Christy's homeschool day in the life(with 8-,7-,6-,4- & 2-year-old)

Whoa. Is that post title really my life?

Wow. That escalated quickly.

I'm joining up with Simple Homeschool's linkup of day-in-the-life posts because I haven't done one in about a year (sorry if you are tired of reading about homeschooling, I'm so over-the-top about it, aren't I?) and things are so different every year. I hope this will be a nice little time capsule to one day look back on. (But I never look back at old blog posts because I die of embarrassment! I'm a walking contradiction over here!)

Before I get into the nitty-gritty: we definitely lean towards routine and not going by the clock, our days vary in intensity depending on my energy level, the toddlers energy levels, and the weather, but for the most part this is what our days look like on the whole. Our afternoons can look different if there are errands, appointments, or activities which means we're usually gone all afternoon because we live 25 min. from our town. Disclaimer finished.

7:00-8:00 am: I usually wake up sometime after 7 and try to get in some quiet time for myself. It truly makes me a nicer person to be around. I try to start with morning prayer, then I check Facebook and emails, read my favourite blogs, and try to eat something myself because if I don't eat now I won't get another chance till after lunch!

8:00 am: The kid's wake up/are released from their rooms! The kids are usually awake before 8, but I really need some time to myself so they follow our household rule that no one comes out of their rooms other than to use the bathroom until mom comes to wake them up. Usually the toddler/preschooler talk to themselves or their siblings, sometimes they're still asleep when I go in, sometimes they're screaming at me, the big boys usually play lego quietly in their room before I wake them. I give them their breakfast as soon as possible to avoid mass rebellion, and we usually try to do poetry memorization during breakfast as well as reading the life of the saint of the day. We alternate between poems and Shakespeare and it's pretty freaking adorable to have your 2-year-old be able to recite Shakespeare, if I do say so myself.

8:30-9:00: The kid's do a couple chores, unload the dishwasher, put away laundry, pick up the bathroom, wipe the table etc. while the younger kids play. I usually am running around dealing with people's bathroom issues, finding underwear, washing dishes, finding a child emptying a pantry, turning off faucets that have been left on(why??) and the like. After chores I usually let them do whatever they want so they'll be playing, drawing, crafting or whatever. They've got plenty of books they read or at least look at themselves on varying topics. Right now it's Korea, space exploration, Little House picture books, and Star Wars, naturally.

9:00: Sometime after 9 when I've had sufficient coffee and have gotten the kitchen in some semblance of order we sit down to do what sorta is morning time. I'll read aloud from our current read-aloud, then I'll work with one of the older three on their particular catechism lesson, or I'll read a some kind of history or science book. We loop the subjects so every day we'll tackle something a little different but it will be read aloud by me and we'll try and talk about it altogether since my kids are so close in age this works well for us. The toddlers meanwhile are pulling the house apart, trying to jump off every piece of furniture, spending time in the corner, and ignoring the puzzles and games they've been given to play with at this time. You know, the ushe.

Shenanigans.

9:50-10:15: Sometime in here I need a break. I lovingly encourage everyone to go downstairs and play before I assign tedious tasks of cleaning or banishment. I will usually also spend some one on one time with the littles so they become less howler-monkey-like. They will usually want to wash dishes with me, have a special story, or ask me to do a puzzle. I try and squeeze this time in so they'll be a bit satisfied while I do sit-down work with the big 3.

10:15: I work with Luke, the 6-year old, as we go through his sit-down work of writing and reading practice. It doesn't take too long, usually 30-40 minutes. He is really active so the short period of time focusing and sitting is perfect for him. While I'm working with him the older kids are entertaining the littles downstairs.

10:45-11:30 or 12:00: I do sit down work with the older two kids. We work through their writing practice everyday, then do reading/phonics. I just feel so much better about life by making writing/reading a consistent everyday thing. It also doesn't take them too long, we cover spelling and phonics, and it goes by quickly. If toddlers can't behave downstairs they get to spend some alone time in their cribs. It's honestly not that long, they can handle it.

11:45 - lunch: The kids get to watch some kind of tv. Usually Wild Kratts and Ready, Jet, Go. I'm usually a bit fried by now and just need a bit of time to de-compress. This is my only time in the day to write, or edit, or work on podcast stuff, or email without a TON of distractions. The kids usually rummage for snacks sometime during this time as well.

12:30: Usually lunchtime. Since we enjoy the benefits of getting up late we aren't famished for lunch until about 12:30 or so. One of the older kids will help make sandwiches and we try to keep the starving little people at bay with fruit and nuts. Sometimes we listen to an audio book during lunch, sometimes classical music, sometimes a musical, sometimes I just want to listen to my own podcast so they must create their own diversions.

1:00: Math time! I know we're capable of getting all our schoolwork done before lunch. But I just found trying to cram it in with 3 people to teach and 2 people to fend off was making me crazy. So we just do math after lunch when we're all a bit refreshed, it's worked fairly well this year. Usually the toddlers are either still refusing to eat their lunch so they're just at the table, or they're running off happy to have escaped being forced to finish their lunches. Again, math doesn't take too long because my kids are young.

1:30-2:00: If there are still chores left to do this is the time they need to get done, or this is more play time or craft time or the kids will take turns playing education apps on the iPad.

2:00-the rest of the afternoon: Outside time! We live out in the country so the kids can go out and roam and play on swings and do whatever. They're usually out for at least an hour unless the weather is bad, and I try to go out and get some outside time in here as well. Then we'll walk over to my parents house who live nearby, we'll spend time there, the 2-year-old will have a nap, then we walk home.

5:00-8:00: The kids will play board or card games while I throw together some kind of dinner, or they'll draw, or just occupy themselves downstairs. Or puzzles of all shapes and sizes appear with a million pieces spread all over the floor-but it's supper time so I ignore the chaos or else we wouldn't eat. My husband is usually home by 6, we'll eat shortly after. Then my husband takes over - he'll read them more books, or help with math if the older kids need it, or just build forts in the basement until it's time for baths, prayers, and bed. Since it's winter I usually hole myself up in my bedroom and do laundry, or read, or crochet, or just watch copious amounts of The Good Wife.

8:00-till I go to bed: The kids are in bed and I'm exhausted and pretty much done. I'll fold laundry while watching tv, or play a game with my husband, then I have a bath and go read in bed until I can't keep my eyes open any longer so I can do it all again tomorrow!

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