Large Family Survival — A Basic Schedule

I have been asked many times, how I do it all with my large family. I discovered a powerful tool — the dreaded schedule. I have tried many versions of scheduling, some with some success and many with not so great of a success.

What I have found that works for us is using a basic outline of a schedule. I use what I call anchor times. Others call these times pegs. These are the times that are set in stone for the family. For us they are wake up times, meal times and bedtimes. Everything else is worked in around these times in block of time

This Basic Schedule is our current schedule.  As you can see it is very basic, but it provides a guide for our day.  I don’t get stressed out over 15 minute increments of time, which I do if I use a more detailed schedule.  We have a large block of time for homeschooling in the morning so I can cover the topics we need.  If we wind up on a rabbit trail, so be it.  If we finish early, then we have more free time.  The afternoon also has a large block of time for homeschooling. We don’t often use it all, but I have it if we need it.

This outline has reduced the stress for all of us over the past couple of months so I know we will be sticking with it for a while.

I would love to know how you all manage your days.

Pax Christi,

A married woman must often leave God at the altar in order to find Him in her housework ~~St. Francis of Rome

4 AM Madness

Here I am up and semi awake at 4 AM. Marian woke up at 2:30 and decided that it was time to get up and play. Could not convince her that the rest of the world needs to sleep and so does she. I gave up trying, but should have done that about an hour ago, then I wouldn’t have all three up.

I love the winter break and having everyone around all the time, but the past two weeks have really been a schedule killer. Large snow storm, snow days, winter break, Liz home from college, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve have all definitely been the bullets. Oh and we can’t forget Dad is home all the time too. Naps have been non existent, bedtimes have been off and sleeping later has been the norm. I know better! Schedules work and everyone thrives, work gets done and Mom gets sleep, but the lure of the laid back called and I now I will pay for it.

Thankfully, Monday morning Richard has been cleared to return to work and those in the public school system head back to school. I am looking forward to getting back on the schedule. So the next week or two will be spent getting everyone back into the groove.

I still find it amazing that takes so little to make such a huge change and then it takes at least twice as long to get everyone back on track.

A married woman must often leave God at the altar in order to find Him in her housework ~~St. Francis of Rome