A Day in the Life of Homeschool Mama Bella
A Day in the Life of Bella, Homeschool Mama of Six
Happy Intro day! It’s another intro for Day in the Life. So excited to introduce Bella to you! Just look at this amazing mama of 6!! Bella is a reader, writer and loves to educate her kids at home. She says her home is loud, fun—organized chaos—but at any given time of the day, her kids know what to do because they have stuck to the same routine since her oldest was a baby. I love that!
Morning Routine to Prepare for the Day
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We’re running a little behind schedule here this morning (but what really is a schedule in homeschool) so while the kids get themselves together, I’m sitting quietly having my morning cup of tea and the last cinnamon roll.
As a busy mom of six kids, I stick to a morning routine of my favorite tea and a bit of quiet before each day. It’s my way to sort of prepare myself for the unexpected that each day brings. It also allows me to not be so rigid or irritated before the day begins.
What are some ways you get your day going? I’d love to hear some ideas. I might try to incorporate a few myself
The Heart of the Home
Any HGTV fans over here? Whenever I get a chance to watch television (which is rare) HGTV is my go-to channel. Over and over I hear how the kitchen is the heart of the home and while I agree the kitchen is important, the heart of our home is our schoolroom.
Our schoolroom is where we spend the majority of our time. It’s where my kids learn how to be friends, helpers, and good listeners. It’s where my kids learned to read, how to count, how to write. It’s where most of the fighting and making up happens. It’s the best part of our home.
Naptime + Quite Time for Everyone
Today is Language Arts day in our home school and I have paired the older kids up with a smaller kid to help with their assignments. You might be thinking, “Aren’t you the teacher?” I’ve learned that the best way to retain important information and to check for understanding/mastery is to teach someone how to do something. The older kids get a chance to flex their memory muscles, while the smaller kids get some one-on-one time with their siblings. It’s a win/win.
I spoke about the heart of our home, where is the heart of yours?
Our morning is winding down, the kids have had their lunches and now it’s the dreaded nap time! I can’t quite figure out why kids are so averse to napping (I’d sign up for nap time in a heartbeat).
This is without a doubt the worse time of day for my 5 and 7 year olds. The rule is, kids 8 and under MUST take naps. It really is just for my sanity.
Since naptime is dreaded, I try to come up with ways to get the littles excited about napping, and I found this idea on Pinterest. I have transformed the hallway between my room and the boys’ room into a laser maze. My son starts off in my room and must make his way through the “lasers” into his room. Boy was he excited! Poor thing didn’t even realize once he got through the “lasers” he was trapped in his room. I didn’t have the heart to tell him. Needless to say, he went to nap without a fuss.
Do any of your kids still nap? What are some things you do if nap time is no longer an option? My older kids normally straighten up from lunch and have quiet reading time.
Family Chores
With a family as large as ours, I’m sure you can imagine the amount of chores that goes on in order to keep things tidy and orderly. I believe in the saying, “Many hands make light work” and that’s what I try to instill in our kids. We’re a family and it’s all of our jobs to pitch in and help so that Mommy doesn’t have to go completely crazy.
To help keep all of the chores organized and to make sure that everyone learns how to complete each chore, we alternate jobs. Each kid (age appropriate of course) does the same chore for a week, each week alternating chores. It’s a way to make sure that everyone is learning and contributing.
Laundry is a completely different beast. I’ve found a way though, to make sure that everyone has a laundry day twice a week. Here’s how I break it down:
Mommy and Daddy- Sun & Wed
Girls- Mon & Thurs
Boys- Tue & Fri
I’m super interested in learning what kind of chores do your kids have. How do you get your kids to contribute to household chores? P.S. I know it’s Wednesday and it’s technically my laundry day, but don’t worry, I paid her $1 to do my laundry.
Dinner Time MVP
I wouldn’t be a very good guest poster if I didn’t tell you about the greatest invention ever, the crockpot!
This morning shortly after breakfast, my 8 year old added pinto beans to the crockpot for tonight’s dinner where bean and cheese burritos are on the menu.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell any of you that easy dinners are my favorite kind of dinners. Here’s how to make crockpot beans:
- Dry beans (we like pinto or black)
- Chicken stock (enough to cover the beans)
- Jar of salsa
We soak the beans either overnight or for an hour before putting in the crockpot. Add all of the ingredients, and season to your liking. Set the crockpot on high for 6-8 hours. Add water as needed. Enjoy with your favorite toppings.
What’s on your dinner menu tonight?
Family Reading Time
It has been a pleasure taking you all along in our homeschool journey today. Thank you so much @learningwell for having me. You can find me over at @ramblingmomof6 if you’d like to continue to follow along with our family. In the meantime, it’s time for our family to get ready for our bedtime routine.
We end our homeschool days with family reading time. Each month we choose a book and read it as a family before bed. It’s a time to relax and spend some family time together. In my head, the kids listen intently and have incredible insight into what’s happening in the story. In reality, I have to stop mid sentence to ask kids to stop tapping each other, stop fighting, or my favorite, stop interrupting.
We are currently reading Vashti Harrison’s Little Leaders Bold Women In Black History. Thanks for following along with us!
Thank you so much to Bella for sharing your family’s day with us!
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