant. I guess he recognizes that is my least favorite chore and saw that it would be helpful.   I haven't often let him make us lunch because he makes such a mess it tends to be MORE work for me, but he really is sweet to want to do it and he feels so good when he's relieved me of that responsibility.