Freedom, chaos, insanity, schedules, rhythm, freedom, ...

We had a really bad day on Thursday. My kids were screaming, fighting, hitting, talking back, you name it. We did not go to swim lessons as a result, not only as a consequence of their behavior but also because I was drained. I thought about what I could do to help us have more peaceful days. I jotted down a schedule for Friday and told the kids that if they could not share and get along then we would miss swim lessons again. Thankfully, everything went pretty smoothly.

HOWEVER, I'm not a big fan of schedules. I feel like they limit us. I feel like they limit our potential. Even sticking to a so called rhythm is not really my thing. Perhaps we will use schedules when I feel as if I am on the verge of insanity. Then maybe I will have the energy to jump in the deep end of pure freedom again...I just need to figure out how to get the kids to not fight. I feel that when I am there with them as they play (like I was when we had a schedule), I can talk to them and tell them why it is important to share. I show them how to share and they experience how much more pleasant it is when they are kind. Then maybe when they are left on their own at a later time, they are able to work together.

I think this may be the answer for now. Sprinkle in scheduled days with unscheduled days...

I have to admit the reading in the morning went really well. We usually read in the morning, but this time I read from Core Knowledge Kindergarten. You know, the What your Kindergartener Should Know books. I realize the series is criticized a lot. The idea of having a kid know certain things at a certain age is criticized, but the books are actually quite useful. Anyway, Taven was my "helper" for the day, so I read from the Kindergarten book. It has a good variety of poems, stories, and songs. Eaden was reading her own book but I know she was listening because I heard her singing many of the songs later in the day. I think we will always read from these (and other) books even on our free days.

I do not have many pictures from our scheduled day because, let's face it, there isn't a lot that's picture worthy.

Here is the schedule, hastily drawn up before bed last night.

 I read somewhere this morning about having a different kid as helper each day and I thought my kids would like the idea. Whenever we had "pick a subject" on the schedule Taven could pick. He also got to pick what we read in the morning as well as which cartoon we watched for our morning break.

For anything we did, a kid could "opt out" and either read or go play out back. Otherwise, they had to stay with us. I provided them with Legos or blocks during Math/Phonics, History, and Science if they did not want to participate or if they wanted to listen to me read while they played..

Here is Eaden doing Phonics while the others played with Legos. We do not have many Legos, so this was also a lesson in sharing.

 After a while, Eaden decided she would rather read and that is always fine with me. We usually have classical music on in the background by the way (courtesy of ATT Uverse).

 Blocks turned into a little architecture lesson when I remembered we had checked out this neat book from the library.

Quiet time was not a huge success, but it at least gave me a little break. It was definitely better than yesterday. For sure! Oh yeah, and "sections" is where two kids play on the computer while I get one on one time with the other. Then we switch. Yes. I have 4 kids. Mirek just wanders. I liked this because I almost never get one on one time with anyone. I let the kids choose what they wanted to do.

So maybe we will start Monday off with a schedule next week and see how Tuesday goes without one...