Does your schedule seem too full? Are you wondering how you’re going to survive the upcoming school year? That’s me. This year, I have three school-aged kids still at home, but I’ve had as many as eight at one time and I’m trying to figure out what we can add. I’m also re-evaluating what needs to be cut. God has given each of us 24 hours, and if things are too crazy-busy, it’s a sign something needs to change. And we’re the only ones who can do it.
So before the school year starts, here are four things you need to cut from your schedule.
(Also, use these four tips to gauge any activity before you clear a space for it on your calendar!)
1. Cut out anything you said YES to because of guilt…
or because you didn’t want to say no. You know what I’m talking about. You signed up to help at the church . . . because all the other ladies were. You signed up to help with that walk-a-thon because no one else did. Guilt should not be your motivator. God’s directives are usually a still and quiet leading in your heart.
2. Cut out anything that doesn’t work for the season you’re in.
Are there activities or events you used to look forward to but that now seem to be just time-wasters? People grow and change. Kids grow and change. Go through your schedule and interview each activity. Ask, “Why do you need to stay there for THIS season of my life?”
3. Cut out anything your kids aren’t enjoying.
Yes, we often believe all children NEED to play t-ball or take dance lessons, but if they aren’t enjoying it, then why do it? Follow their lead and explore their natural gifts and talents instead.
4. Cut out anything God asks you to.
Sometimes the things we’re asked to cut don’t make sense, yet God knows the future. One year I felt God tell me to cut out a lot of my writing and blogging commitments. It turns out that next year we brought four new girls into our home. Seek God. Ask Him to evaluate your schedule. Listen to His still, small voice, and obey.
What about you? How do you decide what to cut or add to your schedule?
Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents
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Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live.
Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.
I have wrestled endlessly these last few weeks about my decision not to put my daughters in our community-wide square dancing event. (Yes, it’s silly. We’re from a small Southern town. 🙂 It’s a big deal around here, and I always participated as a kid, so I feel guilty not letting them dance. I had to pray about it a lot. The types of prayers like, “God, I know this is not that important in the scheme of things…but should I let the girls square dance?”
In the end, it seemed he was saying “no.” And although I was sad that they wouldn’t do it this year, I felt such freedom in that release. We are on the verge of a move and house remodel, and the dancing was just another thing.
God is kind, and gives us freedom even when he says “no.”
Thanks for this. 🙂
You’re right … freedom is a release!! Thank you for sharing!!
I loved going to women’s Bible study Tuesday mornings. It was from 9-11. We spent the whole morning getting ready for it and waiting to leave, then by the time we got home it was lunchtime and other stuff needed done and we couldn’t seem to get any homeschool accomplished. I also realized that with homeschooling we HAD to get a good momentum going at the start of the week. If we don’t have a good, productive Monday, Tuesday usually doesn’t go that well and everything seems to fizzle out by wednesday or thursday and the week is a bust. Sometimes we’d have a great Monday, and then when I had women’s Bible study at church Tuesday, it would just stop all that momentum for the week. Does that make sense? So I had to give it up, even though it did feed my soul. It’s just not the right season in life for a Tuesday morning commitment.
Yes, I had to do the same thing. I’m thankful there WILL be a season for that in the future!!!