I have a very special treat for you today! My friend Edee has graciously agreed to be a guest blogger here today and share some wise words about scheduling. She is the mother of 10 beautiful children and one of the wisest women I know. I hope you will be blessed by her words of advice for mothers.First, I think the best thing you can do is to ask your husband what he would like for you to do as far as a schedule. What does he want you to accomplish each day? Then, just do what he thinks, even if it's not exactly what you had in mind. I've learned this the hard way. My ideas are usually high and lofty. My to-do list for one day usually takes at least an entire week to accomplish, and I get disappointed and irritated when I don't get it done that day! Shane, who isn't usually dealing with changing hormones, sleepless nights nursing a baby, and all the wonderful things that come during that postpartum time of life, usually has a much better grasp on what I can realistically accomplish.
Next, when we have been on a schedule, it's a very basic, flexible one. It's more of an "order of events" rather than an actual schedule with time slots. Here's what our "normal school day schedule" looks like:
BIBLE TIME WITH DADDY (the whole family): ideally 7:30 but fluctuates depending on sleepless nights, Shane's work schedule, etc.
If Daddy can't do this, we have individual quiet time with the Lord. This may look as simple as reading a simple Bible story with little ones then reciting a verse and singing a song.
BREAKFAST
MORNING CHORES (make beds, get dressed, tidy a little bit)
MORNING WORKBOOK TIME
LUNCH (hopefully around 1:00)
NAPS AND OLDER ONES' WORKBOOK TIME (hopefully 2-4:00 but at least by 3:30 - 5:30) (my youngsters nap until they're 5 or 6, depending on the needs of the child and the mama!)
PLAYTIME/OUTSIDE WORK/MOMMIES' TIME TO PAY BILLS, ETC.
JURISDICTIONS JUST BEFORE SUPPER (each room gets a quick tidy, laundry gets put away, etc.) This is a wonderful way to enter a more relaxing evening with Daddy! We almost always have music playing and often a candle lit when Daddy gets home. We want him to step into our home and consider it a wonderful, aromatic, comfortable, and peaceful haven from the world.
SUPPER
BATHS
READING/FAMILY TIME
BEDTIME - younger ones ideally by 9:30, older ones by 10:00, daddy and mama by 11:00
I hesitate to even put times since they do change so often. However, this "order of events" is almost always the same, unless we have company or needs like a film deadline or farm/garden needs that change it (which is fairly often). Our little ones are very used to the schedule and know what to expect. I still think flexibility is the key - for the purpose of peace, not for idleness or laziness (by the way, taking a nap with little ones instead of doing grammar workbooks is not idle nor lazy!).
When all your children are little, it is so hard to stick with a stringent schedule. We were watching a home video last night, and I was reminded once again of how quickly time flies. My children don't remember or even care what our "schedule" was when they were little, but they do remember the times we played outside together, played play dough, took a walk, or took a surprise picnic to the park. I'm not advocating never doing laundry or cleaning, etc. These things must be done, and we mustn't feel guilty about it. Bring them along beside you to do daily tasks together, and make it fun.
Now that we have so many older children in our family, I'm amazed at the amount of things we can get done in one day, with only a reasonable amount of effort per person. I think that training them to do small tasks cheerfully and well really pays off. Let them do as much as they can to help.
All that said, we do have particular areas that are "scheduled" or at least planned. They are as follows:
We do use charts.
*I have a "table setting chore" chart (napkins, utensils, make drinks, dish out plates, serve the condiments, "Dabney and Delight duty" which means change their diaper, wash their hands, buckle them in their seats), etc.)
*a chore chart with daily chores as well as Friday cleaning chores (we clean the whole house every Friday with only tidying/light cleaning on other days). Each room of the house is a jurisdiction for one person to keep presentable. This chart also includes each person's kitchen clean-up chore and/or farm chore. We change this schedule every Monday so that everyone gets experience with different chores, plus it breaks the monotony.
*Also, I have a bath schedule (during winter time, little ones only get 2 baths per week unless they get unusually dirty). The older ones and myself take turns giving baths, and it usually goes something like this: "Is it my turn to give babies baths tonight? OH Good! I was hoping I'd get to do that tonight!"
*Also, we have a supper schedule - each of the four older girls and myself are assigned different nights of the week to choose the menu and cook supper for everyone. Right now, I only cook supper on Friday and Saturday nights! (reaping the benefits of letting them get in there and cook with me when they were little).
We used to have a laundry schedule, with all the older ones taking turns each day to do laundry. Recently, we've assigned the monumental, perpetual task of sorting, washing, hanging, drying, folding, and putting away laundry, to one older girl for an entire week. She gets one younger helper to assist her. Can you believe that this happens to be their favorite chore??
Okay, I hope this helps somewhat. Remember, having older children makes a huge difference. Breathe deep, meditate on the Word, pray without ceasing, smile and laugh most of the day, and enjoy those little ones God has entrusted to you. What a wonderful stage of life you're in!!!
I just LOVE that last paragraph! Thank you so much, Edee, for sharing with us!! Edee and her family have also made a wonderful film called Children are a Blessing
, which I have shared here before. I highly recommend it! I hope you will visit their website at moorefamilyfilms.blogspot.com
I know it seems a little early for this post, but we are going to have such a busy summer with my husband getting home for good and a big move that I needed to do all my planning and buying early. Here are our plans for next school year:
