Recently, a discussion on a message board that I participate in addressed the issue of squeezing it all in. There are so many opportunities for us as home educators – which of those do we tackle? Do we try our hands at everything, just to try it, or do we delve in more deeply to gain a better understanding of ourselves or the subject matter?  And, in making sure that we cover and explore what we want to, is it important to add some structure to the day to make sure that those things are not lost in the shuffle of everyday life? We are guilty of having lots of incomplete projects around here!

So, I’m struggling with how to be productive in a day, and to squeeze in all the good stuff, without going totally structured. Structured is not something I’m good at, unfortunately, but I’m finding a need to make a change in order to make sure that the basics are accomplished.

My oldest has taken up ukulele with a passion, and any hole in our day finds him playing. I think this is good, and I want to allow him the freedom to explore and grow in this venture, but at the same time worry about what he’s missing out on. My youngest is reading. Just reading. The boy goes through a dozen or more decent sized books a week, and while I know many parents who would love to have this dilemma, I feel like there must be something else he can explore!

We definitely find ourselves unsure of what to say when their dad asks what we did all day. What I’ve found is that when the kids feel like they had a really good day, there has been a real mix of things going on – they had a chance to explore their passions, we did some cooperative housework, they worked on some sort of “schoolish” project (math or a science experiment), and we played a game or baked together. They basically felt like they had accomplished something. Ukulele and reading is an accomplishment, certainly, but they seem to be happier if they can name something tangible.

One thing that seems to be helping is to create a to-do list for each week. We don’t put chores on the list, but if the kids are working on an ongoing project, we list the next couple of steps they need to take. This prevents them from forgetting about that particular project, teaching them to follow through – something else that we need work on! With a weekly list, we have a reminder of what needs to be accomplished and yet we don’t have to forfeit the freedom of pursuing things as the mood strikes.

I guess I’m just trying to eliminate the feeling of being at Baskin Robbins, attempting to sample all 31 flavors in a random tasting spree. Instead, we need to settle down, realize that there are lots of flavors, try things out a bit more methodically and take the time to savor the ones we enjoy!