• Home
  • About
  • Christian Encouragement
    • Christian Encouragement
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Purity
  • Book Reviews
  • Homemaking
    • Homemaking
    • Recipes
  • Home Education
    • Home Education
    • Nature Studies
  • Creative Corner
    • Stories
    • Poetry

Kept and Keeping

~ Rest in Grace, Labor in Love

Kept and Keeping

Tag Archives: INTJ Homeschool Mom

The Afternoon Checklist — A Homeschool (or After School!) Life Hack

31 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by Lauren Scott in Home Education

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

After School, Afternoon Checklist, back to school, Home Education, Homeschool Hacks, INTJ Homeschool Mom, INTJ Mommy, MBTI

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you.

Do your kids have a favorite activity they default to in their free time? Do you wish they would spend at least some of their time on other enriching activities? Music practice? Other games or toys? Homework? Playing outside?

Do you also want to teach your children to be a bit more self-directed? And maybe give yourself some space to tackle a project with minimal (or at least less than constant) interruptions?

As an INTJ homeschool mom who highly values focused work time, I sure do.

Maybe you can relate to what I used to face every day after lunch (just replace “Legos” with your child’s current obsession):

“Mama, can we play with Legos?”

lego bricks toys after school play

 

“Is your room clean?”

…

“Mama, can we play with Legos now?”

“Hmm…have you even finished your school work?”

…

“Can we NOW??”

“Just a minute, I’m [cleaning something, on the phone, solving a problem in our budget, in the middle of cooking or writing, etc] … Uh…sure?”

Then shouts of jubilation trail behind the eager engineers as they scurry off to their Lego corner.

And about thirty minutes later I realize there were at least two other things I would have liked for them to do first.

Sigh.

Now, my kids are not ruined because I didn’t have a nice, neat list for them ready at hand (and neither are yours, to be honest), but my own sanity and ideals sure do take a beating when I allow this scenario to become our default routine.

While I might buy myself some uninterrupted time by just giving in to the kids’ repeated pleas, regret inevitably sinks in later when I realize the house is a mess, school supplies are still out, or they haven’t been outside at all on a beautiful day.

I began to realize a little forethought could make a big difference.

My kids love their Legos, and I do, too! But I know they need more than just Legos in their lives. So at the beginning of the summer I created an Afternoon Checklist for each of my boys.

afternoon checklist homeschool after school

I thought through the daily responsibilities I wanted them to fulfill and put those at the top. These must all be completed.

Then, I added two more sections, one focusing on creative or mind-building activities that could be done inside, and one listing some productive or nature-study related activities to be done outside (weather permitting). They are required to choose one from each section.

homeschool afternoon checklist kids

We value things like handicrafts, nature study, life skills, art, and science in the education we’re trying to give our children, but I’m a bit of a low-energy mom and I have found it difficult to always be the one to make these things happen. Now, I know we’re getting to them consistently without a lot of effort from me.

It’s a win for everyone.

The particular activities listed usually don’t require my help to initiate, but sometimes they do. Whether or not an activity is approved may depend upon my project workload that afternoon, but I try to say “yes” most of the time.

This does two things for us: it gives my boys boundaries within which they (usually) have freedom to choose whatever they like, and it still gives me some veto or redirection power with a list of options right there in front of me (no more decision fatigue!).

I also put one activity on their lists that DOES require me. I can’t just check-out all afternoon, only interacting with my kids on a utilitarian basis (a mode which I find all-too-easy to fall into). So I built a little bit of accountability for ME into these cards as well. Both my boys appreciate this, but I know my particularly sociable one (likely an ESFJ) absolutely needs it.

While both of my boys enjoy the predictability of their afternoon checklists (hey, it’s nice to know what’s required of you!), my six-year-old particularly loves his, calling it his “Ticket to ride the fun train!”

And no, I did not feed him that line! That’s all him!

afternoon checklist laminated homeschool

I used regular index cards and these nifty laminating pouches. 🙂

It may not be Legos in your home. Maybe it’s soccer. Or screen time. Or playing dress-up. Or even something so wonderful as reading! Whatever it is, it’s good in it’s proper place, but a “good” part can crowd out the “better” whole of a well-rounded childhood.

Of course, my oldest has a birthday this week and his one request (with the day off from school and his Papa home from work) is to spend the entire day playing Legos.

We’ll indulge him on his special day.  Because a well-rounded childhood can include that sort of thing, too.  😉

 

As you may have noticed, part of the motivation for these afternoon checklist cards has been to carve out a bit more peace of mind for me while simultaneously meeting the needs of my children. One thing that has helped me to see those needs—and especially how my children’s budding personalities differ from my own!—is Mystie Winckler’s Practical Personality Portfolio. In fact, she’s got a live chat on Educating All Types scheduled for Thursday, August 2 for anyone who has purchased the Personality Portfolio. I’ll be tuning in! Will you?

