Space or clutter?


We have tried it all ways and I have found if I clear out MOST THINGS that have not been used in the last 6 months then we are off to a good start.  It takes me a week to clear shelves and draws and boxes and then I have a corner for all the things we are going to sell and we have a carbooty or take things to a charity shop.  We go to the dump with all the stuff we are sure will not sell and we have a house which gives us back time.

In the past most weeks I found myself in the middle of a declutter and I was just able to climb over the cushions and piles of papers (no matter how organised and tidy I worked hard to be).  Each declutter stage makes life easier so lately I decided to go for it and get rid of it 99% of that stuff I just knew I did'nt need!  Now I would say it takes me 30 mins max to do a tidy round when it looks a tip.   So Hi to reality out there and I must now turn to this tardis (What does the name TARDIS mean? Time And Relative Dimensions In Space? anyone) and ensure I continue on my routines which make life easier and give me more time.

ROUTINES


Beginning a new year of School life is daunting for most of us.  Homeschoolers often feel that the school year never really begins as it does not really end.  The summer also holds so many opportunities for education!   BUT, it is tempting to be drawn into the September beginning of year.  And it is fun.  Perhaps a uniform for this year?  or a school pen box?  or those lovely lunch boxes!!?  Usually we have aimed to get something but failed, this year I am quietly determined that I will try this year and begin a ROUTINE, ahhhhh!

Routines

I have found that routines are essential for ensuring that the basics get done.  I am not rigid about studies or life, but, I have found that routines help myself and the children in many ways.
It is important that children grow up to be able to accomplish.  They need to be able to follow things through to an end and I have found routines are an easy and effective way of enabling children and adults to build these habits.

It is very difficult for most of us to work through the difficult stage of accomplishment.  We often get off to a good if not great start, begin to dwindle, pull it together again and then loose energy for the final furlong.  I have found routines help to combat this habit and build the character tools needed to make it to the desired goal.

I am building some more pages about routines and making it to your desired goal so I will place a link here when I have completed them.

Study Routines

Robinson Curriculum is a great place for learning about routine with some ideas that might inspire you.  After years of homeschooling Mr Robinson discloses all.  5 hours school work a day, No sugar, computor or TV.  History, Geography and Science are read as pleasure time reads.   Mr Robinson presents his self taught children who can truely claim they have taught themselves and gained top grades.  I can recommned the self taught methods as this is how we decided to enable our children to learn.  We recognised that it needs an individual to think through and work to understand concepts and ideas.  So we have encouraged our children to recognise when they best study, how they best study and when they want to study what i.e; what inspires them and how to use those influences and moments of desire to learn.

We have decided to follow some of Mr Robinsons techniques and inspiration.  I firmly believe that our kids do best when teaching themselves and finding the desire to learn.  My big trouble at the moment is inspiring that desire!!  That is what this web site is ALL about.  Working out how to ignite the flames and learning how to follow through to a desired and wholesome conclusion.

Another fav' author of ours is Robin Samson (heartofwisdom.com).  She has inspired and kept me on the straight and narrow.  Thank you to Robin from all our family.  She is at the moment compiling another work which is about 'lesson creation'.  I have no doubt this will be worth getting and a blessing and help for all who use it.  She has also written What and When Your Child needs to know, which I have found very encouraging.

FINDING THE DESIRE TO BE INSPIRED


I believe this is harder than we think.  It is ok when we first begin but chaos and pressure take over and knock us off the straight and narrow path we know will lead us to our desired outcome.

So here I call aloud.... KEEP IT SIMPLE.
The path is narrow and trying to carry to many suitcases and hats unsteadies us and an inevitable fall awaits.  So keep a light case and one hat for an easy journey.

Remember I mentioned AID on the homepage?
Well this is really the crux of that.

We want to  Aspire to something, so we learn
We want to be Inspired by things, so we learn
We want to Desire enough to make an impact, so we learn

All of us need to find out what makes us tick.  What do we enjoy? 
What do members of our family enjoy and what makes them tick.  If we can look out for each other then we will be able to encourage each other and help each other meet full potential.

Family brainstorm!

Our Routine this year

Each year our routines change.  As the children grow older and as the things we are needing to do alter so we adapt our routines to enable us to fulfill our goals.