a;substitute;teacher,;the;children;already
know the expectations. Even though
some;children;will;try;to;take;advantage
of;a;situation;like;this,;the;other;chil-dren;will;most;certainly;help;keep;them
in;check.
One;thing;to;keep;in;mind;is;that;you
can;make;a;plan,;but;you;can;also;easily
adjust;it.;For;example,;the;children;may
have;a;sizable;list,;but;if;it;is;a;beautiful
day outside, we may change the plan,
and;work;in;the;garden;for;several;hours
instead.;I;can;adjust;the;list.;If;someone
is;sick;I;may;eliminate;several;chores;or
school;subjects;depending;on;the;occa-
sion.;Do;not;let;your;lists;and;your;plans
become;an;idol;in;your;heart.;There;will
be;days;when;you;will;have;a;definite
leading from the Lord to adjust your
plans. Remember that those leadings
should;not;be;ignored;for;the;sake;of;the
plan.;But;also;remember;that;by;being
faithful;to;the;plan,;your;children;will;be
on;track;for;most;of;the;year;and;will;eas-
ily;be;able;to;accomplish;what;you;expect
from;them;and;more!
When;you;first;institute;a;plan,;start
with;one;or;two;children,;and;perhaps
only;work;part;of;the;plan,;building;on
it;over;time.;You;may;start;your;list;with
only;a;couple;of;chores;and;as;they;are
mastered,;add;more.;I;have;often;found
that;once;the;year;is;in;full;swing,;I;ac-tually;need;to;add;things;to;some;of;the
lists;so;that;everyone;is;happy;and;bus-ily;occupied.;A;child;with;too;much;free
time;on;his;hands;will;make;trouble;for
the;rest;of;the;household.;Adding;to;his
daily workload will help improve the
smooth;running;of;the;household.;Like-wise,;if;you;see;your;child;is;diligent;and
still;struggling;daily;to;accomplish;your
plan,;you;may;need;to;adjust;the;plan,;or
see;what;in;the;home;needs;to;be;adjust-ed;to;make;it;possible;to;complete;what
is;required.
If;your;home;feels;a;little;chaotic;and
you;are;not;happy;with;the;progress;you
are making in your year, try creating
some;simple;checklists;and;implement-ing;them.;Pray;for;each;child;and;to-gether,;with;your;husband;decide;what
is;most;important;for;him;or;her;to;ac-complish in their days. Compare your
plans;to;God’s;Word;in;Scripture,;and;be
sure;you;are;keeping;the;most;important
things;in;the;forefront;of;your;thoughts.
If;you;are;not;sure,;ask;a;Godly,;seasoned
home;educator;to;look;over;your;plans
and;make;some;suggestions.;Ask;your
children;for;their;ideas;and;input.;Above
all;else,;pray;for;wisdom;and;flexibility;as
you;enjoy;educating;your;children;and
training;them;in;righteousness.
Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to six children, ages
1-23, grandmother to one, and an author, conference speaker, and the director
of www.homemaking911.com and www
. wheat-n-things.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement, and practical
help in your roles as a Godly wife, mother,
homemaker, or home educator.
Do;not;let;your;lists;and;your;plans;become;an;idol;in;your;heart.
