When I started homeschooling 6 weeks ago I didn't think I needed a set schedule for our day. I thought the schedule would just come naturally. Boy was I wrong! I am at times so scatter-brained. I will walk around the house not even knowing where to start and then nothing gets done because I don't know what to do first. It has been pretty bad. Luckily though, I am trying to get my act together.
Before school started a women approached me after Mass one morning and started chatting with me. After talking for a few minutes, she handed me a book A Mother's Rule of Life. I wasn't really sure if the book was for me or when I would have time to read it, but I took it and thanked her. Well, school started, the house became a disaster area, and I had NO free time to sit and read. Finally one Sunday afternoon I did have a chance to read a little and I loved it! The author, Holly Pierlot, is so funny and witty and this was only the introduction! Anyway, the point of the book is to "bring order to your home and peace to your soul". Mrs. Pierlot looks at the example of the Rule of Life religious live by that organizes everything that has to do with their vocation. It is basically looking at what you and each of your family members (husband and kids) need to get through the day. The way she does it is to look at the 5 P's: Prayer, Person, Partner, Parent, Provider.
I have only gotten through the first P, Prayer. I looked at my day and set aside time to pray, whether it be formal prayer, scripture reading, reciting the rosary or chaplet, going to Mass. This is an area I was seriously lacking in my everyday. Now I have my little notebook and can refer back to it as needed. I wrote down what prayers were important to me and when throughout the day I could prayer and have the kids be doing some other activity or praying with me. I have been at it for a week now and have to say my prayer life has improved immensely. It definitely takes discipline though, like when there is laundry to be folded and the kids are distracted it is tough not to just get the folding done and then pray. Instead of doing this, I need to take the opportunity to pray then fold.
One of my favorite lines from the book is: "there is a time slot for everything" brilliant! Don't worry about tidying up throughout the day, it will get done at 3:30. This mindset has really helped me focus on the task at hand. Of course there is the exception when the kids need to be attended to. Holly says that her kids started to notice the house wasn't as messy when they picked up after themselves...imagine that! I am excited to see what the rest of the book does for me. I will for sure be keeping you updated. I highly recommend you check out the book! Here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Rule-Life-ring-Order/dp/1928832415/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380689976&sr=1-1&keywords=a+mother%27s+rule+of+life
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