Home Sweet Simple Home

Part 2: Keeping up the home while homeschooling

Click here for first post- cleaning their bedrooms.

Okay- that’s how we keep their rooms clean- but what about the rest of the house and such? First- we don’t have “chores” we have acts of service. It’s amazing how a name change changes one’s attitude. We remind our children that helping isn’t a chore- full of drudge and gloom but a joyful act of service. These verses are our reminder: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. --Colossians 3:23-24 and Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. --1 Corinthians 15:58.When we decided that the children needed to help more around the home- we sat down and had a family meeting. Mr. Steady shared these verses and we discussed what they meant to us. The verses are posted in our kitchen as a visual reminder (not just for the children as there are many days that I need the reminder of who I am serving around here!). When we are cleaning (not the tidying but the cleaning) we put on praise and worship music with a kickin’ beat- another reminder of who we serve plus we move faster to the beat of the music (can you say exercise and P.E.?! LOL!)
Another helpful tip- keeping up the home is part of our homeschooling. When it hit me that homeschooling is really and truly a lifestyle- I knew I would never have a spotless magazine lay-out style home. First off, we’ve got bookcases shmooshed in every nook and cranny, not to mention the science projects here and there and I must mention the fact that I am finding pencils everywhere (a bi-product of doing your schooling all over the house)- In the couch cushions, in the bathroom, on top of the dryer and I kid-you-not- in the fridge! Our home isn’t fancy but it’s comfy- which I much prefer. Space is at a premium- doing double duty as a schoolhouse and home- so we must pick up after ourselves.
Enter Home Economics 101. After all they need a life skills class and what’s better than actual hands-on experience! Each day- on their school schedule is this class- Home Ec 101 and the list of tasks for that specific day. So- on Mondays, Sassafras brings the dirty laundry to the laundry room, Mr. Conductor helps me sort it and Maiden sweeps the kitchen floor. I do the laundry- Mr. C and Sass help fold and then each child puts away their own clothes (Mr. C gets help from Mama). On Tuesdays, I clean the sinks and mirrors in the bathrooms and plan our menus. Maiden gives the bathroom floors a quick sweep and swipe and Sass sweeps the kitchen floor. This is our homeschool group day- so we try to do errands while we are in Biggest Little City. Sassafras and Mr. C also help water house plants on Tuesdays (I have two). On Wednesdays, Sass and Mr. C dust, Maiden vacuums and Mama washes the kitchen floor as well as wipes down any smear marks on walls and trim [that is visible to the naked eye]. Wednesday is also trash day- Mr. C gets all the little trash cans- 3 in all and Sass takes care of the kitchen and big bathroom trash. Maiden dumps the garbage into the compost on Wednesdays. Thursdays- every other week is Aldi’s grocery shopping, the kids help shop and help put away when we get home. This is also the day for zone cleaning (Flylady)- a bit of deeper cleaning and depends on what zone we are in. Maiden sweeps the kitchen floor. Friday is my desk day (bill paying, checkbook balancing, paper filing) and the kids just stick to their every day acts of service unless something else needs attention. Oh, and I clean out the ickies and give the fridge a quick wipe down on Fridays too (when I remember to that is). Saturdays are family days and perhaps some yard work together and Sunday is the Sabbath.
Every day- we pick up and tidy up-- as well as- Sass does the breakfast dishes, I do the lunch dishes and Maiden does the evening dishes. Since Mr. C is in training- I clean the bathroom at least once a day. The kiddos rotate daily on who sets the table and cleans up after supper. I cull the mail as soon as it comes in the house and put every piece where it needs to go. I put the dishes away and clean the sink each nite (HT: Flylady) as well as set the kitchen table for breakfast and the dining table for the next school day. The girls set out their clothes for the next day and I set out Mr. Conductor’s.
Note- I don’t wash my windows every week (I’m lucky to do it 2xs a year- spring and fall). I do most of the laundry on Mondays and perhaps a load or 2 on Wednesday or Thursday- as needed. When I remember to ask- someone sweeps the hallway and I usually pick it up which isn’t much as it’s all bookcases. This breakdown I’ve listed is pretty much our cleaning routine. We have a two-story 14 room home- including pantry, hallway and enclosed front porch. I believe we keep it reasonably clean by each of us doing our part in about half an hour’s worth of time a day.
This is our dining room while we are doing school -- notice my cup of coffee and some Mama reading books at the corner and that Maiden has piled some "stuff" on the closed keys of the piano- nice touch isn't it?! Also of note- I leave the centerpiece on the table and we all just pile our work up around it! The bins at the far end of the table hold the girls daily work- each day when we are done they go back into the buffet that is to the left of this photo- not in sight. Also not pictured is the Lego train that Mr. C had wound around under the table legs and the roundhouse that is the spot underneith my chair where he is storing his engines.

I guess the key to my organization is never letting it get out of hand. We are vigilant about staying on top of the messes and clutter. I don’t go overboard though- I’m not a disinfecting, bleaching, antibacterial warrior. I’m just not. I like things to be clean and tidy and “a place for everything and everything in its place” but not to the point where I am using family time to set things to rights or am uptight because it isn’t “just so” (I onced lived in that uptight bubble and it wasn't good).
I don’t fret if we don’t dust on Wednesday or if we vacuumed just two days ago and it needs it again- it will still need to be vacuumed and dusted 5 days from now when it comes up on our schedule again. I’ve been known to ignore finger and lip prints on my windows and the toothpaste splatter on the bathroom mirror. My filing system for the kids’ school projects right now is a banker’s box- I just keep lifting the lid and tossing in the next project- I plan on tidying it all up when the pressure is on at the end of the school year. ! My system isn’t perfect- but it works for me.
Next: Part 3: The key to successful homeschooling

Thank you...

2:23 PM, 2007-Oct-17 .. Posted by Sara

Amy,
This was such a blessing to me. I came to you several months back about homeschooling my children and you gave me such wonderful advice. I prayed and prayed and the Lord opened up a door for me to be able to homeschool my son, and will be homeschooling my oldest daughter after this school year. So we've been HSing for about 2 months and although school is going pretty good, my house is a mess. I've been working on getting into a good routine and getting my son active in "home ec." It's so nice to hear your ideas on keeping up with it all. I can't wait for the next installment!

Blessings,
Sara

Sara-

3:02 PM, 2007-Oct-17 .. Posted by YPAmy5

You go Girl!
I say "thank you" for your kind words and I encourage you in your homeschooling journey. May God richly bless you and your family!
I'm praying for you-
Amy W