Six Things I've Learnt As A Home School Novice ... So Far!

If you're a newcomer to the home school world, and like me still finding your way, then I have some pointers for you to hopefully help steer you in the right direction! These are the things that I've found to be very helpful so far for my family and I!

#1  Begin each day with a quiet time and prayer ...

Each morning I try to rise before the kids do, which is very hard sometimes when you have two children who mostly get up at the crack of dawn. That and the fact that I'm not naturally a morning person, means that sometimes I don't get out of bed early at all! On the mornings that I can, I make myself a hot cup of coffee and sit back in bed, or at the kitchen table and pour over my Bible in the peace and quiet of the early morning home. It sets the tone for the rest of the day. I pray for His wisdom and strength, His peace and joy. I thank Him for His goodness, His love and everything else! Sometimes it helps to journal as well, especially if there's a special scripture that has really stood out to me that day. The days where I don't have this time ... I really notice it. Everything seems to be that bit more stressful and unproductive.

#2  Get yourself dressed and ready for the day ...

It sounds simple, I know. It's not like any of us would just spend the day trudging around in our nighties or anything?! As simple as this sounds, it really makes a huge difference. Showering and dressing in clothes you love, be it a dress, or a skirt and top, pants, bathers, old clothes, whatever you prefer, is a great way to make sure you are beginning the day prepared, awake and ready to be productive! Do your skincare routine if you have one, put on a bit of makeup if you like, do your hair neatly, etc. It helps me to feel good about myself.

#3  Invest in new stationary ...

It's so good to create, write and learn using brand new stationary that actually works! Our last lot of felt tip pens looked like mini chimney sweep brushes! So, I tossed out the three year old hard crayons, chimney brushes and split pencils and stocked up on new ones! They were on special too, which is a bonus! It's a great incentive for the kids to work well and they've been busy creating beautiful artworks too!

#4  Have your school space as organised as possible ...

Your school space doesn't have to be expensive or fancy if you don't want it to be. Ours is quite basic (the above pic is only a little space of our books etc.) and simple as it's also the main dining room of our home. At the end of every school day we make an effort to put things back where they belong. It makes the whole space available for other activities and family meals, and also ensures that everything that is needed for the children's school work can be easily located when needed, saving time and frustration! Having my children be responsible for their own tidy up is important for many reasons; teaching them tidiness, organisation, respect of their parents home, being productive etc.

#5  Make time for yourself each day ...

I have learnt that if I want to be the best mother I possibly can (with God's help) than I need to take some time each day to just relax. I've learnt that the amount of time in which I have to do this is irrelevant to the benefits that we all receive from it. Even just 15 minutes of lying on the lounge resting, or having a hot cup of tea outside in the cool of the garden while the kids play is a very easy way to 're-charge' for the rest of the day ahead. Looking after ourselves is not selfish when we spend each day looking after the many needs of the ones we love, it is vital if we are to look after them well.

#6  Make time for your marriage ...

I have already posted on this point and you can read about it all here. You and your husband were a family before your children became a part of your story; make sure you take the time to cherish him, hug and kiss him, and build up his self-esteem. Of course, we don't always get this right, but it's important that our men still see that we are making an effort for them and not just our children.

#7  Clean as you go ...

I start some mornings when needed, by putting on a load of washing and asking a couple of my children to put away the clean dishes if they weren't done the night before. Our floors are swept in the morning, our cats fed, and our beds made with rooms relatively tidy. I find that with these basic chores done first thing, I can then go about the day doing other odd jobs in between helping children with school work and other daily activities. We all know what it's like to get to the end of the day and have the house look like a storm's hit. Cleaning as you go really helps to minimise end of day cleanup. Do the dishes at breakfast and lunch, sweep the floor as needed, stock the bathroom with clean towels, take out the rubbish, tidy the bookshelves. You can even fill the sink up with very hot water and detergent and just pop in your dishes as you go, if that works for you! Find ways to clean as you go and you'll find you gain more time at the end of the day!

I know that as our home schooling journey continues, there will be many more lessons to learn! I know that God is leading our journey, and for this I am so thankful! 

Have a beautiful week! 

One Hour Of Bliss!

As we began our home school journey, I knew that I would be having to spread myself between four childrens' needs (and my husbands too) every day, and that this would leave me with not as much time to spend with my husband. Marriage can be like that sometimes can't it? Two adults caught up in their own worlds, sometimes passing like ships in the night? 

Marriage is a relationship, a friendship that is worth making an effort for.

 I began thinking and praying of a way that we could make sure that we still had some time together, just the two of us. In fact, as I began thinking and praying about it, I realised that I was actually quite desperate for some time with just my husband - all to myself, alone, uninterrupted, free, did I mention all to myself? Our husbands are busy men, and they loose sight of, (just like us wives can) of the importance of just being together.

God in His faithfulness, almost immediately, dropped a thought into my mind that I knew would work beautifully for us! We have no family living close by and so we can't regularly leave the home to be by ourselves. His solution is perfect (as they always are!) 

He gave me the idea of spending one whole hour together every Sunday afternoon. And so we have begun this now and have enjoyed it for three Sundays so far! It's nothing fancy at all; we make a coffee, sometimes grab a snack and give the children strict instructions not to interrupt unless it's a safety issue (they are inside watching a movie, or reading or drawing - there is NO going outside or answering the door during this time though).