 

First Day Confessional

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by Lauren Scott in Christian Encouragement, Home Education, Motherhood

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

back to school, Bullet Journal, first day of school, God's patience, Homeschool Confessional, homeschool encouragement, homeschooling, INTJ Homeschool Mom, motherhood, Planning

img_0003.jpg

Many of the public schools in our area started back yesterday, and so did we.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you might be a little confused since I posted about our “First Day” back in July.

That would be the first of my confessions.

I thought that in the middle of all of our remodeling craziness it would be a good idea to re-institute some order by starting back to school.  We made it a whopping four days before a trip and life in general took over again.

So yesterday was technically something like day five (or six if we’re counting the immersive day of water color painting last week–hey, I’m counting it!).

I’m just thankful that my husband encouraged me not to worry about it.  Now that the living room is, well, livable again, we can start to throw some school into the mix.

His support has been invaluable since we would, in theory, like to have our kids keep going with at least math and reading through the summer months.  I planned to just take June off, and keep a bit of review going even on break, but it stretched into an extra month-and-a-half and our review became non-existent.

And it’s ok.  Really, Lauren, it’s ok.

But those scheduled intentions are just surface-level.  I’ve got some deeper issues to confess, as well.

This is our fourth year of officially homeschooling and yet I have felt less prepared than ever.  I gave up on a traditional homeschool planner this year, opting to build my own system for planning and record keeping (a combination of Plan Your Year, a bullet journal, and clipboards for the kids).  I hope to share some reviews, articles, and videos about it sometime soon once the dust clears and the wires are all rigged up in our remodeled office/studio.  But the process has been like stepping out on an invisible floor, hoping there is something to stand on when you land.

Unlike Indiana Jones, however, on our first day of school yesterday, instead of finding a firm footing, I literally slipped on the slick, wet front steps, finding that gravity still works and that landing your rear on the corner of the step an entire foot lower than your feet began makes for a very purple derriere and quite a stiff and sore neck.

This didn’t exactly quell my fear of more figurative slips.  Again I’m reminded of the only truly firm footing I have in the first place–and that gives me strength to press on.

I know that the end result will be a good one–having a completely customized system that meets our needs better than any pre-fab planner ever could.  But with a new arrangement on paper comes a new arrangement of habits–both mental and physical–and building those habits takes time.  I need to have patience with the process, trust that it will be worth it, and simply recognize the little adjustments that have to be made along the way as a part of what makes it better.

All of that said, our first day went wonderfully well!  My well-laid plans did pay off!

At least, before lunch.

Our first day of school started well but ended woefully.

In my planning I took into consideration the longer-than-ever-time-off from which we would be recovering, and I tweaked our curriculum accordingly–especially math.  My big boy would do only half of the worksheet.  My youngest would copy numbers, do some basic math facts, and then we’d play a math game.  The almost-six-year old finished his work in no time, blazing through math, reading, and copy work so he could go to town with his beloved watercolors the rest of the morning.

I was thrilled.  This was easy.

The just-turned-eight-year-old, however, struggled to focus.  His work certainly should have taken longer than his little brother’s, but it drug on and on and on needlessly.  I told him time didn’t matter, that he didn’t need to set a timer, just work diligently.  But he set the timer anyway and then stressed himself out with it.  Long story short, he was anything but diligent, even when I gave him breaks to go outside or read and then come back to it with a fresh mind.  His score in the end was near perfect, but it was well into the afternoon before he finished and then there was language arts to do.

I was patient for the morning.  But eventually my patience ran out.

I had planned fun activities for our afternoon.  A game, read-alouds over Afternoon Tea.  Things my children LOVE.

But a dawdler was messing up my plans to do him good.

I escaped into my own projects and spent some time online to boot.

“I’ve tried to help you.  You won’t be helped.  I’m done.”

Signing off.  Checking out.  On day one.

Bravo, Lauren.

Over dinner my husband asked us each how our day had gone and how we felt about it.  There was good, there was bad, and there was ugly.  But it was good to get it out in front of us as a family.

He sweetly encouraged me not to base the success of my day on other people’s performance–especially little people.  Control what I can control–my own responses.

That’s hard, isn’t it?  But it’s exactly what I needed.

After further consideration and prayer last night, I realized that I had judged my children worthy of my time and patience during the morning hours–I had even decided this long in advance.  It’s my job, after all, as their mom and teacher.  But with one child dragging his half-sheet of math work beyond any reasonable time frame, and with the other testing my patience at lunch time, I came to judge my children as unworthy of my time and patience for the rest of the day.

Forget my God-given role as their mother and teacher, I measured them against my plans and expectations, found them wanting even after patient instruction and care, and since I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted, I decided they didn’t deserve my effort–I decided I needed a break.

There is wisdom, at times, in walking away from a situation so that both parties can get fresh air, deal with what’s in their hearts, and come back in much better spirits.  But I can’t say that was what was going on this time.  I was resentful.  And it took ME “beyond a reasonable time frame” to get my heart right.

