As I began writing a post to explain our usual daily schedule to you…I realized that first I should write a post with a few details about our lifestyle so that our schedule, especially the homeschooling part, will make more sense to you.
See, there’s this little thing called flexibility that, while it doesn’t come easy to me, I have learned to embrace, enjoy and cherish. Flexibility is one of the biggest blessings of homeschooling (not to mention the fact that I can smooch my kids’ cheeks WHENEVER I want to ALL DAY LONG…). I’ve decided that learning to be flexible just makes things so much simpler. I do not like to be uptight…but oh, can I get uptight. I’m working on it.
So, we have a schedule on paper, sort of…and it makes our life go more smoothly when we work to follow it. And we get a lot of work done when we follow it. And most days we are able to follow it, mostly. But we rarely, if ever, follow it to the letter.
Sometimes Daddy needs us to do something for him. Sometimes we have a headache. Sometimes there’s someone who needs a meal taken to them. Sometimes we need to read some extra chapters of History today, knowing that tomorrow we’ll have to be out the door by 10:30 and we won’t have time to read. Sometimes we are feeling creative and just get out the paint. Sometimes we have a gajillion apples waiting to be made into applesauce all over the kitchen…
Yeah, it’s called life. And my kids are learning about it.
And Matt and I want it to be that way. We feel like their education happens around the clock…not just when the school books are out. And we’re trying to help our kids understand that too. We want them to understand that they’re learning when we make lists together to organize our camping trip. (Yes, it’s important for me to teach my kids early in life to make lists!!) We want them to understand that when they’re helping mommy cook, they are learning. And even when they’re playing with legos…they are learning.
Just wanted to talk about that a little bit before I go into our daily schedule explanation in a future post.
And I also feel like I need to confess this to you…. (yikes, this is kind of hard)
I often see a person’s daily schedule and it says something like “Get up at 6 am…read Bible”. I think that’s so great that people have their Bible reading time scheduled into their day like that…first thing in the morning.
Yeah, I don’t have that. I don’t have Bible reading time scheduled into my day. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m taking that flexibility thing too far? Everyday is a little different around here depending on what we need to get up and do…or depending on how late we had to stay up the night before. I don’t have a set time that I get up in the morning. (I despise alarm clocks.) I get up when I get up (usually between 6:30-8:00). And I’m thankful for that flexibility (oh, so thankful).
I do wake up talking to my Father and spend most of the day visiting with him right up until I fall asleep each night. But since I don’t have Bible reading time scheduled directly into my day…some days it doesn’t happen. And some days it does. (And most days I read it to my kids…and we work on memorizing scripture…I guess I kinda forgot about that part…but I’m talking about my personal time in the Word.)
So, I guess I felt like I needed to tell you that. Because when you see my schedule, you won’t see “Personal Bible Reading” time scheduled in there. When I began writing out my schedule, I realized that. I am working on it. And I’m really working on it with my kids so that they establish a good routine of daily Bible reading early in life.
Thank you for providing safety for me to be real with you. I’d love to hear what works for you in this area. Please do share how and when you manage quiet Bible study time.
Amy says
You have no idea what a relief it is that I’m not the only mommy to doesn’t have personal Bible reading time worked in to the schedule every day. I am working on it, though…
Sounds like there is a lot of REAL learning going on at your house!
Cassie J. says
Now that both my boys are going to school each day, my quiet time comes when I return from dropping them off. It’s such a peaceful time and the house is quiet (except for the washer that’s already spinning). I’ve had several Christian books on my shelf that I’ve wanted to read so I’m using those during my quiet time. I’ve also started a journal to keep up with the prayers I voice to God. It truly does help my day go more smoothly. Thanks for your honesty.
Willow M. says
This is a great question and I don’t think there is any one size fits all answer but here is what seems to be working for us:
I homeschool our oldest who is just started Kind. We also have a 3.5 half year old and a 16 mo. old.
I try to get my personal quiet time in before the kids get up. They are to play in their rooms, no matter what time they get up, until 8:15am. That allows me time to get ready and usually have at least 15 minutes of quiet time to pray and read my bible before I get them.
We read together during breakfast, a children’s bible, just one page usually and try to spend time actually discussing what we read and talking about what it means for us. Then we all pray aloud for our day together.
I recently decided I also wanted them to understand how important it is to incorporate their own quiet time of talking to Jesus and having Him talk back through his Word. We have tried just have 10 minutes set aside while I prepared lunch while they sat quietly looking at their children’s bibles and praying.
I recently though, have felt that modeling is going to communicate better than instruction in this area. So either before or after lunch we have started having a quiet time when I too, get my bible out and we all sit down. Now I don’t get much reading done since they tend to ask me questions about what they are “reading” in their bibles, but I want to show them that I read my bible too. (not just tell them I do).
Then I decided rather then telling them it was time to spend a few minutes in prayer I would just bow my head and begin to pray. What happened? Within two minutes both my girls ( the 3 and 5 year old were doing the same thing!) It was a very special realization to know how powerful the example I set for my children is…
So that is it. What works for us. My hearts desire is that they know true relationship with Christ, rather than routine. There is a fine line though because much of the relationship comes from being disciplined and making the time for Him. Something that I still struggle with as an adult.
Another thing that fills me up personally is listening to online sermons. I love listening to one in the evenings or even sometimes during their naptime.
Frances Chan from http://www.cornerstonesimi.com is great and
Mark Driscoll from http://www.marshillchurch.com is also very challenging.
Christy says
I just found your blog this week…I think through Menu Plan Monday, but now I can’t remember. Anyway…your posts are so inspiring, and I love reading about your healthy cooking, too. I’m adding you to my Friday Faves post today, where I’ve listed my favorite blog finds of the week.
