Planning my day.

I know it may seems funny to organize all of my day down to the half-hour, but I am convinced that I am more profitable because of it. Take, for instance, this last week. We've been off school and I have to prepare for next semester, so the kids have watched more TV than they should. In fact, some days, they were watching TV from the time the little kids arrived until after they left.

To some this may not seem all that bad. But it isn't what we want for our kids. So today we sat down and listed the things that needed to be accomplished today and where it would fit and who would be watching the little ones and when. Turns out we have time to watch an hour of TV during the day. I actually had to check the guide to find that one hour when their cartoons are on and I planned the rest of the day.

Computer time is planned in, piano, chores, clean-up, cooking and dishes. There is also AWANA because although it's not starting back up for over a week. The time spent looking into the Word, even if it's an AWANA book, is very profitable for them. They are hiding God's Word in their hearts. Also we have little kids' babysitting and baby babysitting so that Mom can get her work done. The little kids' time must be organized or there is bouncing on the furniture and tearing up things already accomplished.

So we pick a subject - blocks, Lincoln logs, cars, trains, play-do, craft. We even have a walk planned in for today as well. It really does make me happier with our day when we accomplish all the things necessary. Somehow the TV eats away our time and "Oh, there's something else I want to see!" But if we don't turn it on till later on in the day, we don't get caught up in this.

When we have school it's easier to keep on track, we have to have things organized. But I fail to recognize that if I don't plan things for a non-school day, then I will not be accomplishing things that I want to.

My next goal is to plan exercise into our day. Today that's easy - it's supposed to be nice and we'll go for a walk. When it gets cold, it will be more difficult, but I need to find something. So I'll probably do something aerobics and bring all the kids into the room to do some organized jumping and bumping and maybe chaos as well.

So go ahead and try it. Don't plan the whole day, but plan one thing for today that you want to do and when and then start sticking to it.

Because He is worthy and deserves all the glory,
Steph

Schedules

So, I'm keeping up with this a bit much since it's new. Mostly this is for my own personal record of how I'm doing. I want to be faithful to do the things I need to do, so that when I have my personal time, I can think, "Yep, I've been working hard to get things done and taking my break is just fine." Just doing my best. I didn't get the kitchen cleaned like I wanted it today, but tomorrow we'll work again, and more will get done. I don't have any outside work during the day, so that helps. We aren't paying for daycare for all the kids, so I work nights when my dh (dear husband) is home. Read a chapter in Little Britches while the kids sat nearby on rugs outside. They are free to do things while I read, but they just need to be within earshot of the story. They love reading time and beg for it quite a bit.

I don't want anyone to think that they should have a schedule that looks like mine or that I follow my schedule all the time. Interruptions come at time when I least expect it and it takes work to "roll with the punches". Things happen and it's just easier on everyone if I walk in the Spirit and respond appropriately to the children. Schedules have to be flexible and fit our needs, we shouldn't have to fit them.