Math work or heart work, my son and I were both taking too long to learn our lessons.

I suppose I could steal a quote from my reflections on planning above since it seems to fit this character-growing, relationship-building process, as well:

“…building those habits takes time.  I need to have patience with the process, trust that it will be worth it, and simply recognize the little adjustments that have to be made along the way as a part of what makes it better.”

The goal of education isn’t ultimately results or getting things done anyway.

As I wrestled with my own bad response–with my sin–the Lord kindly reminded me of His love and patience toward me as His child.  I cowered at the thought of His great love and my great lack.

Father, You chose to love me while I was yet a sinner when You sent Jesus to die for me.  And You choose to love me still even when it takes me years to learn a lesson, even when my attitude and actions are quite like a distracted and unruly child.  

Because You have chosen to love me, because You have made me Your child, Your patience and Your love never wane…like mine so often do for my own children.  

Forgive me, Father.  I repent.

Thank You for being a GOOD Father.  My need for Your love and patient correction is ongoing.  And the work You’ve called me to do for my children is ongoing.  Oh, please produce in me the same patient, diligent love with which You parent me.  

I saw yesterday morning that I could choose to be patient with my children.  But O how I need Your Spirit, Lord, to choose to be patient even beyond my good intentions!  When my planned patience wears out, show me Your patient love, and please help me to then pass it on to them.  

Amen.  

For those of you who also started school recently, I hope your first day fared better than mine (and you should read that as “I hope that your patience lasted more than four hours”).

But it’s just the first day.  And it’s now behind us.  Sins repented of, mercies new this morning …and every morning hereafter.  We’re in this for the long haul, aren’t we?  Let’s do it with patient love, remembering the One who continues to lavish us with it.

Happy New School Year.

  • View LifeMeetsJesus’s profile on Facebook
  • View lifemeetsjesus’s profile on Instagram
Lauren Scott

Lauren Scott

Christian. Wife. Mother. Home Conqueror. Home Educator. Blogger. Book Addict. Outdoorist.

View Full Profile →

Enter your email address to follow Life Meets Jesus and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Affiliate Disclosure

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Our Math Program

RightStart™ Mathematics RightStart™ Math Lesson Books

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Homeschool Review: Summer 2018
  • No Story is the Same, No Pain Ever Wasted
  • The Homeschool Review: Spring 2018

Topics

Tags

Advent anniversary April first April Fool's Day April Fools asking the wrong question back to school Bible Reading Plan Book Reviews Books boys Cancer childbirth children Christian life Christian Women Christmas devotional doubt Ecclesiastes education Elementary Music Elisabeth Elliot evening rituals faith faithfulness Guest Post He Remains Faithful home church Home Education Homemaking homeschool encouragement homeschooling humility Internet Jesus John chapter one Judging just beginning love marriage math meditations micro book reviews motherhood Music Music Education My Utmost for His Highest Nature Nature Studies Nature Study Oswald Chambers parenting Peace poems poetry Practical Atheism Preschool Music Preschool Prodigies Psalm 14 Reading List Reflections Relationships sanctification seasons self-righteousness that evasive Jesus The fool has said in his heart The Friday Five The Hunger Games trials Who is my neighbor? Word became flesh Word of God writing

Instagram

#prepweekisfor free time to gather wild onions from the yard and start a business. They have never hand-washed and dried containers this eagerly for *me*. 🤔😅 . . Anyone want to buy some chives? . . #breakweek #homeschool #homeschooling
Valentine's date. 💕 🤓 He won. When I protest in the middle of the game that I'm still relearning the rules each time we play, and that we only play when I'm already exhausted, he just smiles, raises his eyebrows, and says, "Mhm." . . That's his meta - strategy, apparently. Look out, Mr. Scott. This #homeschoolmom is about to add chess to the curriculum. For the children's sake, of course.... and maybe also so I can school you. 😉 . . . . #lifegoals #intj vs #entj #ilovehim
We have time set aside on Tuesdays now for keeping (or commonplacing) in our #homeschool day ('bout time, right?!). . . Today it was a welcome opportunity for me to finish copying a scripture I read and started on this morning. For my 9 year old, it was an opportunity to copy a science diagram for the first time. For the 7 year old... well, he's still scouring his favorite current read to figure out what to copy. Oh my sweet piddler... . . It's fun to try to copy something nicely, to make it lovely. The slow focus gives me a pace especially good for meditating on the scriptures. And sometimes the practice itself becomes an object lesson in recognizing where I miss the mark and responding not with despair but by reveling in grace and continuing on toward the goal. . . #homeschooling #keepingcompanycm #charlottemasonirl #kirkersread #truthgoodnessbeauty #repentrejoicerepeat #motherculture #scripturelettering #bujo #bulletjournal #cpqkeeping
When the Lord lights your path with sunshine and carpets it with warm pine needles, the only thing to do is take off your shoes, soak it all up, and give thanks. Especially in February.

A WordPress.com Website.

Cancel