Finish Summer Strong

Posted by Melissa | 0 comments

For many homeschooling families, summer is well underway and the upcoming school year still seems a ways off. And while there are still many relaxed days of summer left to enjoy, there are some things you can do now to ensure a strong start to your school year that actually have NOTHING to do with homeschooling. Although I have the most fun with plans and preparations in the school room, it’s really not the best place to start until you get some other things behind you. And I promise you’ll still have time for fun in the sun.

Start Anywhere

Summer is the time to get things done which are usually neglected during the busy homeschool year. I like to start with the worst mess, but start with whatever you’re in the mood to do. Make a list, if that helps you. And get the kids involved wherever you can. Here are some ideas to get you going:

• Clean out and organize closets. Be sure to get rid of what you haven’t worn or used in a year. Be brutal, it will make life easier in the coming year.

• Help each child get their room cleaned and organized. Again, getting rid of the excess stuff is key.

• Work your way through each room of the house giving it a good cleaning and organizing. Even if you can just focus on it for one day, it might be the most attention it gets all year. You decide if you have time to do deep cleaning or just organizing, but do something to make each room a little better than when you started.

• Catch up on filing and paperwork. Back up photos and files on your computer. Get rid of magazines, catalogs and papers you don’t need. Keeping all your files in order, both paper and digital, will make them easier to access when you need them later on.

Get Your Kitchen in Order

Meals are one thing in our routine that don’t change much. Yet the constancy of feeding our families causes many of us to struggle. I know it does me! But this summer, I’m not only cleaning my way through the kitchen, but I’m also doing some planning to make dinnertime easier once school is back in session. I’m planning three weeks worth of menus with detailed shopping lists for those meals. Even though things might need tweaking when it rolls around, it will be nice to have some dinner plans when the homeschool year commences.

It’s also a good idea to go through your pantry and get rid of dated items and replenish basic things a well-stocked pantry should have. Here’s a great list to get you started: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/Pantry.htm

Love Your Laundry Room

The laundry area is often a neglected space in our homes and yet we demand so much from it. I know how overwhelmed I feel when this room gets out of control with Mount Dirty Clothes.

I actually started my summer in this room. We painted the cabinets white to brighten things up, painted a lovely Robin’s egg on the walls and laid down a pretty new rug for the entry door here. What a difference! Now that this room is an attractive space, instead of just a utility room, I find myself caring more about the messes and eager to get that laundry done and out where it belongs.

Even if you don’t need a laundry room makeover, clean off the shelves and go through cabinets. Think of ways you can improve the efficiency of this room. Do you need bigger baskets for sorting? A flat surface for folding? Get rid of things you don’t need and try to make the room cheerful in some way. Put some scripture cards on the walls or hang photos of your family to remind you of the precious souls behind all this laundry.

Get Your Calendar Ready

Although it might be mostly blank, it’s smart to have your calendar at-the-ready when the pace of things picks back up in the fall. Whether you like a paper or digital calendar, get it ready. Enter birthdays and other events you already know. Put reminders in it as well. Schedule kids well checks, dental and vision appointments now if you can, even months in advance. And if you’re not terribly organized at keeping a calendar, start using it over the summer to write down EVERY appointment and get-together. You’ll have the habit down in no time!

Don’t Forget Yourself

Most of us are so busy tending to our families that we often neglect caring for our own needs. This isn’t a healthy balance, girls. Spend time making your master bedroom a special place for you and your husband. Rearrange some things or add something new to bring a fresh look. Clean out your closet and examine your wardrobe. Is it time for a few new things?

In addition to looking at your space, take a look at your plan for fitting in personal devotions and exercise. These are often areas that I drop when I get busy, but they are so vital to a mother’s spiritual and physical health. Start some habits this summer to ensure you’ll start the school year off right. It’s amazing the difference just a few minutes in the Word and prayer makes for the day. Carve out time and space to make this happen. And then work at making the habit stick.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish with just a little time and focus. Don’t let the summer pass you by without getting some things in order that will bless your family and make your life loads easier when school begins. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

Melissa Morgner is a happy wife of 17 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from 14 down to three. After ten years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Half Dozen Mama, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.