I am posting this because I want to read it but cant seem to find time to sit at the computer and do so. Maybe you might also be interested. :) Hugs and Merry Christmas all.
HOMESCHOOL AND HOUSEWORK!
by Tamara Eaton
Does the combination of homeschool and housework seem like oil and
water--they just don't mix? It used to seem like we were either successful
in homeschooling or housework but never both in the same day. It's easier now--
our kids are older, we have a good system and most importantly-- lower
standards! We would never make the cover of "Better Homes and
Gardens" but at times we could qualify for "Cluttered Homes and
Jungles"!
Here are some tips that have worked for our family:
SIMPLIFY & DECLUTTER!
- Make a list of everything that needs to be done then work toward your
goal. Don't despair over the things still undone but know you'll get to it
eventually. In the meantime, work at maintaining what you've already
accomplished so it doesn't get so cluttered again.
- Be RUTHLESS--get rid of things you don't use or need! Organize into
three boxes: Throw away, Give away, and Put away.
- Invest in inexpensive storage containers for things you must keep. We
purchased 19 gallon rectangle storage boxes with lids for $5 each from K-Mart
and use them for to store homeschool supplies, library books (we could qualify
as a branch of our public library with all the books we check out!), clothes,
"treasures", legos, toys, etc.
- Don't try to do too much all at once. Focus on one area at a time and
set reasonable goals. Perhaps one room a week? Or one closet a week? This way
the rest of your routine doesn't suffer as much and you're not totally
exhausted.
- Limit "knickknacks" and go for clear spaces to make cleaning easier.
We already have plenty of "educational clutter" to "decorate" our homes!
- Take 15-30 minutes to do some of those "dirty jobs" that you've been
putting off for ages. Clean one window, or one drawer. Then stop and get back to
the normal routine.
OUR DAILY ROUTINE:
In earlier years when
my children were too young to help out much around the house, I neatened up the
house before bedtime each evening. That helped us get off to a better start the
next morning. After breakfast I would get them started playing while I quickly
did the morning chores. Afterwards, my day was free to play with them, teach
them, care for them and enjoy them. I loved it! (Although it certainly had its
shares of frustrations at times!) I stayed home a lot, which was my main secret
for success.
Now that my children are
older, they have regular kitchen chores which don't change except two or
three times a year so it's easy for everyone to know what is expected. I can
also tell at a glance who has done his job--no more confusion about which child
is responsible for each chore. Then each child picks a part of the family room
to clean up quickly. I neaten up the bathrooms, living room, master bedroom and
help the youngest two clean up their room.
We try to have 9 AM as our deadline
each morning to have all chores completed and the main living area picked up.
Then we schedule several quick pick-ups a day: after lunch, before supper, and
before bedtime. Friday mornings are for "deep cleaning"--many hands make light
work, then we have "computer school" for the rest of the day or the kids do
educational projects.
If the house is a wreck and
standards are creeping way too low, we take off from school and other activities
and concentrate on getting things in order. Instead of "nagging" the children,
we politely and firmly tell them what we need done. (In our home, children who
don't follow instructions when asked, get added jobs or responsibilities.)
TRAINING CHILDREN TO HELP:
It's been my experience that
young children are the most enthusiastic helpers! It's important not
to overwhelm them though because what looks like a small task to us, can seem
enormous to them. It's best to have them work along beside us. Even a 2 year old
can fold bath cloths, pick up toys and books, etc. with mom close at hand
working, too.
I rarely tell younger children (7
and under) to do something without sticking around to see that it's done and
working right beside them. This helps create good work habits. As they get
older, I give them more responsibility and expect them to be able to complete a
task whether I am there or not.
It's easier to be consistent if
I require a small amount and make sure it's done. Otherwise, they get into
the habit of not obeying right away, or not finishing a job. I use the same
principles to train older children who have poor working habits. Many parents
don't like the way their kids clean up, but they don't take the time to
demonstrate more efficient ways to do it. We want to help our children learn to
do a job well.
