This Week for School...

STEP ONE: Make the schedule *transparent*!

This is an idea from Simplicity Parenting. We parents know what is going on. Even amidst chaos and unexpected events, we are able to imagine a 'big picture' or 'plan B'. Children are not always able to do this. In fact, even when things are going as planned, children don't always know from day to day, or hour to hour, what is going on.

This creates stress in the child's life. Imagine yourself at a weekend retreat with NO schedule! You are completely dependent on someone to come tell you what happens next- when you eat, when you sleep, if there is time for a potty break, if you will disrupt everyone by going out for a walk or picking up a book to read... You dont know the plan!

But then someone 'in charge' comes up and says, "Hey! I bet you would like some predictability. Here is a copy of the syllabus. Let me talk you through it and see how we can make this easy for you." Ah! Relief.

It is the same for our children. There may be some things they can rely on. If our family's rhythm is consistent, they are accustommed to 'what comes next'. But in an unschooly family like my own, we tend to wing it. And that means our day is not so spelled out.

So I printed up a page with the days of the week on it, and three sections for each day: morning, afternoon, and evening. For each section, the children and I can write down what is on our schedule. And while we write, I can 'preview' that event for the kids; Give them an idea of what it will be like. They in turn, can download their feelings, fears, and preferences about the event.

This is a good start.

STEP TWO: Continue with what works!

Last week we made lots of little booklets and filled them in with "what we already know". It was fun, and we will continue to do this again this week. I will highlight two hours of each morning to spend in the school room doing this task. We will be able to see clearly on our schedule when this takes place and what to look forward to next. (Probably lunch!)

Big Sis made a list of six things to put in her books. A seventh idea she came up with tonight was to make a 26 page accordion booklet with Greek, Celtic, and ?? letters. Each page will have the 'English' letter, then the equivalent letter in various cultures.

Little Brother is eager to work on a folder full of religious coloring pages pertinent to his upcoming first communion and baptism.

STEP THREE: Get Groceries!

More specifically, spend some time with Big Sis creating a meal planner for this week. She and I can go grocery shopping, hopefully Monday right after lunch. We are simplifying our lives by knowing what meals to expect. That way, we dont need to struggle with an abundance of choices at the point of the day when we have the most hunger and the least energy to deal with it. Yes, you know what that formula creates! Large hunger + Low energy = Carry out.

STEP FOUR: Stay home as much as possible.

We all do better when we think of our home as ... well, home. :) When we lived in the country, we commuted so much that we spent 10 to 15 hours a week in the car. The car was our home in many ways, and our home was a place to grab supplies. We lived out of bags while waiting for the next lesson or appointment. It was SO stressful.

Now that we are 2 minutes from everything, and frankly, have less money to spend on lessons, we embrace our home as a place that is good to be. We are all learning to BE in our home.

On Monday, we do need to get groceries. But this should only take 30 minutes, including drive time. Tuesday we stay home! I have a 2 o'clock appointment with my therapist, but this appointment wont rule our whole day. Wednesday is a day out. We will attend mass at the Community of St. John at 11:30, then get lunch at a local diner! And after that we go to a friends home for the afternoon to enjoy discussion of Sofia Cavalletti's Living Liturgy. Thursday we stay home again, and Friday we will go spend time in Eucharistic Adoration at a local church with a group of homeschooling, attachment parenting, Catholic mamas!