Rhythm in Our Home

by Mrs. Mallard

Daily rhythm is something I’ve been reading about on two of my favorite blogs.   It’s also something I spend a lot of time thinking about!  More than a strict schedule based on the clock, for me rhythm is the flow of the day, the in-breaths and out-breaths of all of our activities.  Our daily rhythm right now looks like this:

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Mom and kids all wake up at the same time.

Mom prepares breakfast while kids dress, make beds, brush teeth, play.

Everyone eats breakfast together. Mom cleans up. :(

Morning Devotional.  This consists of a hymn, a scripture we are memorizing, and scripture reading.

Grade 4 child’s Main Lesson.  Grade 1 child reads independently, does Spanish lesson, plays.

Outside Break.  (This used to be a walk every day, but now the baby has started taking a huge nap during this time and so I’ve been sending the kids outside alone.)

Grade 1 child’s Main Lesson. Grade 4 child reads independently and does Spanish.

Lunch.  Mom cleans up. :(

Rest Hour.  I usually read blogs and try to write during this time, but it doesn’t seem like the best time.

“Specials” Mon – piano lessons & library; Tues. – Handwork; Wed. – baking/cooking; Thurs. – painting

Play Time

Dinner Preparation – I cook.  Fourth Grader feeds animals & sets table.  First Grader empties dishwasher.

Family Book Reading – We are reading The Incredible Journey right now.

Mom puts baby to bed while big kids play.

Big kids to bed.

Husband and I chill with me taking care of waking baby as needed.

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So when do we do our chores?!  That’s my hugest issue!  Some mornings I’ll throw in laundry folding or a quick house pick-up, but I need to implement a daily chore schedule that we stick to like glue.  I know my big kids are able to help out with housework more than they do right now.  (Like meal clean-up!)  I’m planning to sit down and tackle a chore schedule to implement ASAP.

The other change I would like to make is getting myself up before the kids.  I have tried this many times in the past only to be frustrated that the earlier I get up, the earlier my kids get up and once again I’m left with no personal time. 

Here are the posts on rhythm from The Parenting Passageway: One; Two; Three

Here is the post from Celebrate the Rhythm of Life.

What is your daily rhythm?  How do you handle your housework?

Thanks for reading!