William and I have also put on
"training workshops". We pretended to be a couple of the children and
demonstrated poor working habits, contrasting them with good working habits. The
children thought it was hilarious! Then we purposely messed up the den and
allowed each child to come in and clean it up as fast as he could, timing him.
We demonstrated time-saving motions and encouraged them to use them. They all
did a very good job, from the oldest down to the youngest. The (at that time) 3
year old won the contest!
Young children are notorious for
messing up the house. It helps to keep an eye on their activities during the day
as a preventative measure--otherwise they start many different activities and
forget to put anything away. Or they scatter their things all over the house! It
also helps to create special play areas using a small quilt or child-sized table
and chairs in the main homeschooling area. This confines their toys to a
specific area and they enjoy being in the center of things. They can be taught
to play quietly, or to go to another room if they're distracting the rest of the
children.
Be consistent in training
children to help with chores. I had years when I'd wonder if my kids would
EVER get to the point where they wouldn't need supervision or to be reminded.
Eventually consistency paid off. They aren't perfect yet (kids usually don't see
all that moms see!), but they generally do their jobs without reminders and can
manage the whole house, if necessary. (At least the teens can, the younger two
are still "in training"!)
Two years ago, I was very sick and
for several months my older four children did all the housework and most of the
cooking and helped take care of the younger two children. It made all the
difference in the world, and was good training for them, too. They practiced
teamwork and since then, have viewed our home as our joint responsibility--often
they tell me to go do something else and let them take care of the cleaning up.
Hang in there, it is worth it!
BAD ATTITUDES:
If anyone whines or
complains about working, I give them a little extra work. If they
keep on, I add some more. It nips it in the bud! Bad attitudes are catching, so
I try to keep a positive attitude myself about work. We put on peppy music and
get it done as fast as we can. Teamwork is great!
If someone is purposely dragging
his chores out and not cooperating, a little extra work solves this problem,
too. We always seem to have an area beneath a couch that needs cleaning or a
porch to sweep!
CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS:
I have organized the younger
children's room so that it is easier to keep neat. We use large rubbermaid
tubs with lids to organize their toys. Their favorite toys stay out, but
everything else is stored in their closet which is off limits to them.
Occasionally we rotate toys.
They have legos in one container,
little cars and trucks in another container, and dolls and accessories in
another. They each have a "treasure drawer" where they keep their very special
treasures (bird feathers, pretty rocks, letters, drawings, pogs, etc.). Each
morning I help them straighten their room, and check it several times a day,
too. It stays neat this way and they enjoy playing there so much more! If I
weren't involved, it would be a mess constantly.
Older children sometimes need
encouragement, too. They look at their disorderly bedrooms and don't know
where to begin! It helps for them to have some steps to follow. This is what we
do:
- Make beds.
- Pick up all clothes.
- Pick up all books.
- Pick up any toys.
- Pick up any paper or trash.
By this time the room should be
presentable and they have room to vacuum and dust, etc. What was once a
insurmountable task becomes possible!
QUICK PICK-UP GAMES:
- "Around the World" - Usually we divide the family room into parts and
each child has a part to clean, but sometimes we play "Around the World". Each
person works his way around the room clockwise until everything is neat and
clean.
- "The Age Game" - Everyone picks up the same number of items as his
own age, then if there are items left over, they do it again. Only problem is
when they want the parents to pick up the same number of items as their
age--whew!
- "Mr. Jones is Coming!" - We clean up the house as fast as we can,
pretending that Mr. Jones is coming over at a specific time. If we finish in
time, we celebrate with a tea party. If we need more time--well sometimes "Mr.
Jones" gives us a call and says he has been delayed for a bit! Sometimes Dad
dresses up as "Mr. Jones" and comes around to the front door and rings the bell.
Inspection time follows!
KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE!
I find that I go in cycles
--there are times we're caught up in other projects and we let the housework go,
only doing the basics. Other times, I get in the mood (or force myself!) to make
our standards higher and in the process, usually move some furniture around and
make it cosier, redecorate, etc. I do the same thing with extra baking and
elaborate cooking.