I tell you - it's one whole hour of bliss! We talk, we laugh, plan, hug, smooch, and share our lives with each other. Seriously, only three weeks of this regular one hour block of time (as we do get to chat through the week too) and we have grown so much closer together already! God is so good how He provides ways to prioritise things that are so important! 

This hour is something that I know I love (and so does my man) and we both are really looking forward to this time together by the end of the week. Church, family lunch, and a whole hour together! What a great way to spend a Sunday! 

I'm so grateful that we serve a God who is a God of relationships! People are everything to Him. People are who He came and died for! 

We don't have to wait for the abundant life that He provides us until we get to Heaven, it's for here and now!

Relationships are here and now! 

And I love my God so much for His answer to this prayer in our life. He is so good!

Could you see this being something that you would enjoy in your marriage too?!  Do you already practise this, or something similar?

I really can't wait until Sunday!

Family Friendly Wednesday: Our Date Night ... Finally!

We finally went on a date night! It's been months! My mum very kindly came up for a visit to look after the kids for us (which they were ecstatic about!) and we set off on our date.

 

It was just so good to have this man all to myself.

 

You know what I mean. You love your kids but sometimes it's nice to have a conversation that is not interrupted by questions like, "Do you know how to say 'How are you' in Latin?" or "You know that song, like that one that we sung a few months ago ... ?" or "Can we please open up the new packet of toothbrushes because this one is leaving little bits in my mouth?" (What is it with kids and new toothbrushes anyway?! I brought some out shopping the other day and left them on the bathroom counter to open later, and Little Miss P saw them and excitedly exclaimed, "Thank you sooooo much mummy! New Toothbrushes!!" ... I just don't get it!)

 

And if it's not kids and questions it's phone calls. "Hello I'm calling you about this top of the range ... " No thanks! Or a work phone call or extended family (you know the ones that you love, but they always have the worst timing to call!), or the school or it's texts messages galore!

 

Not to mention the normal day to day things that must be done, work etc. and pretty soon you're left absolutely craving your man and some time away from responsibility to just enjoy your relationship. Just to have fun, chat, laugh, plan and dream. (also to not cook and clean up after a meal!)

 

Well, I finally had this time with MR S. It was really really really nice!

 

When we were dating, and living in a different suburb, our 'dating spot' was a gorgeous old-fashioned drive-in that we would frequent almost weekly. We would enjoy fish and chips and maltezers (you always have to have maltezers!) ... they were lovely days.

Now that we have moved 'out into the sticks', there is not as much choice for date night 'adventures'.

 

However, this last date night saw us creating a new tradition. We found a new restaurant that we love, and a new chatting spot after we've eaten together where we can enjoy our friendship. It was just so good to remember why I fell in love with this incredible man. I don't know about you, but sometimes with the hum-drum of life we can lose the 'freshness' of our marriage and it can become 'stale' and well ... boring.

 

We are looking forward to many more nights at these places together, it's just so important to us to make the most of this marriage we share as (Lord willing) it will be our only one. We are realising that after many years of marriage that we can't ever get to a point where we don't take time out for each other. It was a wonderful night and we enjoyed it so much!

 

What about you? What are some of your date night traditions with your man?

 

 

 We have a few exciting days ahead of us! Our Little Miss P turns nine tomorrow (I will not cry!) and on Saturday we are going on a family holiday for a week at the beach! So, I will be taking a break from blogging here for a week or so ... look forward to seeing you when I get back!

Enjoy your beautiful families!
 

Fishy DNA

My husband is away on a deep sea fishing trip with some of the men on my side of the family. He's gone for a week and a half. The longest we've been away from each other in twelve years. I miss him. But I know that he needs this. He is such a dedicated and loving husband and father, such a hard worker for us. It's good for him to have time to himself to refresh, regroup and do all that 'manly stuff', without feeling guilty that he's taking time for himself.

I'm sure he's going to catch such huge fish and enjoy many peaceful sunsets and sunrises on the deck of the boat. Nature is how he connects with God the most. Nature and silence. He's one of those 'still waters run deep' kind of guys ... love him to bits. Hopefully he'll come back toting an esky full of fresh fillets that he caught for the ones he loves the most.

It does us good as wives to let our husbands be who they are. We shouldn't hold tightly to the reins or try to change them to become someone they're not. Instead, we should be striving to lovingly support and encourage them in their hopes, dreams, skills, interests, passions, faith, health, fathering, work and on and on (even though we may be thinking on the inside of how many things we will be doing without that extra pair of hands while they're gone).

Our husbands just need our love and respect ladies. An acceptance of who they are, just as they are (despite their flaws, which they all - and we all have). My man, I'm sure, is part fish. It's in His DNA! And so for me to deny him time to enjoy something he loves and makes him who he is, is not just stopping him from being the best he can be, it's outright selfish. 

While I/we do miss him terribly, I wouldn't want him to have not gone. He's going to be having the time of his life out there! (While I've had to pray through fear of great white sharks lunging themselves onto the deck of the boat and gulping my mans torso off ... that's how it happens in the movies right?!).

I am so happy that he has this time to himself. He needs and deserves it.

Let's be women who encourage our men, who bring out the best in them. Who help them accomplish God's plan for their lives. Who don't act selfishly when they ask for some time to themselves (however, if your man is taking too much time, don't nag - pray!)

No doubt, there will be photos to come of all the gigantic fish my man caught (can you tell I'm biased!) So stay tuned ...

... this should be good!