I’ve been experimenting the past couple of weeks with starting schoolwork after lunch. In the morning, I am trying to do breakfast, morning prayer, and stories, followed by a little playtime and then "morning chores." The chores vary as I try to figure out what each of us is capable of before lunch. This morning Oscar made his bed and put clean clothes on hangers. Milo helped me put dinner in the slow cooker and then clean the downstairs bathroom. Also, I culled outgrown clothes and pulled hand-me-downs out of storage. Just before lunch I set out some of Oscar’s independent work: math sheets and copywork.
Right after lunch I started Milo on some work with cylinder blocks while Oscar started his worksheets. When Milo got bored I switched him to what he calls "Clay-Doh." Then at 1:40 Milo and I went to nurse on the couch — I’m still there — I’m hoping he falls asleep soon. Oscar is tasked with helping the baby should she tire of her toys and fuss. But she is happy; he is in the kitchen, out of my sight behind the peninsula, and I hear pages turning.
After Milo goes down (or, if he doesn’t nap, after I go turn on a video for him) I will help Oscar with math lesson, Spanish, spelling — each takes about 10 minutes — then get him started on an art lesson that he can take his time with. When it’s time for me to work in the kitchen I will have Oscar read aloud to me.
I did a little workbook stuff with Milo earlier too, between breakfast and chores — I’m trying to find the best time of the day for this. Perhaps the answer to that is really "whenever he’s in the mood."
It’s starting to get clear: We are never going to have a permanently established "routine," are we? And somehow I think that is permissible.
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