William has told me many times that
although he appreciates us having the house extra neat and clean and cooking
extra special meals, he also appreciates all the time and effort that is going
into our homeschooling and discipling our children. He also encourages me to
write, work on the computer, keep up with my reading, and do other things. I
appreciate his balanced view because sometimes I feel guilty over the simple
meals or how the laundry is never totally done. But we are enjoying our family
so much and we know we won't have that many years left before they will no
longer be under our roof!
Elisabeth Elliot shared the
following essay written many years ago by an unknown mother in one of her
newsletters ( Elisabeth Elliot Newsletter, P.O. Box 7711, Ann Arbor, Michigan
48107-7711 -$7 yr.) She says while not too many women iron sheets these
days, it is still possible to let many other things take precedence over the
primary task.
"I am sadly concerned that
thousands of mothers are so over-burdened that the actual demands of life from
day to day consume all their time and strength. But of two evils, choose the
lesser: which would you call the lesser--an unpolished stove or an untaught boy?
Dirty windows, or a child whose confidence you have failed to gain? Cobwebs in
the corner, or a son over whose soul a crust has formed, so strong that you
despair of melting it with your hot tears and fervent prayers?
I have seen a woman who was
absolutely ignorant of her children's habits of thought, who never felt that she
could spare a half-hour to read or talk with them--I have seen this woman spend
ten minutes in ironing a sheet, or forty minutes icing a cake for tea, because
company was expected.
When the mother, a good orthodox
Christian, shall appear before the Great White Throne to be judged for the
"deeds done in the body," and to give her report of the master's treasures
placed in her care, there will be questions and answers like these:
"Where are the boys and girls I
gave thee?"
"Lord, I was busy keeping my
house clean and in order, and my children wandered away."
"Where wert thou while thy sons
and thy daughters were learning lessons of dishonesty, malice and
impurity?"
"Lord, I was polishing furniture
and making beautiful rugs."
"What hast thou to show for thy
life's work?"
"The tidiest house, Lord, and
the best starching and ironing in all our neighborhood!"
Oh these children, these
children! The restless eager boys and girls whom we love more than our lives!
Shall we devote our time and strength to that which perishes while the rich
garden of our child's soul lies neglected, with foul weeds choking out all
worthy and beautiful growths? Fleeting indeed, O mother, are the days of
childhood, and speckless windows, snowy linen, the consciousness that everything
about the house is faultlessly bright and clean will be poor comfort in that day
wherein we shall discover that our poor boy's feet have chosen the path that
shall take him out of the way to all eternity."--Author Unknown
If I'm tempted to be discouraged
over the state of my house, I remember the scripture I prayed many years ago
when I was unable to conceive: "He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord!" (Psalm
113:9) I am filled with thankfulness that the Lord so abundantly answered
our prayers with six precious children! ( Note: March 2002 we were blessed with
our seventh, a precious little "mid-life bonus blessing" from the Lord!) They
are MORE than worth ALL the work involved in keeping house for them! Give your
children a hug and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for them and don't forget
to greet your dear husband with a hug and kiss and a cheerful hello when he gets
home from work-- chances are, he won't even *notice* how the house looks!
© Copyright Tamara Eaton 1994-2005, all rights reserved.
Permission is given to reprint any of Tamara's articles in non-profit
publications as long as the article is reprinted in full and contains the
copyright information and website address. Please send a copy of the publication
to :Deeper Life Family Ministries, P.O. Box 909, Killen, AL 35645.
We have always homeschooled our seven children (elementary through high
school and beyond!) and enjoy encouraging other families in their homeschooling,
parenting and in the Lord! For more help and information, please join us on the
Christian Homeschool Fellowship
Message Board.
[ Please don't forget to include your email address within the body of your
message--we've had some of our responses returned due to insufficient email
addresses! ]
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and
great shall be the peace of thy children."
Isaiah 54:13
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