So many times, I think moms and homeschool moms especially, want everyone to think that life is perfect at their house! Well, it's not!! I wrote this to another mom in our coop this afternoon after she asked for prayer and advice on her children's dawdling and her own nagging! A common occurrence in any home, especially mine! Charlotte Mason has some great suggestions for these issues......www.simplycharlottemason.com
" Let's just say, I feel your pain! I think it's important to realize that we ALL have these struggles. As adults, we struggle more, perhaps, because these bad habits are so hard to break for ourselves. I too, struggle to get up early and get a good start! The past two weeks are a bad example because I have been sick and really need the rest, so we haven't gotten up, however, my husband has been such a blessing this year (because he know I struggle with mornings and need his assistance for the rest of the day to go smoothly) and has helped get everyone up bright and early! On a good morning he has them dressed, teeth brushed, and at the table with breakfast by the time I get out of the shower and get my wits about me! He knows I need this alone time in the morning to compose myself! Then we all sit down to breakfast and morning devotion! It's really been an incredible blessing to our family to have this time all together first thing in the morning. Although he'd like to be gone by 7:30, most mornings it's more like 8. I think he has really enjoyed this extra family time and he can see how much happier Mommy is to have this boost of help first thing in the morning! We wave goodbye on the porch, run our laps around the driveway, come in and finish "morning routine" including morning chore.
I was also having a great deal of trouble with kids completing chores in a timely manner without complaining. A few months ago I had my older ones "apply" for jobs in the house. They actually had interviews. This way they are doing things they enjoy, and are good at. So they each have the same daily chore they do every morning- Delaney dishes, Reilly laundry. This has helped tremendously!!! And of course I have my own "chores" that I do, because we have to lead by example, and make a point to tell that that you also have a daily chore! This has taken away so much of the whining and dawdling because they now exactly what is expected of them every morning without having to look at a chart (I did this last year!) And anyone that knows me, knows I love charts and checklists, but it wasn't working! Of course there are those dreaded jobs, no one wants to do but they have to be done- I sweep because I can't stand the crumbs on the floor and the children hate to sweep. We also have afternoon chores that we do at 4pm so that the house is tidy when Daddy gets home. This is on a rotating daily schedule and we have done it long enough (forming those habits) that they know what chore to do on what day! It has taken a LONG time to get to this point, but by being consistent and patient we are getting through it and forming those great habits!! It's actually nice to look back and see how far we've come."
More to come on this subject of imperfections later......
" Let's just say, I feel your pain! I think it's important to realize that we ALL have these struggles. As adults, we struggle more, perhaps, because these bad habits are so hard to break for ourselves. I too, struggle to get up early and get a good start! The past two weeks are a bad example because I have been sick and really need the rest, so we haven't gotten up, however, my husband has been such a blessing this year (because he know I struggle with mornings and need his assistance for the rest of the day to go smoothly) and has helped get everyone up bright and early! On a good morning he has them dressed, teeth brushed, and at the table with breakfast by the time I get out of the shower and get my wits about me! He knows I need this alone time in the morning to compose myself! Then we all sit down to breakfast and morning devotion! It's really been an incredible blessing to our family to have this time all together first thing in the morning. Although he'd like to be gone by 7:30, most mornings it's more like 8. I think he has really enjoyed this extra family time and he can see how much happier Mommy is to have this boost of help first thing in the morning! We wave goodbye on the porch, run our laps around the driveway, come in and finish "morning routine" including morning chore.
I was also having a great deal of trouble with kids completing chores in a timely manner without complaining. A few months ago I had my older ones "apply" for jobs in the house. They actually had interviews. This way they are doing things they enjoy, and are good at. So they each have the same daily chore they do every morning- Delaney dishes, Reilly laundry. This has helped tremendously!!! And of course I have my own "chores" that I do, because we have to lead by example, and make a point to tell that that you also have a daily chore! This has taken away so much of the whining and dawdling because they now exactly what is expected of them every morning without having to look at a chart (I did this last year!) And anyone that knows me, knows I love charts and checklists, but it wasn't working! Of course there are those dreaded jobs, no one wants to do but they have to be done- I sweep because I can't stand the crumbs on the floor and the children hate to sweep. We also have afternoon chores that we do at 4pm so that the house is tidy when Daddy gets home. This is on a rotating daily schedule and we have done it long enough (forming those habits) that they know what chore to do on what day! It has taken a LONG time to get to this point, but by being consistent and patient we are getting through it and forming those great habits!! It's actually nice to look back and see how far we've come."
More to come on this subject of imperfections later......
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