A Daily Rhythm

The month of May marked the completion of my 9th year to Homeschool at least one child. Every year for us has looked differently as life has evolved and children have grown. Some years all were at home, and others we were divided between home and public school. My husband and I pray and assess the needs of the family and each child each year and evaluate what is best for our family in that season. We believe it does not have to look any one way for it to be a success.

Our homeschooling journey began when we were living life in NYC and my only daughter at the time was 2 years old. It is customary in Manhattan to begin the school application process the Tuesday after Labor Day the year prior to them turning 3. It is a grueling, emotional process that preys on every mother’s heart right from the beginning. (There is legitimately a documentary on the entire process.) The promise is made with every application that choosing their school is the path to Ivy League.

Early on in our parenting journey we were forced to define for ourselves what “success” looks like for our children. It’s amazing how much is determined by that very definition. While it may include Ivy League or an amazing scholarship, for us that was not our end goal. We wanted to focus on character over performance and began to see what that looks like in our home, in our school, and in our hearts.

We knew that in order to help shape our kids’ character, we would need to be present and make it an intentional priority no matter what our school choice.

Prayers were lifted and along with a few other moms in our community decided to begin a ‘Homeschool’ rotation two days a week. The other moms and I realized we needed a morning routine to capitalize on their attention spans and desire for free play in a 1,000 square foot apartment. So, blocks of time were established for circle time, table activities, snack, play and clean-up. What those entailed each week from 9-12pm at each apartment varied but we had a consistent rhythm that was broken down into 30 minute windows.

Fast forward to my days now with more square footage, a backyard, a dog, four children ranging from almost 12 to 4 yrs and you guessed it, the rhythms stay the same. Of course, rhythms can be stretched and modified to fit each family in each unique season, but we have found that having 30 min windows for each time block is the winning way.

Our days during the school year consist of more time blocks to fit in various subjects: math, group Bible and morning time, grammar, free time, lunch, reading, Latin, piano, quiet time, read-alouds, science, history, clean-up, dinner, family time, and so on. Some days, our morning time is moved because of an appointment, field trip or community day with our local co-op. Some days, we move read-aloud time so that we can have a play date with another family. If we want to focus on an art project that day, we do it during one of those blocks. If we have a science experiment that needs longer than 30 minutes, then we adjust.

The point is not that this is a rigid schedule that is adhered to with boxes checked, but it becomes a life-giving rhythm that brings order to our days and purpose to our time.

I clearly remember the days with toddlers. I would wake up early, make breakfast, have a morning show, do a puzzle, go to the park and somehow it was only 9 am! The exhaustion set in and there was no way I could foresee making it until dinner when reinforcements walked in the door. Those tears and feelings are real. And even with a daily routine, those feelings may be there from time to time, but this rhythm gives you an action plan as a mom to begin the day with direction; somewhere to start!

This is not just for Homeschool families. We each establish the rhythm for our homes and set the pace for our children.

Every summer I hear the dread as parents prepare for the endless-seeming days with all of the children home saying they are bored. I get it and I always have my children home. Ha. Our summer rhythms look different than our fall and our spring rhythms, but I have found that if we keep to our blocks of time, it helps set and manage expectations for all of us.

If you are looking for a new rhythm, start making a list of the blocks of time that you would like to have in your home. Then play with your daily schedule, see what you can add and if it helps add some structure to your days that are life-giving for everyone.

Need a starting place?

Visit my Resources page HERE to download for FREE a template along with some rhythm Ideas for your family.

PLEASE NOTE: You do NOT have to do all of these on one day or at all. If your kids are in school or mothers day out, then plan some blocks of time between when they get home and when it’s time for dinner.

Overall goal - have FUN with it and your kids will too.

I pray that whatever you choose, it becomes a life-giving rhythm for you and your family.