Homeschooling can seem like a daunting journey, especially for those who are new to the concept. We are unsure of where to start, overwhelmed by the notion of taking on our children’s education, and feel as if we are not enough. May we offer encouragement for families unsure of the adventure called homeschooling.
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Our day starts pretty early. From the minute I get out of the shower, till the minute my kids’ heads hit their pillows, I am on my toes. There are days I feel like I’m rushing from one activity to the next, constantly feeding hungry mouths, cleaning up endless messes, and running a myriad of errands. If I’m not careful, I can easily run myself into the ground. Taking personal time is not only recommended, it’s a must.
One of the arguments often heard against homeschooling is the lack of personal time afforded parents. With kids in public or private school during the day, parents have the ability to get more done in a limited amount of time. There are fewer distractions, you are able to move swiftly without little bodies surrounding you, and you can breathe for more than five minutes without hearing your name bellowed through the house. Let’s face it, having a few minutes of free time each day is a genuine concern.
With a little thought and a smidgen of planning, finding free time is not only obtainable, but completely within reach!
Pray About Your Time – May all things start in prayer. We need to ask the Lord to show us how our time ought to be structured and allow Him to show us ways in which we could be using our time more wisely, making space for much-needed down time.
Restructure Your Thinking – During our prayer and devotion time, we need to ask the Lord to help us focus on the greater good. We might like having several hours to ourselves each day, but the Lord knows best. We should ask the Lord to help us focus on what’s most important, removing any selfishness on our part.
Focus on Your Goals – While we all need moments of downtime, what are our overall goals? When we focus on the end goal, the day-to-day struggles become less important.
Find Practical Ways to Have ‘Me’ Time –
- Wake up a little earlier.
- Stay up a little later.
- Schedule in downtime. (Who days quiet time can’t be planned into each day?)
- Teach the kids to play/work independently.
- Schedule playdates with a friend. (One day we get free time, the next day they do. Each of us get a little time to yourselves, and our kids get to have fun.)
Still Too Busy? Consider Reorganizing Your Day – Hard as it might be, if we just can’t seem to find time to enjoy a quiet cup of tea, much less enjoy an hour of free time, it might be time to start looking at our weekly routine. Everyone’s life goes through busy seasons, but constant busyness might be a sign that we’re overdoing it. It all goes back to praying about how we use our time and allowing the Lord to lead our days.
Let’s face it, even machines need a break now and again. Being a homeschool parent does not mean we have to work from the minute we get up ’til the minute we go to bed. If having a little time to yourself is desired, start by praying about your concerns and then moving toward organizing your day with free time in mind.
May I leave you with this thought: We only have our children for a very short time, too short a time. Take a few moments each day to allow the Lord to fill you, refreshing your heart and spirit. But, remember, you’ll have plenty of free time when your kiddos are adults. You can always catch up on your reading then.
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.”
Psalm 62:1
Time to Chime In: Homeschooling parents, how do you find time to relax amidst all of life’s challenges and learning fun?
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I am a big believer in daily quiet time! Right after lunch, for about an hour, we all scatter to a different corner of the house while the baby naps. Our 3 girls share a bedroom so we rotate with one in the bedroom, one in the spare bedroom, and one in the TV room. Mommy usually hits her pillow for a bit of reading and a power nap. Has made all the difference in the world to help me get through the day and help the kids get along better when they have had a bit of alone time too!
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Wonderful!
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We have 2 other HSing friends so we set up a little co-op where we rotate homes so every mom has one day a week off to do something for ourselves. Works perfect because it’s just enough amount of time & it’s something scheduled do we can depend on it. And our girls love that day of play with friends!
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That sounds like a great plan!
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I tried staying up late, but all I ever did was watch TV because I was just too tired to do what I wanted to do- knit, read, draw, write.
Now, I go to bed by 9:30 so I can get up at 5am. My kids aren’t allowed to come out of their bedroom until 7am. Sometimes they sleep late, sometimes they wake up early and grab a book to look at. The youngest is finally sleeping through the night, but he is almost two and so doesn’t understand the whole time concept thing. Luckily, he likes playing with his older siblings.
Anyway, I love how quiet the house is in the morning.
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oops! wasn’t quite finished.
I recently started giving myself little manicures on Saturday nights. It is always nice to feel polished even if I didn’t have time to put on any mascara in the morning before school. 😉
My husband takes a work break at 5:30 until the kids go to bed, and during that time I get to cook dinner and eat with them all- something I really enjoy most nights.
Best wishes to other homeschool guardians out there!
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Getting up early can be hard, but so worth it! There’s nothing quite like a quiet, cool, calm house at the start of a day.
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I love this. Wonderful advice to hear as a novice homeschooling & day care-running mama!
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We’re so pleased you stopped in and enjoyed our post!
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its easier as they get older to find that time. we have moms nights out in our group and make sure you date your husband, even if it is sitting at starbucks over $10 worth of coffee or tea or water and a cake for one hour. Or in your backyard with a glass of wine or a beer for 30 minutes. It is hard and we all get lost in the trenches.
great post!
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You bring up a good point! We most certainly need to be making a point of spending quality time together as couples. Great advice!
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Daily rest time is a must in our little homeschool. Afternoons are quiet with three napping, two reading and mommy’s “me-time” so we have a midday reset. Great post and for those of us who get bogged down by our to-do list it’s a good reminder. Thanks for posting!
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Thanks for stopping in and sharing your thoughts.
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Reblogged this on Blog is where the Home is and commented:
Always nice to be reminded of the importance of taking time for ourselves. Too often we caught up in the mundane tasks of everyday life…
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Thanks for sharing!
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