Blessings,
Christy
chinamama4 says
Thanks for sharing that you’re not the only mommy who has trouble fitting in Bible reading. Some mornings, I’m up earlier than my girls and can read, but more often than not, they’re up with me – some mornings as early as 5:30 (I think they have some sort of sensor that detects mommy movement!). I know that this is just a season, so I’m going with it, and am grateful for the rare times when I can read The Word in peace. As they get older, I’ll be able to do more, and I’ll also miss their early morning chatter!
Karen says
Laura,
Thanks for being so honest about everything. I homeschool our boys, also, (they are 9 and 6), but I am not very rigid about it. We do have a written schedule, but sometimes things happen and we don’t get to every subject. I AM OK WITH THAT! We just double up on somedays.
Now about Bible time. I enjoy having my quiet time in the morning, but, some days it happens in the afternoon or evening and some days not at all! I really miss it when I miss it, so I try not to let it happen too often.
Some days I long for the days when the boys took naps!!
Terri-Ann says
I’m also a mother who really wishes I could start the day off with the bible – but I have a 10 month old who seems to think the day begins at 5am! And personally, I could NOT handle waking up when my clock says 4-something – it’s just inhumane! (It’s a challenge just to get a morning shower in, which often doesn’t happen either.)
I have a weekly bible goal that helps me get through. Sometimes I read a chapter a day, sometimes it’s 5 chapters on Sunday. A schedule has never worked for me, and always made it seem more like reading just to check it off the list. In which case, I might as well save the time.
The thing that helps me most is to study along with others. I host a blog site (mostly with my friends who are also moms) where readers read along in the Old Testament, and anyone is free to post their personal thoughts and discoveries, start conversations about what they read.
Devildogwife says
This is going to sound crazy, but when my daughter was little, the only time that I had alone was when I was in the bathroom. So, I started reading my Bible/doing devotions in the bathroom. Guess what, even though my daughter is bit older, I’m still reading the Bible/doing my devotions in the bathroom. ;)
Donna says
I’m not a morning person and I don’t bounce out of bed and it takes me about 30 to 45 minutes to get my brain awake. I also had ten years of having a baby or toddler wake me up most mornings so I never could spend time with the Lord in the mornings on a regular basis.
But I am a night owl, and I love night time, and I’m more awake then! That’s my best time with the Lord. Sometimes it’s only 5 to 10 minutes, other times it’s 45 and I have been known to stay up for hours – but I’ve found that works better for me.
But, when my kiddies were babies, that time did not always work out, for we all know that BABIES RULE!
Jenny says
Thanks for your candid nature on this post. My daily time with God has been a struggle in my life. I have decided to really attack this struggle recently.
I recently read a book called “Shopping For Time” by the authors of the girltalk blog. Wow! Fantastic. Most of this book gives REAL, PRACTICAL advice on finding meaningful time with God. And it works!!!!
Just remember, many of us struggle with daily devotion time. It’s a process, and we’re learning right there wiht you!
Misty says
My first confession: I have only ONE kiddo to homeschool! I don’t have to arrange my schedule around several kiddos because I…well…only have one. So far – but that’s another story.
I have found that with my son, we start off our days with Bible Time – at least 15 minutes spent in the Bible or a devotional and praying. And starting out 15 minutes can seem like a lot. Fortunately I have a phenomenal church home where I am surrounded by godly women and are now beginning to teach me some of the more important things deaing with homemaking. I struggle as well – but if we keep encouraging one another, ALL of us will make it! :o)
May you be evermore blessed!
Rachelle says
Thank you for opening up ! I think many moms feel bad about this. I know I always do. I would try so hard to have Bible time before the children would rise. Some days this works some days not. With nine blessings it is hard to have a “set time. This summer our Pastor had a class for 10 weeks! The class was awesome, he talked about this. He said when you have little ones or in our case a ton of them!! Try to find a time that works best for you, like nap time or at night, he also said you don’t have to do it first thing in the morning. I was so glad to hear this. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard or read” do it first thing in the morning” I do pray first thing and ask the Lord to help me through the day and help me find a quite time with him. I will do some Bible time in the morning, then a little at nap and maybe some before bed. I do not read a bunch of chapters. I try to find a verse that will help me , and write it down. I also write down what I have read,so next time I pick up my Bible I will know where I am. I know it is hard to always find the time, but it is so important to be in Gods word. We can’t raise our children in Gods word if we are not in his word.Hope this helps. Have a wonderful night.
Blessings-
Rachelle
Ps- I just did a post on this a while back, you can find it on my blog under Time with the Lord.
Marie says
Thanks for your openness! I am not a morning person, so my day usually starts when the kids does! At whatever time that may be. I am really trying to start daily bible reding with the kids that way when they are my age they will hopefully not struggle with making the time like I have!
Staci says
Mine is usually at bedtime. Just works best for me. But what I love is that even though you may not a “Personal” scheduled time…you are talking to The Heavenly Father ALL THROUGHOUT your day! I think that’s most important of all!! I so appreciate your honesty :)
Jessica says
Thank you for being so honest! My time in the Word is also not as consistent as I’d like it to be, and I’ve almost given up on the fact that it has to be done before my small children are awake. While I do love quiet reading of God’s Word, I also think it’s a great example to my children to see their mommy reading even after they get up!
Catherine says
It’s really,really hard to ‘schedule’ a Quiet Time when there are little ones running around. The bible says to pray without ceasing, so I do that. As you said, I constantly ‘visit’ with God all day long. I don’t always read my bible, and (again, like you) I try not to get stressed or legalistic about it.
Good on you for sharing – it seems there are an awful lot of us mums who struggle in that same area, and it’s so nice to know you’re not the only one!