So many people ask me “How do you balance homeschooling and
homemaking?” And my answer is quite simple – order. 1 Corinthians 14:40 reads
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” I have used good time
management skills for years and I would like to share with you today how I
balance homeschooling and homemaking.
#1 My homeschooling and homemaking is done decently and in
order with a plan in place.
In fact, I have two planners, one for homeschooling and one
for homemaking. I have created a homeschooling planner that includes curriculum
planner sheets for each student, lesson planner sheets for each subject for
each student, and to keep life simple, I am also able to record grades, so
everything is all in one place – My Happy Homeschool Planner. I have also
created a homemaking planner where I write down everything – church, school,
dance, soccer, piano lessons, meetings, weekly infusions, doctor appointments,
household chores, meals, etc. I have found that the more you plan, the better
you manage your time and the more you achieve.
#2 My homeschooling and homemaking is done decently and in
order with a routine in place.
It’s probably no surprise, I have two routines, one for
homeschooling and one for homemaking. The experts say trying to do the same
thing at the same time every day conserves and generates energy. It conserves
energy by cutting down on indecision. You perform menial tasks by remote. It
generates energy through habit, completing these tasks at a particular time. I
have a homeschooling routine where we complete our subjects in the same order
every school day – Bible, math, spelling, English, science, history, and
reading. I have a homemaking routine where everything is written down in my planner
and completed in an orderly fashion – household chores, laundry, meal prep,
dishes, etc. Try to put as many tasks as possible into a routine.
#3 My homeschooling and homemaking is done decently and in
order with priorities in place.
With so many needs around us each day, we could use a
biblical system for keeping our priorities in place. Genuine peace and joy come
when we follow God in every area of our lives. So today we’re going to look at
five areas specifically addressed in God’s Word.
1.
Your Relationship with God. 2 Peter 3:18 reads
“But grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 2:15 reads
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” If God is not first in our lives,
we will struggle in every area of our lives.
2.
Your husband. Genesis 2:18 reads “And the LORD
God said, it is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him.” Proverbs 31:11-12 reads “The heart of her husband doth safely trust
in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not
evil all the days of her life.” God calls us to help our husband – not hinder
our husband. We must ask of our actions “Will this help or hinder my husband?”
3.
Your children. Proverbs 22:6 reads “Train up a
child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reads “And these words which I command thee this day, shall
be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by
the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind
them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine
eyes. And thou shalt write them upon thy posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
God calls us to train up our children and to teach them diligently so they will
know Him, love Him, and follow Him in every area of life.
4.
Your home. Proverbs 31:27 reads “She looketh
well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” Titus
2:4-5 reads “That they may teach the younger women to be sober, to love their
husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
God’s Word specifically orders or priorities – husband – children – home. God
calls us to take homemaking seriously – and we are held accountable for the
condition of our home. In fact, when our husband or anyone else walks in the
door and looks around the home, we have just revealed what we’ve been doing in
response to God’s call for us to manage the home. What do people see when they
enter your home? Do they find calm – or chaos? Peace – or panic? Palace – or
pigpen? Evidence of preparation – or procrastination?
5.
Your ministry. 1 Corinthians 15:58 reads
“Therefore, my brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the
Lord.” Hebrews 6:10 reads “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and
labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister.” God’s Word encourages us to be
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. I want to
encourage you to reach out and minister to the saints, your labour is not in
vain.
So, how do I balance homeschooling and homemaking? The answer
is quite simple – order. My homeschooling and homemaking is done decently and
in order with a plan in place, with a routine in place, and with priorities in
place.
Happy Homeschooling!
No comments:
Post a Comment