How is your routine?

 It’s still September!  How is your routine?  My friend, Linda, felt behind before Co-op resumed!  She is a mother of seven children and was dreading fall, Co-op, and commitments, such as American Heritage Girls.  My friend, Joanna, just moved.  Another mom in our Co-op is battling cancer.  I see first hand how hard it is to adjust to a home-school schedule.  Are you tempted to give up and enroll your kiddos in public schools?  One of the Co-op moms last year did.  She was expecting baby four and moving to a new house.  (BTW she pulled the children back out after Christmas.). Before you go nuclear, look at your routine.  Are the kiddos going to bed and getting up at regular hours.  No, they don’t have to go to bed at 8 PM and awaken at 6 AM; but families with regular hours tend to have a better daily structure.  How many outside commitments do you have?  Is your child enrolled in tennis, French, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, dance, and Mathnasium?  Pare back.  Focus on fundamentals: English, Math, History, and Science.  Select one activity.  Really!  Are you a busy volunteer?  It is hard to say no.  Do it!  Explain you need to focus on your family!  Pick a volunteer activity your family can do once or twice a year, such as sorting donations for the Food Pantry.  Right now, you want to home-school.  Make that your biggest goal.  Ask yourself what can go!  Hey!  Make breakfast for dinner!  Substitute a walk after lunch for soccer.  Put the kiddos to bed at 8:00 PM.  You and your husband can have a conversation!  Let’s get the routine sorted!