Schedule Changes Make Room For Our Priorities

I’ve struggled with feeling over-scheduled since the beginning of the school year.  We rarely had a whole day at home, and it was a nagging bother because the days spent at home seemed closer to my core homeschool priorities.  We could always get the basics done (the three Rs) but only on slower weeks could we get to the “extras” that matter to me: nature study, hands-on activities, artist and composer studies, time for personal interests.

I made small changes and waited it out, figuring after the holidays during the bleak winter months we’d be glad for the busyness.  February arrived and I wasn’t glad, just busy.

I mulled it over, talked with my family, and decided to take out two activities.  Each occurred only once a month but required planning from me and school time during that week for the kids to prepare.  The problem?  The two activities were good activities with nice people, and they depended on the participation of the involved families to keep going.

I notified the groups, and some members were disappointed.  I felt sorry and yet that I had done the right thing for our family.  This week reinforced my choice.

1. My little boy loves and needs hands-on learning: here are our homemade (pepperoni) pizza fractions.
2. More hands-on learning fun: after watching Beakman (our favorite science show–all episodes streaming on Netflix!) we had to try the Beakman Challenge: sucking from a straw with a second straw out of the fluid.  P.S. It’s impossible and it all has to do with air pressure.
3. We delved into our history program every day this week.  These are our Jumping Jacks, a popular toy from the 1800s.  My son colored the printable one, my daughter designed her own.
4. One of our “extras” is composer study.  We’re working on Beethoven and enjoyed another SQUILT lesson for Fur Elise.  Thanks ever so much to Mary from Homegrown Learners for teaching us all about Super Quiet Uninterrupted Listen Time!

My children enjoyed their non-school hours, too.

• Imaginative play: The kids built a covered wagon in the playroom, then a claim shanty out of the kitchen table.  It even had a quilt for a door like Ma Ingalls.
• Time for personal interests: My daughter completed a sewing project from her book Kids Can Do It: Simply Sewing.  She took a photo of lovely me (in my pajama pants) helping with pinning to capture our very helpful sewing assistant, Martha Dog.  The completed transformation of jeans-into-skirt was a success and my daughter has basked in many compliments.  I love the lessons learned and pride that comes from sewing for her.
• What else? My son practiced until he could do a double-somersault, my daughter did math in her spare time (Life of Fred Fractions–I may be in love but don’t want to judge too quickly), we sorted and delivered Girl Scout cookies, and enjoyed lots of reading aloud, including all of The Twits just for fun.  Roald Dahl gives my son belly laughs and I love to share that with him.

Now, this doesn’t mean we’ve become hermits.  With church, Scouts, two book clubs and music lessons we’re still on the road many days.  But we’ll have a couple more days at home and more freedom to work on our priorities.  And a bonus:  it cleared up some mental space for me since I had to plan what we would prepare for both events.  I need all the mental space I can get!

How is your schedule working this year?  Do you have a hard time balancing time at home and outside activities?

Thank you to the wonderful hostesses with fun link-ups on Fridays. Be sure to join the fun and see what other homeschoolers are up to!