Sorry, no family picture, I like to stay on the picture taking side of the camera!
My story as a stay at home, homeschooling mom began about 6 years ago. My daughter was almost 2, and I was working full time at a bank as an Assistant Vice President, in charge of Human Resources and Compliance. I put in LONG hours and I was dedicated to my job. In December 2004, my husband and I were so excited to find out that I was pregnant. At our second doctors appointment we discovered that we lost the baby. I was miserable! Work no longer seemed important, my daughter was growing up so fast, and our life was always in hurry up mode! I believe God has a purpose in EVERYTHING. He was calling me to rethink my priorities and stay home. My husband and I talked about all the pros and cons. A big con was the loss of a paycheck (1/2 to be exact). We decided to trust God and I put in my notice. Homeschooling was also part of God’s plan. He has placed some amazing friends in my path, who have helped me on my homeschooling journey ~ and maintain my sanity! I have bad days, days I struggle, days I long for just just 15 minutes of quiet, but I don’t doubt that I am following God’s plan for my family.
So my questions for you are:
- Do you require your kids to take quiet time every day?
- If so, how do you keep them in their rooms?
- Have you ever locked yourself in the bathroom just for 5 minutes of quiet? (Not that I have EVER done this. : )
Thanks for stopping by to play!
~Cindy
13 comments:
YES!!!!
My kids beg for "quiet time hour." Seriously!
It is the only time of day (other than bedtime) that they are allowed in their rooms. We have a play-room so all the toys are in there.
I started this early so now they appreciate it. We also have library day once a week and they can pick their books to read for quiet time. For the non-readers the older kids can read to them. They love it. I love it. It is a win-win. :)
Lana @ ilovemy5kids
I would KILL for some quiet time from my kids. We try, but the only time they do it willingly is when I need their help with something. That's when the 9 yo says she wants to sit on the front porch for her quiet time.
I have four kids, and getting any of them to just stop talking is almost impossible. We do make the two big girls sit in their beds at night and read or something while we get the two smaller ones to bed. Rarely does it go as planned.
and lastly, yes. I have locked myself in the bathroom. I have even blogged from my phone while sitting in the bathtub. Kids banging on the door crying the ENTIRE time.
Hi! Yes, we have quiet time most every day. My children are 9 and 6. It is usually 1 1/2 hours. They read books quietly (my little one still falls asleep) and sometimes I put a CD player between their rooms and let them listen to a book on CD. They have each discovered how many great things they have in their rooms during this time, too! If they come out they know mom will add 15 minutes. I haven't had to use this in a long time because they actually look forward to quiet time, and so do I!
Happy Homeschooling!
And YES. I have locked myself in the bathroom!
Yes. I only have a 3.5 year old, but we have had room time establish since he was a baby. Of course, it started as pack-n-play or blanket time, where he had to entertain himself for a short amount of time. Later on we increased the time and then moved it to his room. We have it every day for at least 30 mins. I say at least because sometimes he decides to stay in there longer and I'm ok with it.
Now, he also has a quiet time/nap time. He is starting to transitions out of naps, but he still goes to bed, but I allow him to look at books during that time. Sometimes he falls asleep other times he doesn't.
The clock is the in control as for when he can come out. During room time I tell him that he can't come out until his digital clock says 10. (The minutes are covered with a piece of paper.) For quiet time, he can't come out of his room until the clock says 3. We used this same method for waking up in the morning. It has been a real life saver.
Hello Cindy! Nice to meet you!
My 2 year old still naps so that is a bonus... My 5 year old does have quiet time. I have fun quiet toys or activities that he can choose from ONLY at quiet time or he may play cars on his bed (the floor is too noisy for quiet time) or look at books. I set a timer for 60-90 minutes depending on how the day is going and what other things we have on the schedule. No coming out of your room until the timer beeps. If His sister is still sleeping when the timer beeps then he may go outside on the trampoline if the weather is nice.
As for locking myself in the bathroom... no I have a lock on my bedroom door. Much more comfy place to regain some sanity :)
My youngest is 2 and still takes a nap. My oldest is 4 and hasn't taken a nap in 2 years. We started doing "playtime in your room" with her at around 2.5yrs. She didn't do well at first, but we kept at it. Now she is bummed when she doesn't get playtime in her room b/c of family in town or whatnot. She mainly colors in her room. She'll also sort her favorite items into her purses and listen to kid music on a CD player that I set up for her if she requests it. She doesn't have to stay in her bed, but she does have to stay in her room for 1/2 and hour at least. If she comes out too much asking for things, I add additional time to her time in her room.
Hi Cindy- I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I lost two between my last two and it was a difficult time. I held on to the Lord knowing that he is my comfort.
We have a quiet time where we all sit in the same room with blankets. I read one or two selections out of our read alouds and no one is aloud to talk. We take about an hour and just sit and relax if anyone happens to fall asleep that's great. If not I got an hour of peace! O by the way I have not locked my self in the bathroom, but I hide chocolate in my room. 8-D
Kelly
Hi Cindy, The first 3 yrs of our homeschooling adventure I ran a home day car in S.CA and had 6 kids from 7:30-5:30 M-F. Everyone.EVERY.One. laid down from 12:30-2:30.
I told the parents the schedule, told the kids the schedule, put them in the rooms (900 sq.foot grad. student back house) and closed the blinds. If they got up they stood in the corner with their hands behind their backs. We had very full and active mornings and afternoons with regular meals,snacks, and outside play.
Time-outs for mom in the bathroom? But of course ; ).
I am seeing the wisdom in this quiet time. Sometimes I'm too hard on myself because I have one girl at home and that's it, so I feel like I should be able to do so much. I know better, ran day cares and all back in the baby days. But now, 8 years later and losing a baby also the pressure has changed. Thanks everyone!
And I've proudly locked myself in the bathroom! The bedroom would have made more sense ;)
I never did quiet time with my kids. I might have tried if I had realized it was a possibility. But when my oldest girl quit napping at 17 months, I just figured I was in trouble and it never occurred to me to put her in her room for quiet time. Fast forward today when that daughter is 9 and I'm homeschooling and time alone has taken on a whole new importance. I get my quiet time by going to bed with my girls at 8:30p and getting 2-4 hours to myself in the morning. I wake up naturally before the girls and that's my quiet time each day.
Ahh - quiet! What is it?!
Seriously - my 4yo daughter doesn't mind quiet time too much - it's an extension of naptime in our case and occasionally she'll still fall asleep. She has to stay on her bed, but can take any stuffed animals/dolls or books she wants with her. And we time it with audio stories - two stories or about 1 hour - so she knows approximately how much longer she has to be quiet.
When I personally need the quiet time, I stick in a DVD. I try to ration myself! Our bathroom door can't handle much more abuse... :)
I love your story - (as I've mentioned very similar to my own). I also have an 8yr old - boy though. Thanks so much for hosting the playdate and introducing yourself!
And YES - we do have a quiet time in the afternoons. It helps my quality time 8yr old learn how to entertain himself and give me a chance to regain composure and tackle an afternoon! with a traveling husband - it is much needed!
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