my3boys,
I am finding that I think it's similar with us in that we really need to get going on that school work early on or else it just seems like we're lagging behind the rest of the day. We're still in the learning curve stage right now with our schedule as we just started school last week and are implementing a new routine/schedule. Last week, things went really smooth as we followed the schedules set up. BUT, this week proved different b/c there were a couple of days that we didn't follow the schedule out. I have to say I can see a difference for sure! By not following the schedule as I had set it up on those couple of days this week, it seemed like we were lagging behind on those days, trying to wrap up loose ends of school before bedtime. So it seems that the original schedules I made that we followed last week are probably our best way of doing things for now. Ah, the process of learning what works and what doesn't. :)
I will have to do some thinking over night and see what I come up with fresh in the morning.
I think a major factor in it all is discipline (especially obedience) with the kids. If I have to be in 4 different rooms at once, it just doesn't work. Yet my 8yo really is too old to be following me around all day like a puppy, even if she does deserve it. Ah, parenting....
. He said he didn't feel as if he had "earned" the right to relax. I said, "I know exactly what you mean." And, I do. Most of our days are going to go one way or another and usually it's up to me to make it feel as accomplished as possible. I know much is out of our control, but I just mean computer time, late sleepers....well, really, the pace I set in the morn, I guess.
I was just trying to express that it was okay to have outside activity in intervals and not in such a huge unrealistic chunk. We don't like being overheated and in the direct sun, so we get our outdoor time in the morning before 10:00 and in the afternoon after 3:00.
We're going to get up at the same time as always (6:30 for me, 6:45 for the kids) & do our morning stuff and chores, and at 7:45am, head outside for about 45 min. Then schoolwork for a few hours, lunch, read-alouds, quiet time for an hour, then outside again for about 2 1/2 hours. Then inside for various chores, piano practice, dinner, etc. I figure I will fit in art/handicrafts on a rainy/snowy/freezing/super hot day one afternoon a week or so. So far, I'm liking how it's laid out. And the kids are excited to get to go outside in the morning (and the 4yo is just happy she gets to go outside twice in one day LOL). What's really awesome, is this gives ME permission to go outside with them both times, and still get my stuff done (I'll work on a project of some sort while they're on quiet time, and we won't have school on Fridays - that's co-op day or cleaning day). Really looking forward to starting the new schedule tomorrow (since I threw away the old copies already 