Getting Back to Growing

This was a tough week back for the kids and I.  Getting back to schedules and routines was especially difficult; we wanted so bad to stay up "just a little longer" or wake up "when it gets light out".  I remember feeling this way at the beginning of this school year and thought I should revisit an article I wrote back then.  I am glad I did, because I had gotten quite off track from its suggestions.  Here is that article:

How was this past week for your family? 

I really am curious because mine was a whirlwind of emotional breakdowns coming both from the children and myself!  Getting back into routines has been quite the challenge in our household.  My children have told me that I expect WAY too much from them and that we get up WAY too early for being homeschooled.  Maybe I am expecting lots and maybe I am not, but I think I would rather start out tough and then let up a little as they are able to show discipline, respect and obedience.  I sought the Lord on this (having somewhat guilty feelings with the accusations from my children) and I heard him tell me to first make sure I was willing to put in discipline and high expectations myself.  Was I going to be able to set a good example and have a good attitude about it?  This attitude and example would be the success-maker in establishing good habits and attitudes within my own children.  Practically, this means bringing myself, my children, and the work planned out before HIM each day as well as ask HIM each night what to do differently or what to rejoice in.  It means finding “natural consequences” rather than nagging.  And it means bringing MY best forward each day as I interact with my children.