I don’t homeschool, but I know many of you do. I thought this email conversation I had with one of you recently might encourage some who are in this unique situation that presents its own challenges. My favorite part is seeing how focusing on the basics naturally produces energy and inspiration to tackle the bigger things!
P.S. I’m behind on email. If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t responded, I’m so sorry. Life has been crazy lately!
Subject: Help for a Homeschooling Mama!
Hi Dana!
Thank you! I have been doing that this week and I can’t believe the difference! We’ve scratched ‘chores’ for the kids this week and I set a timer for 5 minutes and everyone just helps clean up! It’s working like a charm! Last night I was sweeping after the kids went to bed. My husband was looking at me all funny and he said “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you sweep before…..” I just laughed! Thank you for your inspiration! I’ve even tackled the kids rooms this week and gotten rid of 5 bags of clothes! :O Our bedroom is next… I can’t wait to make it a haven instead of a place of chaos! Thank you again! I’ve really been enjoying reading your blog backwards. 🙂
NOTE: The 2 e-book set mentioned above is now retired, but for detailed guides, check out my books: How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind and Decluttering at the Speed of Life.--Nony
I just got done reading this wonderful, funny and heart-felt-and-filled blog. Totally worth your time.
We’ve been running our dishwasher every night and 5 minutes make a world of difference. It has been delightful watching the lightbulbs go on and the realizations and courageous honesty over the years that have developed into routines and habits. Nony, you really have had a phenomenal journey.
This journey has reinforced firmly that it truly is not about how many times someone falls, it’s how many times someone gets up. Huzzah!
LOVE this comment!! (In fact, I may quote it in an upcoming post!!)
Be my guest! 🙂
This was so perfect for me. I came to this blog tonight to re-read your getting started but came across this post first and as another homeschooling mom to five this just was amazing timing. Thank you so much. I’m such a natural messy that our house gets really bad before I think hey maybe we should clean this up and then it takes hours. Off to do what I came here for in the first place.
Growing up, my mom always called it “blitzing” like the blitzkrieg during the war. (When enemy planes would rush in really fast and dump a bunch of bombs and then rush off again). So that’s what we call it in my home too…
When I say “time to blitz the house!” everyone knows it’s the fly in-fly out sort of picking up.
I am also a homeschool mom in The Netherlands.
This is amazing, I was doing already wat you were advising, to do the 5 minute pick-up several times a day. And I was asking myself if it was enough to keep my house clean. So thank you so much for this confirmation! You realy helped me! My family is getting used to a cleaner house now, so they don’t mess up eather. So soon I can focus on what makes mé crazy and work on that part to.
I’m loving it!!