It has helped us in having regular school and reading aloud times, keeping our house and it's contents under control, and developing a philosophy behind the work ethic it takes to run a household of 6 where all but 1 of it's members are here all day everyday!
Sorry, LOTS of run on sentences going on in this blog post!
This is is it:
Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
With the tools this book has given me, our days are more like a well-oiled machine instead of the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants that they used to be. I can not implement every suggestion in this textbook sized resource, but I can tell you I recommend it with all of my heart. Prayer, God's word and this book are where I turn when I need an attitude check and some help with my days, because no one ever says life with 4 little children is easy.
Here is a daily schedule we pretty much stick to everyday, for anyone interested:
6:10- breakfast and movie, because Mommy ain't functioning yet.
7:30-morning chores
8:00~ish- Savannah works on spelling, reading and math, sometimes Liam has a school activity
9:30~ish- time for fresh fruit mid-morning snack and usually a bible verse is read aloud at the kitchen table. (usually means if there are no screaming babies on me or at my feet).
Time up to lunch is spent playing blocks, coloring, play doh, or painting. Or playing mommy and spider which is the kids current fave game to play with each other, Liam's the spider, and Savannah is the mommy wearing high heeled dress up shoes while riding on his back as he crawls. Or doing hairstyles, dress up, playing cars, etc...
11:00- Lunch
After lunch, read with Felicity at some point, and put her down for a nap.
12:30-1:30- Quiet Time for everyone, sometimes the kids play alone or find a constructive activity to play with each other, but they must not fight, yell, scream or whine.
1:30-3:00~ ish- fit in read aloud time, which is Savannah reading aloud to me for a short period, then me reading to Savannah and Liam from a selection of books. Our chapter book right now is Little House on the Prairie. Read aloud time also encompasses learning about history, geography, literature, etc. It just happens! Yesterday we read from our Compassion International magazine during this time. We learned how people can help impoverished children. We learned how a little girl that grows up in a city dump in Guatemala can eventually be taken care of, schooled and taught the love of God and know she is not trash, like she once thought she was. This time is invaluable.
3:00-ish- Felicity awake, snacks and free play time, another movie is usually on the agenda to ward off a toddler fit. Weather permitting, outdoor playtime.
4:30- Afternoon chore time where we all just simply clean, pick up toys, fold laundry, vacuum, sweep, clean bedrooms, all of these things have to be done everyday.
6:00 Dinner with dad
*See the book in the background?My days usually fit the above schedule, sometimes they are off due to trips to town, and sometimes they are off because we are off our rockers and can't get back on.
I am not showing off or bragging about my somewhat structured daily schedule. I know there are more things we could be fitting in, and I know some days things don't go as planned. If anyone were to ever see my blogs and think "Man, she sure has everything together" I would truly be saddened. My main goal everyday is to be a loving mom and educate my children in a way that is fitting for them, our family, and our faith. My other main goal is trying to keep a somewhat clean house and keep clean socks in every one's drawers and keep everyone fed. This book helps me accomplish my goals!
