For several years I have searched for the perfect schedule. I’ve put a lot of pressure on August and January every year thinking, “This is it. This semester I will create the most harmonious, productive, creative, spiritual blend of time, educational tricks and stimulating activities and we will do it all! While singing cheerfully, holding hands!”

 

And every mid-August and mid-January I have torn down my laminated schedule and started a new one.

 

I feel like I’d be better off writing a list of HOW NOT to start your morning off right. Tips you should write down like:

 

• Stay in bed a little too long after you know the kids are up.
• Turn on your computer and get sucked into reading about how to be a better parent while feral children make their own breakfast.
• Foolishly skip breakfast or coffee for yourself in order to demand that start school “on time”.
• Criticize your husband’s choice of clothes for work right before he leaves.
• Sleep in yet rush around to keep an arbitrary schedule.
• Begin school at a messy table with the least favorite subject.
• Start cleaning on a huge project that would be better left for a Saturday.
• Take a phone call and lose all control of routine for the day while children make confetti. For you.

 

 

In reality, schedules should or could change every year because in that new year you have kids at different ages than you did the year before. My day when I had boys that were 4 and 8 looks nothing like it does now that they are 8 and 12.

 

I have however found a few principles that help the feel of the morning start off on a positive note. Or at least attempt to.

 

 

Principles are more like ideas or ideals that may look different in each household.

They are not hard and fast rules that make all observers blissfully perfect.

For each “principle” I have included the “practice” that is lately working for us. You may have a similar goal but it may be carried out differently in your own way. And that’s beautiful! Keep it up!

Part 1 of this series will focus on a Spiritual emphasis and Part 2 will focus on organization and schoolwork, both geared more toward homeschooling or those long summer days at home. Part 3 will focus on principles for getting those kids off to school well, written by an awesome guest writer!

 

So…

1. Be attentive and win their hearts before the day begins.

 

Maybe it’s just me, but I have found that I can start off the morning rushing about, cleaning up, setting up work and not have really stopped to look or listen to my children. But then I want their full attention as soon as we sit down to the table.

Before we enter that school room and I expect them to ponder heavy Bible questions, diagram complex sentences and perfect their cursive, have I set us up to begin in a connected and loving way? Did I help them with breakfast when they needed it? Listen to their dream from last night and say Good Morning to their stuffed animal? These tiny moments do fill their cups and make them more receptive to me. I think they are worth they pause in my schedule to start our communication well.

 

I love this advice from my friend, Adria:  “I always find it helpful when my morning interaction with them includes a big smile when I first see them (especially since I’m not naturally a morning person, but my kids are). It seems like that’s a way I can invite the Holy Spirit into my home and show my thankfulness for my children in a way that speaks to their spirits. Sometimes it’s hard to smile on mornings when they wake me up before the alarm, but it sets such a positive tone.”

 

What have you communicated to your kids before the school work begins?

 

2.  Give them a sense of ownership and peace about the new day by telling them what to expect.

 

My kids really appreciate knowing what the day holds. I know because they ask me every hour!

What I have found that helps to calm down those questions and give them a sense of peace and ownership about the day is writing our schedule down on a marker board every morning.

 

 

I love any practice that accomplishes more than one purpose. Like, I don’t miss an opportunity to make everything a lesson! Recently we have started the habit of quickly discussing and writing down the schedule for the day and then teaching them to pray through the day using the schedule board. For example, looking at the list pictured above –

 

“Think about what part of the school day is the most difficult for you. Can you ask Jesus to help you not be distracted and learn? 

We have to learn a lot for co-op this week. Can you ask for help with focus and memory to accomplish this?

Dad and I need you to sit quiet through a meeting today. Can you ask for help to be patient and content?

We have Date Night and you will be with a favorite sitter this evening. How can we pray for her today? Can you ask for help in getting along well as brothers? How can we pray for Mom and Dad’s marriage (showing them this priority between us as important)?”

 

This practice does help us to think down through our day and feel prepared by inviting God’s Spirit to meet us in each part.

I try to do my own version of this before we begin. I think though the school subjects, knowing which ones tend to bring tears, asking God to equip me to be the best teacher for them in the moment. I think through my appointments or meetings, the girls I am going to meet with, asking God to equip me for those needs and inviting His Spirit to lead me. When I have asked ahead of time, I am not shaken when that difficult part of the day arrives. I have asked Him to equip for this moment and He will! He delights in us seeking His fingerprints on our day and joyfully equips us for every good task.

 

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹ equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us^[a] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21

 

And also, I bought them their own watch.

 

 

*My son has continued this practice on his own and my heart explodes when I find lists like this – (Snapper is the turtle) – 

 

 

 

What can I do to help my children feel prepared and less anxious about today?

 

3. Prepare the workspace for lessons academic & spiritual. 

 

I am making it a habit to have any quiet time (I’ll admit it’s usually brief!) using the table we use for school. I spend many hours of the day in this small workspace but if I begin it there I am mindful to ask God to bless the most important job I have for the day – teaching their minds and hearts to know not only facts, but to encounter the presence of God. I need His help. They need His help. Asking for blessing, guidance and patience for later in the day, at this table, is a tangible reminder later when I am struggling through math lessons. I have sat here and asked. And I trust His presence to help me. I want them to grow up knowing that.

I know for many of you the school work or playtime takes place at the breakfast table that you just cleaned up, but praying over breakfast and contemplating your day happens there naturally! You’re actually ahead of the rest of us! Thoughtfulness about the school day, schedules and prayer request would fit easily with breakfast prayer time.

 

What can you do to welcome the day and it’s challenges, offering them to the Lord, for your family’s benefit?

 

 

I hope these principles can be helpful starting places if your home and schooling is in need of a new focus. If I can affect how our home feels, even if that just starts with me, I think the effort is worth the try. My children are not yet grown, so please bless our community of intentional readers by sharing your tips or experiences in the Comments below. We would love to hear from you! 

 

Who did this story remind you of? Would you share it with them today?

 

Please sign up for our Community Email list and don’t miss –

Part 2 – Principles to start your morning off right: Homeschool Prep

A Proverb a Day with your Kids – simple lessons using 1 verse and a dictionary!

Family Meeting: Unexpected quality time you won’t want to miss!

 

Check out other Christian based and parenting articles on the Salt & Light Linkup!