Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
This week we’re joined by Vicki Bentley, HSLDA’s Early Years coordinator. Vicki, on our last program, you discussed why organization is so important in a homeschooling household. As we help moms start getting organized, let’s start with time management.

Vicki Bentley:
Well, we moms sometimes feel like the juggler doing the plate-spinning act: running from pole to pole, trying to keep the plates spinning so that they don’t crash. Mom, what are some of your plates?

Well, time management is about deciding which plates are important and which ones you can let go of for this season of life, when your main ministry is to your children. So set some goals, and then prioritize. Outline a weekly routine for yourself, such as Monday is co-op and errands, Tuesday is laundry. And if my routine includes, say, a Tuesday laundry day, I don’t have to feel stressed over a mile-high hamper on Monday, because it’s not my laundry day! And even the 2–year–old can put his clothes in the hamper or help empty the wastebaskets. So involve your kids! Our girls had daily before-school checklists, so we were more likely to start the day on track for success. Work from a to-do list and a calendar, if you need to, and then take some time to go over last week’s progress, and plan for next week. And, finally, expect the unexpected, and leave yourself some margin and breathing room.

And if you’re feeling like the plates have already crashed, our website has an article just for you entitled, “When Life Broadsides Your Homeschool.”

Mike:
Vicki, those are very helpful suggestions—thank you for that encouragement! And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.