Marlene: A homeschool day with four, aged 3-9 years.
6 AM: My clock radio plays the news. I listen for 5 minutes before turning it off in disgust. I pour myself a cup of coffee and settle into my favorite living room chair. After finishing my coffee, I pray until the kids get up.
7 AM: I hear the children walking into the living room, and prayer time is over. 9 yo old greets me with, “What’s up, Babycakes?” The other kids roll with laughter as I give him my best sideways glance. Everyone eats breakfast. They retell me their bedtime story from Daddy last night. It involved finding four fighter jets for sale for $200 each, several bad guys and a fierce gun battle. I mentally cross off narration from our school work for that day.
8 AM: Chores. 7 yo old apologizes for not getting his done. He explains, “I just get SO distracted!” 9 yo has less chores and spends time practicing guitar.
9 AM: Bible memory and Bible study. We have deep theological discussions that put us 30 minutes behind schedule. At least seventy-five times, I tell 7 yo, “Please STOP your tapping.”
10 AM: Mostly independent work, with me floating between the older boys. I answer questions about language arts and math lessons. They complete handwriting, language arts and math. This is our first year using (almost) independent LA and math programs, and we are all thrilled with the results. The 9 yo reluctantly does his writing assignment while the 7 yo reads to me. During this time, I’ll also work on phonics with 5 yo boy, who is thrilled to be reading! 3 yo girl and 5 yo boy get into lots of mischief while I’m schooling the older two. 3 yo girl announces that locusts have eyes and pokes her fingers into her own eyes, making herself cry.
11:30 AM: Everyone is sent outside to burn some energy. I make lunch. I hear a vehicle coming up our driveway, and it occurs to me that I haven’t gotten dressed or looked in a mirror yet. Thankfully, it’s the UPS driver, and no social contact is required. I also try to remember when I last showered. 3 days? 4 days? I make a mental note to shower today.
1 PM: Lunch is over and dishes are cleared away. I put 3 yo girl down for a nap. She hugs me and says, “I love you, Mommy.” I am thankful for her, and feel guilty about being annoyed by her mischievous antics.
1:30 PM: The boys meet me on the couch for Tapestry of Grace. Depending on the day, we learn history, art, geography or literature related to the current epoch we’re studying. Two afternoons a week, we do TOG and two we do science. Fridays we have Latin class, taught by a friend.
2:30 PM: I work on math and copywork with 5 yo and it’s free time for the 7 yo and 9 yo. I immediately regret giving free time to the 7 and 9 yo boys and give them the option of working outside or helping me with chores inside. They’re gone in a flash! I do household chores and exercise, after finishing with 5 yo. I research homeopathic/alternative treatments for a recent diagnosis. After paying bills, I attempt to rework the budget, but give up. I decide to be thankful for what we have. No time for a shower after exercising.
4:30 PM: I call the kids inside for snacks, and we have a Spanish lesson. 3 yo is awake and wreaks havoc on Spanish lesson.
5 PM: I make dinner, free time for everyone else.
6 PM: Dinner time. Daddy is home, and takes over with the kids. After dinner, I do kitchen clean up and make a mental note to delegate this job ASAP.
8 PM: Bible reading, teeth brushing and bedtime for the kids. The kids beg for another story from Daddy. He agrees, but says it will have to be a short one, because he’s tired. I notice an entire pan of brownies in the kitchen, uneaten for two days. I marvel at this and make a mental note to eat brownies tomorrow. I finally get my shower.
9:30 PM: Daddy emerges from the boys’ bedroom with a big grin on his face, obviously proud of the story he came up with. I look forward to the narration in the morning.
10 PM: I answer emails and read the news online. After reading my Bible, I go bed around 11.
