It’s true, I have many roles or a full plate as one might say. I am a wife, mother of 10 (three of which still live at home), homeschool mom, entrepreneur and a Mawmaw. Though I would not give up any of these roles, I must admit being me is not easy. By nature, I am an organized person, but trust me I know that is not enough. It is by God graciously blessing me to be disciplined that I am able to manage most days without having a meltdown. Over the years, I have come to learn that consistency is key to doing life daily with joy and peace in my heart.
Consistency for our family starts with having a daily schedule. This schedule begins with me because I can not take care of others well unless I take good care of myself. Mornings are when I take time for my daily self-care, so I block off the time I will need for that each day. Then, I consider the needs and responsibilities of my husband and our children that live at home. Homeschooling is a big part of our day throughout the week, so that too goes on our daily schedule. I also include daily devotions, chores, meals and snacks. Next, I allot time for working from home. Once I have created a schedule for the season, we follow it for a few days and make any necessary changes. Then, I print it, post it and we use it as our guide throughout the day.
Our daily schedule not only blesses me, it blesses my husband and the children. When our children rise they know what to expect from us each day and they know what is expected of them. It gives each of us structure and keeps us all on the same page. It also gives us the opportunity to be better at respecting ourselves and respecting one another.
Living by a daily schedule offers our family a life of consistency. This has been especially helpful when our children become adolescent ages and need to apply self discipline. It helps me teach them how to manage their time throughout the day because their academic schedule is included in our daily schedule. This has encouraged them to be independent and responsible. Consistency has given our children clarity and it equips them to make wise choices when they begin to expand their horizon. It also motivates them and boosts their self-confidence. When our daily routine is interrupted, it is not difficult to look at the clock, jump right in and begin the next task because we know our daily routine.
I must also say, consistency encourages self esteem. The children become more confident in the abilities as they routinely go about their daily tasks. When our children leave our home they are more sure of themself. They take their step out into the world with a bit of pride and self-worth because they have experienced the benefits of consistency and responsibility on a regular basis.
There are days when the last thing that I want to do is be consistent, but I am so grateful to know the blessings of it for myself and for our family. What are tasks you implement in your home to promote consistency?
Fruit of Her Hand 