A Day in the Life: Diana

Written by CHEBWA member Diana W.

Every homeschooling family is different! We hope that these peeks into the daily lives of some of our CHEBWA homeschool families will both encourage and inspire you on your own journey!

When asked to write about my day, I always seem to spend too much time thinking about what to write. It would seem a pretty easy task - log the events of the day. Where my concerns stem from is the idea that my life will be misinterpreted. If I seem to highlight the hectic moments, then homeschooling children may be too hard for the mom considering this as an option. If I seem to highlight the moments of ease, then I must have it all together. Neither are true assessments of my life.

What I can confidently write is this: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13 NIV) His strength is faithful and merciful even on the days I fail miserably.

I don't have a set hour by hour schedule. My children are small and I love that they wake up when their bodies are rested. We relax and wake up in the morning. I hope to wake a couple hours before they do, but I do not use an alarm clock. I enjoy having a morning cup of coffee while reading. No, I don't always do a morning devotion, actually, I never do a devotion. I like to just read scripture. I also take this time to answer emails, texts, read my own lessons; for my class, research, and gather my lists of tasks that I 'hope' to accomplish today.

I always try to have school started by 10:00. I am only teaching one child at this time and most days this works well for us. Depending on the day like Mondays for example we start earlier due to the tasks that will need to be accomplished that day. My two year old spends way more time in front of the television than I ever imagined he would. This is where I feel flexibility comes into play. When there is no one to play with him, which I think is a natural desire of any two year old and one I don't wish to stifle and no one is available, the TV works very nicely.  When my oldest was two, he had most of my attention and when he would play independently, I was able to get plenty of my chores accomplished. Five and half years later, there are several more and different chores that I must accomplish. I cannot expect my two year old to keep himself occupied independently that many hours.

I have our school day organized in a way that Roman who is 8, can work independently half of the time. This gives me opportunity to work on my list throughout the school day. While he is reading for example, I can be working on writing "A Day in the Life" or making myself available to a friend.

When I think of how my life has changed over the last 8 years, I could easily become overwhelmed, but I don't. I went from a work at home wife, to a mother, a hobby farmer, homeschool teacher, CHEBWA co-leader, secretary of our local little league, now a mother of two with a new puppy! God is good! There are only 24 hours in each and every one of our days. God asks us to serve each other. I first serve my family than the many friends and extended family members I have been blessed with. School work is important to us, but it is not the end all be all. We find time for lessons all day long, many of which are taught just by living life together.