[Iveyrock]

Thank you guys for all of your thoughts (and more are welcome, of course!).

I was super overwhelmed yesterday, but I wanted to come back and clarify about school, cause I realized that part was probably confusing. We do school right after chores, but we unschool, and our 'school' is child led projects. So basically, it's the chores I listed, then circle time (I tell them what's going to happen that day and read two picture books) and then project time - which is literally time for them to do whatever they want. It's just specific time set apart that I am available to help, and that I am paying special attention. So I want him to be part of it, because it's school - but it's not sitting down work at all, unless he happens to want to sit down and writing something. Today for project time he helped the other kids paint a boat that they made out of wood, then made a castle with chairs and blankets. He and his sister dressed up in costumes and 'lived' in the castle. The most specific thing we do is once a week, when we do 'special little kids and mom time', and I have planned preschool type activities. This week it's play Mother May I, sing two nursery rhymes, I read them an ABC book, and we will make sculptures out of pipe cleaners, buttons, and beads. So we do school next, and it's valuable time, but it's not like I'm making him do a bunch of chores and then seat work. It's basically play time next, with about 15 minutes of circle time in between.

Originally Posted by Anne Ofalamo

Thumping blasting music and me in a good mood.
We struggled with morning chores, goodness, mornings in general and chores just because all families get in ruts with chores...they are boooooooooooooring!
so.
we would have breakfast
and for a week or so, I would be the one to initiate what we called freeze out!
The windows would open, doors open and our little stereo would be blasted for 10 minutes tops, as the chores were done!
It is pure delightful. After the 6th day, I hadn't put on the music, one of my girls asked if she could!
It so sets the tone for the day. Homeschool can get monotonous, and switching it up is a joy!

added note:
we would also take Life Skills day and together (4 kids at the time) we would clean house all day. Everyone had a room and as we finished we moved to help the others. By lunch we would be done, and choice of a soda was our reward! Same thing, loud loud music and freezing cold...lol
the cold is my weird quirk, to clean out the air.

Music is a great idea - I actually used to do that in our old home, and it worked really well. Unfortunately, my DH works from home, which also complicates our day - it limits the amount of loud music I can play, which seriously cramps my style. When he goes to work at a coffee shop, we totally rock out