Comments on: Routine and Responsibility: Musings

By: Carol Brown

Carol Brown — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:27:48 +0000

Just wanted to respond to Monica above who wanted to know how a child taught herself to read. We believe our daughter taught herself from watching Sesame Street when it first came out back in the ’70′s!

By: Kristina at Me and My Momma's Money

Kristina at Me and My Momma's Money — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:17:16 +0000

What an interesting topic. I am definitely someone who strives on routine, because if left to my own devices I will get NOTHING done! So I am constantly working to improve the routine that I’ve just started to find out what works best for me. I know exactly what you mean about being able to waste away hour(s) on the computer without being productive. Now in addition to my routine I’ve just this week started to make daily goal lists. I have found it to be helpful, but who knows maybe that won’t last either!

Good luck on your journey!

Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Kristina at Me and My Momma’s Money´s last blog ..Dear Lord, Please take care of Penny

By: monica

monica — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:52:30 +0000

wow, look at all these comments! maybe I should get in on this SITS

you have to tell me what C was doing/playing/ whatever to teach herself to read.

at our house, their jobs are their chores, not the school work (not that we have much “school work” here anymore. We are on super-relaxed, unschooling mode and we’re all loving it). HATED making learning a battle, kwim?

By: Alison Agnew

Alison Agnew — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:32:57 +0000

Great post. I truly believe there is a difference between “routine” and “schedule.” Maybe it’s semantics but I think a good routine leaves a lot of room for creative, spontaneous learning. In our home we do have scheduled work every day, like chores and basic schoolwork. But it’s our routine to have large blocks of unscheduled time throughout the day for us all to do some activity of our own choosing like reading, crafts, outside play, games, etc. Our philsophy is planning with flexibility.

By: Candy

Candy — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:52:51 +0000

Hi! I’m new to the blogging world but am so happy to have stumbled upon sits and ur blog. These questions give alot to think about. I think it takes incredible strength to commit to homeschooling. Don’t be so hard on urself. A good balance of structure and no structure is good. I love ur site and look forward to reading more!

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Stopping by from SITS because I just LOVED your tribe post. It actually inspired a post of my own… I hope you’ll check it out! I’m looking forward to checking out your blog… while I’m not a parent (yet!) I’ve worked in kids’ arts programming and child care for years. Thanks for the inspiration!
Joanne´s last post: My Blogging Tribe

By: MsBabyPlan

MsBabyPlan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:33:09 +0000

Whilst I am here can somebody tell me how to make my post content update automatically, I can’t do it and I am finding it annoying. Please :}!
MsBabyPlan´s last post: Active day: well done to me

By: MsBabyPlan

MsBabyPlan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:26:48 +0000

I just read your post of SITs I really enjoy this community. I just wanted to say hello. :)
MsBabyPlan´s last post: Active day: well done to me

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 07:38:15 +0000

This is really an interesting post. My daughter turns five this spring and with that birthday comes a myriad of schooling decisions for me to make. To homeschool or to start a traditional kindergarten? To let her lead the way or to follow a pre-set curriculum? And then, because we’ve been living in Europe and now we’re moving to Asia, if I send her off to school, do I send her to a class that’s not conducted in her first language? There are so many things to think about and I have no idea, really, what’s best. Until now, we’ve had easy, loosely-structured days and our routines, while in place, have been more weekly than daily. I believe, somewhat instinctively, that kids should have the freedom to pursue their own interests but that they should not have the freedom to ignore subjects that don’t interest them, if that makes sense. Still, I’m already worried that my daughter might not be prepared for kindergarten because I decided to keep her home during her preschool years.

I guess I don’t have any specific advice, just a rambling list of my own concerns, but I’m wishing you luck in your restructuring and I’ll be reading your upcoming posts with attention. (Oh, and I’m stopping by from SITS. So glad to have found your blog!)

By: Aimee

Aimee — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:28:36 +0000

Very glad to have read this! My boys are both teenagers, 13 and 14, and have basically been homeschooled all their lives. My youngest has never been in institutionalized schooling. Our family is incredibly “underscheduled,” as you put it. I also work at home, but with a regular 8-hour shift from 4-midnight. I’ve got one World of Warcraft addict *gasp* (that damn game taught him how to read!) and another who loves everything. He’s self-taught on the guitar, loves writing short stories, comic books, has some odd jobs around the neighborhood, etc. They’ve tried their hand at scouts and music lessons and sports through the years, but we pretty much just do our own thing. I did feel guilty about it early in their lives, but after seeing the kind of people they are growing up to be, I couldn’t be more proud of them. We take FREQUENT family vacations, and are VERY spontaneous. My husband is in the Army, so when he’s home, I absolutely HATE having obligations that inhibit us from being able to pack up and go somewhere at the spur of the moment. From the time we wake up in the morning, we pretty much follow our hearts. I have also heard the theory that kids need a routine…how will they ever learn the concept of turning in assignments on time, being at work on time, sitting at a desk all day, LIVING IN NORMAL SOCIETY? Trust me, my kids’ll do just fine…..