I wake to a soft kiss on the neck – mingled with the tweeting of the birds outside my window and a dozen little feet pitter-pattering down the hall to the bathroom and then back again.
The little lamp is turned on so I can breathe in His Words – knowing that my life is dependent on this time with my God – no matter how brief.
I peek in at little ones making beds and getting dressed, reading or talking or playing {somewhat} quietly. And sometimes I find an occasional child that is still trying to slumber through the ruckus.
With a quick, “Good-morning!” I slip into the shower, where I greet any stragglers and do my best to break up battles begun before 7am right through the curtain. Rivulets stream at my ankles as I wait for my little princess to be done pooping.
Teeth are brushed. Clothes are tugged on. The dresser drawers are dumped out in search of the favorite pony shirt. And I run downstairs, finally remembering to switch the load to the dryer.
Some race and some dawdle their way to the table where bowls are clattered out and cereal is dumped in for kids with braids and matching outfits and for others in jammies with bed-head hair.
In a flurry, morning prayers and yogurt and cleaning up juice spills are all finished. The floor is swept and chores are about finished… and our homeschooling day begins.
The big girls get started independently as I spend a few last minutes loving on the little ones.
Finding that they are just-so-ready-to-play, I turn on some Bible verse music, signaling for my awesome third graders to join me on the couch while my second grader makes cursive loops (and any other things I can find to get her started with) at the table nearby.
And here we spend a good half hour or more captivated by the Bible time and other beautiful stories taking us through World History.
As these girls finish up projects and things on their own, a hymn is played so my seven year old knows it is her turn.
And for the next half hour or more we go back in time to celebrate with the courageous, hard-working, faith-filled heroes of our nation’s history.
By now a little one has usually joined us, all snuggled on my lap. I breathe in the scent of her shampoo as I strain to see the words from the book. And though pages get crinkled and pencils drop to the floor way more often, I love that these precious children of mine feel comfortable enough to melt right into whatever we are doing.
Things don’t always go as I’d hope they would. Sometimes there are fights loud from the other room. Sometimes we’re feeling sick or grouchy or tired. But we do our best to keep moving along, and before we know it, we’re having a little snack as the second grader finishes up any work on her own, and I spend time with the oldest girls once again.
This time it’s storytime. And then poetry, language arts, and math on the white board as play-dough or puzzles or water paints or beads and pipe cleaners or pretend school books are brought out for the three youngest.
And I flip kids once again, so Kayla gets her turn at language arts, science, math, and storytime.
Soon the last paper is looked over, projects are set out to dry, paint is wiped off the table, brains and hearts are filled to overflowing, time with my littlest girls is squeezed in, and books are shoved to the side so we have a place for lunch.
Little hands grown almost the size of my own help chop apples and slab peanut butter and jelly on bread.
And we all sit down and eat together.
And I breathe in these blessings.
As crumbs are wiped off the table and swept off the floor once again, five sisters are so ready to play with one another.
And after trying in the past to get Kindergarten in with a little boy who was busy all morning constructing whole cities out of blocks, or strategizing war stories, or designing slides and forts with a few pillows and blankets in order to entertain little sisters – I found that this was the perfect school time for him.
By the time the kitchen is cleaned up, he’s pretty much done with his seatwork. For somehow I’ve learned to teach math and handwriting while clearing the table and loading dishes.
And then the real fun begins as we enjoy our time with “Little Hearts for His Glory” which we’ve only just started. I can’t tell you how much I treasure this time learning all about God’s story of the world (His-story) with my little man.
We dance and laugh and read and explore, and then I watch his eyes light up as we find out what’s happened next in the timeless fable of Reddy Fox.
Two little girls yawn and lie down for a rest, as their brother practices his reading.
Once they’re tucked in bed, I sit next to the boy who is learning to read so very slowly but steadily.
It’s early afternoon when the four oldest have quiet time where they read or create or play quietly – indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t matter, as long as they’re quiet and take some time to rest peacefully.
And here’s where I take a few moments to breathe – to write out my heart – to get those things done that at other times I just can’t. Maybe I pay bills, make appointments, try to catch up on emails, take a nap, fold laundry, work on a craft project, read my Bible.
Most often these days, these two precious hours are spent plunking words out on keys, praying they’ll be encouraging. Or trying to learn how to capture my days through a Snap-Shop photography workshop (that I am loving, but really, really needing to keep practicing). Or working on a new Bible Study for the summer that is getting me so, so very excited! (––link to last summer’s study)
The time is usually gone before I am ready, but almost always refreshing. And then I get to enjoy some one-on-one time with just one of my precious offspring.
The others have snack or computer time as I play Connect Four or paint nails or have a tea party of only two. It’s always a special time that each of us values dearly.
When it’s not snowing or thundering and winds aren’t blowing us half-cross town, we all run circles and ride bikes outside before it’s time to come in and clad ourselves with aprons as we get ready for supper. Girls swap mixing ingredients and reading their books nice and loud so I can try to help with pronunciation.
It’s about now that Daddy walks through the door. And we all race and trip over each other to be the first to share our day with the man that is our anchor and protector.
And we meet once again right there at the table.
We share about our days and we laugh together.
And someone always spills something.
And someone always doesn’t like something.
And someone is always humming or singing something.
And someone always needs to be reminded to sit without wiggling or to just stop tipping.
But there’s life and there’s beauty right there in the chaos.
The kitchen is cleaned once again as the best wrestling match takes place between Daddy and children.
Games are played and walks taken, Bible stories read and baths given. With kisses on heads and covers pulled snug, we say good-night – sometimes over and over and over.
After a quick tidying and more laundry – I plop on the couch with a book or more writing or some real quiet. And my husband and I (when he’s not at a meeting) enjoy spending this time together.
It’s late. We’re tired. I crawl into bed with God’s Word on my pillow.
And I go to sleep knowing we’ll do it all again tomorrow.
{Writing it all out – it looks this crazy mixture of more chaotic and calm than our actual days.}
What questions do you have for me?
A Day in the Life of A Homeschooling Mom (and her six kids) is a post from: Our Family For His Glory
Click here to download the {FREE} twelve week 1 PETER BIBLE STUDY – Growing in the True Grace of God. {Please give it a few minutes to download… thank you for your grace!}
