Over-Scheduled and Overwhelmed

I could see the eyes of my daughter glaze over.  I have seen the signs before and have had to make adjustments.  Basically, she is dong too much.  It's hard to judge just how much is too much by all that mom has to do.  It's when I see my daughter not enjoying school that I know that we have pushed things too hard.

One of the benefits of a Charlotte Mason education is short lessons.  However, it is easy to just tell yourself you are going to add this book or that extra assignment here or there,  Suddenly, BAM, you look at the agenda and see that it is just way too much.   What tends to happen with over-scheduling is that we rush to get through everything and miss so much.  For instance, that great lesson in that amazing book that you want to discuss with your child gets forgotten because she still has so much to do and the day is moving fast.

The first few times I over-scheduled my daughter, it was out of fear that we just weren't covering enough.  Now, however, it has happened because I keep running into books and things that just look so interesting.  It has become hard to limit all that I will do.

However, planning to begin preschool on top of the studies with my fifth grader has made me realize that If I am over-scheduled and stressed, my daughter must be too.  I have realized that I have neglected some of the non-academic areas, such as habit training, with both of my daughters.  This is not acceptable.  So, now that I have  curriculum that I trust and love, it is time to work on other areas in our home.

Our home is in transition.  My oldest daughter is moving out.  My next daughter will be graduating and beginning college in the fall.  My toddler is almost four and will be an official preschooler.  Homeschooling has taught me a great deal.  One of those things it has taught me is that I must work hard to train my children in good habits while they are young.  Once they are older, it becomes very difficult to change negative habits once they have set.

My next step is to cut down a bit on all that I have planned for Laura.  We have an over-full schedule right now, and there is very little time for other things.  In the winter, when we can't go outside, it is easy to fill up those hours.  But when I see my daughter kind of groan at all that is planned for her, I know it is time to lighten up a bit.  I have the Heart of Dakota schedule, plus this and that added.  It is time to minimize a bit, keep only what is important to us... such as read aloud time.  Instead of three or four extra books, I am fine with just one for Laura at a time and one read aloud.  After all, this is supposed to be an education that inspires, not kills the spirit with the overwhelming load.