Manage My Home and Time?
Manage My Home and Time?
Manage My Home and Time? Them’s fightin’ words, aren’t they? Though they may be, it’s important as working homeschooling mamas that we get a routine set in place so that we aren’t wondering if the insurance money is really worth it or before we decide to put them on the big yellow bus that rides by our house every morning!
Here are some things that you can do to make it easier to manage your home and time:
- Use a curriculum that teaches all of your kids at once—there are some out there that will teach them all the same thing, but on a different level, which minimizes your prep time and allows you to put that time to better use.
- Use visual and written checklists—put your kids in charge of their progress, giving them something to work towards.
- Get a solid meal prep routine—even if you start with family favorites, having meals prepped and ready to cook at a moment’s notice will definitely help.
- Take a break to catch your breath when needed—if chaos seems to be coming through the air vents at every turn, then you might need to catch yourself. BURNOUT IS REAL!
- Toss out your plans and let the kids lead—there will be times when what the kids want to do will outweigh the pros of our well-oiled plan. Child or interest-led learning works, too!
So, how is all of this going to help me manage my home and time?
Even using ONE of these will give you one less thing to do on a given day. The more that you have in place, the more you can breathe, and your home will run more smoothly.
The key to making all of this work is to encourage your kids to be as independent as possible. Make it to where they don’t have to come to you every second while you’re working! You know how it goes…they don’t need anything at ALL until you sit down and start to work, throwing you into a Mom Tantrum. Sit down with them and let them know that you aren’t to be disturbed when you’re working unless it’s an emergency and don’t be afraid to ask a friend, family member, or fellow homeschool mom for help!
If at all possible, teach your kids to help each other! Their methods may not be the same as yours; however, if they get the concept, just smile, shake your head, and walk away. Who cares if they are using a stuffed alligator and Oreos to help teach greater than and less than!
Another thing—know that outsourcing doesn’t make you a bad parent! If there is a co-op, tutorial, or drop-in program in your area that has what you need, USE IT! There are programs out there that don’t require that moms teach a class in order to stay involved.
Lastly, if you have little ones, consider working in a place where they can play while you work. A mom I know packs her kids up and takes them to Burger King, where they have a play place for the kids on those days when she REALLY needs to focus. Where can you go?
(If you like this post, be sure to check out Sacred Sanity, A Busy Mom’s Guide to Survival.)
Blog Contributor Tammie Polk
Tammie Polk is a Mompreneur on a Mission! She is a married, homeschooling mother of three girls ages 15, 10, and 5 from Memphis, Tennessee. When she’s not pouring into her girls, you can find her writing, doing crossword puzzles, or playing games! Her major claim to fame is being the author of over 30 books on life, faith, family, and business- all of which were written in the last three years. Tammie is also a business coach, homeschool consultant, motivational and inspirational speaker, and international radio show host! To find out more about Tammie, please visit her website.
