We start our day at our house with chores.  With a six and seven year old it can get complicated.  of course they only clean the living room and thier own room, but I have never heard so many complaints.  Which leads to one the questions I have about homeschooling.  How can you keep going and going without a break from your kids.  I love my children, but I have to confess, sometimes I just need the time to myself to get away from the "can you", "will you", "can I ".  It can get really overwhelming. 

So what do you do?  Any comments would be welcome. 

Have a great day and God Bless you all.

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Posted by OreoSouza

Hiya! I tried to trackback you but you don't have your trackbacks turned on. Go into your control panel and turn it on. A trackback is where I write something about you or your blog and it shows up in your comment section that I'm writing about you in my blog.

I'm so excited that you are doing this!

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Posted by MuckFootMom

At the risk of sounding EXTREMELY corny, I'm just thrilled to meet you. I feel privileged to be one of Shurleen's friends, and to meet you is just ... very exciting. I already like you, LOL, through Shurleen. okay, I hope I haven't scared you away like a scary stalker or something. ;-)

So I'm Kim in MI, and I can't help you a bit with chores because I'm a chore-loser myself. One of those places where I'm constantly "stuck in the muck" and haven't figured out how to get a leg up and out, and God hasn't pulled me up out of the muck yet. LOL!

But I'm glad you're here so I can meet you first hand, and glad you're thinking about homeschooling, because I really think it's a wonderful way to protect your children from the bad stuff but choose what you want to expose them to so they don't miss the good stuff, and most of all to be "training them up in the Lord" every day, with each hour, and not handing that task off to teachers and others who don't know them and love them like you do!

:-) Kim (the overly-verbose. Always)

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Posted by MuckFootMom

maybe I shouldn't have had the scary-picture for my first comment. LOL!

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Posted by MuckFootMom

I apologize for posting 3 comments, how embarrassing. But I did have some thoughts on the "needing a break" thing ... we have a "quiet time" in our home each afternoon. For the babies/toddlers this is a nap time, from 1-3 pm, and for the older children it is a read/play quietly on your bed time. Since I have alternated between pregnant and nursing a baby and not getting enough sleep for the last 10+ years, I have never *dropped the nap time* but just trained the older ones to rest quietly (mostly quietly) during that time, so that I am able to nap when needed, or have some quiet, alone time.

I am also blessed to have my mom live in town, and she comes to play with my children two afternoons a week, so I use that time to run errands, often, or occasionally "sneak away" for a lunch date with my husband. Today he and I are going to donate blood together and then have lunch out ... :) those little breaks are refreshing to me.

But, on the flip side, sometimes I think I am too selfish in "demanding" my quiet time and utilizing those mom times and need, instead, to rely on the Lord to be my rest ... I think about that fairly often ...

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Posted by drewsfamilytx

I definitely get breaks from my kids! And they get a break from ME!!! :-)

Even with these breaks, we spend more time together than most families. I encourage lots of outside time and playing on their own (although it usually means together). Even with boys, we have tons of dress-up stuff, blocks, marble mazes, crafts, puzzles, games, and a bzillion balls.

For our days to go smoothly, a few things are key. Number one, we ALL need enough sleep! Cranky kids plus cranky mommy equals one long, terrible, cranky day.

Number two, routine, routine, routine. Actually, our best days are when we have our lessons (school). They are occupied, interested and then half the day is already gone. Bored kids equal fighting kids. If I can, I'll at least give them a little direction in their down time (like why don't you go ride bikes, dig a trench, blow some bubbles, have a paper airplane race, etc).

Number three, I have a wonderfully supportive dh who lets me "get away" several times a week. Sometimes it's coffee with friends or just a quiet trip to the grocery store alone...or at least with one kid (I just love one-on-one time where their personalities just shine all the more!).

Sorry for the novel in your comments section! All this to say that we both get breaks from each other :-) and my best days are the ones where I am not too lazy to help the kids find things to do and explore...even if I'm not actively doing it with them, they just need the idea to play off of.

Hope you have a great day!
Marsha

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Posted by OreoSouza

ROFL!! So...you've met Kim! I forgot about that photo. She's actually really cute, Kim is, but she's one of the funniest...and real...people I've ever met. I've known Kim for years...can't even remember how many now...and I think you'll enjoy reading her blog...her real one and her fake one and the other ones that fall between.

I'm so glad you are here, Aimee.

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Posted by ChathamMommy

Ah, chores and quiet time. Two of my current issues. *grin*

First, a side note. Welcome to HS Blogger! This is a wonderful group and you'll be feeling as at home here as I do in no time. :)

Chores: We all do the same room at the same time. With two "older" kids (mine are aged six and under), you should be able to get dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, trash... it's amazing what a 6yo can do. Start with an easy one (dusting) and have them watch you do it for the first week. The next week, have them do it with you. Week 3, have them do it with you watching. Week 4, you're all set; they should be able to do that on their own (check up on them occasionally). No, it won't be perfect (the real reason for Spring Cleaning?), but they will learn. :) I'd keep the 6yo on dusting for one more session and start teaching the 7yo something new; four weeks later, you can rotate again.

Mommy time is essential. It's not selfish. You need time in rest to be with God, if nothing else. We have a 1/2 hour in the afternoon when the younger two are napping and the older two are reading (or listening to books on tape). That's my down time. Hubby and I also get one date with no kids each month (even if it's short) and one night of our own each month.

I'm getting long-winded, so I'll stop. Again, welcome to HSB-- glad to have you here. :)

Chelo / ChathamMommy

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Posted by ElCloud

I get my time to myself in two ways ... when the children go off to play in a different room or in our backyard, I relish the peace and quiet while it lasts. :-)

And my husband and I are late-night people. Of course, our children also have later bedtimes. But still ... there is almost always an hour or two between when they go to bed and when we do. That is my peace and quiet. I can read, fold clothes while watching a movie, or just talk to my husband. Often that time is shared with our baby, but somehow we've come to treasure that time when baby can have our undivided attention and not have to fuss while we finish one small task. This is also when we have "dates at home". We check out (or rent) a movie we want to watch, buy a special food treat, and have a date. Or we might play a board game together.

Mostly, though, you just adjust to less "me time". From what Shurleen has told me, you've just been pretty much catapulted into a level of motherhood most of us get into step by step, though. You haven't had the gradual adjustment time most Moms get. Hang in there!!

April

And, yes -- Kim is sweet! Not scary -- although I've seen better pictures of her. But unlike Shurleen, I"ve met her in person and she's sweet in person, too. :-)

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Posted by ElCloud

another thing -- when the demads are coming too fast -- call a time out! I've been known to holler STOP! Then I take a few deep breaths and ask them to repeat their requests ONE at a time! Then we prioritize them, delegate if possible, and begin to fulfill the requests -- working together. :-)

On a good day -- on a bad day I yell ARGH!! and turn into drill sergeant Mom giving orders and lecturing them on their selfishness. *blush*

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Posted by homeskoolmom

We also have a quiet time at our house. After lunch the younger 2 go lay down -- sometimes nap, sometimes not. The older rests and reads on her bed. This is my time to rest, read, write in my prayer journal make phone calls etc.

As far as chores I like Flylady's saying "housework done incorrectly still blesses my family". Our young children can do so much more than we give them credit for. Even my 5 y/o helps in many ways. It's not perfect, but it's better than not getting done at all. :)

Welcome to the world of blogging.
Christine

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