I thought I would share my typical, homeschooling mum, ‘on the farm’ school day. We are usually on the farm for Monday and Tuesday each week.

My motto for each day is: ‘I can do all things through Christ,-Who strengthens me’.

Homeschooling Mum’s daily timetable:

• 5.20am
• All alarms go off!
• My husband and I say a prayer together, before he heads off to start the farm work at 5.45am.
• I get a cup of coffee and spend the next 45 minutes praying and studying God’s Word. This gives me the best start to my day.

• 6.20am.
• The children and I get dressed and ready for school.

• 6.30am.
• School starts with prayer.
• I spend the first hour helping the children with their Math, as this subject seems to requires the most extra input.
• In between helping the children with their work, I catch up on emails and organise work for the house and garden staff. A lot of my early morning time is spent organizing our lives and planning for the days ahead.

• 8.00am.
• We break for breakfast. I use this thirty-minute break to make any urgent phone calls, as I don’t use my phone whilst the children are in school.

• 8.30am to 10.00am.
• Back at our desks working quietly.
• For the first three years of each child’s schooling I needed to use all available time for teaching. Once my youngest child could read, I was able to find some time to work on my blog or on other chores. •
• Presently, the children do most of their work on their own. They call me for assistance as and when I am needed. I work in the same room, at my desk, where I am able to continue with my chores as well as with this blog. I have had to learn to multitask and switch brain gears at a moment’s notice!

• 10.00am.
• Tea break for the children and they head out to play.
• I spend this time catching up on phone calls, checking on the staff and working on things which require my full attention.

• 10.30 am to 12.00pm.
• Back at school. Murray John is usually finished by this time, so he often goes off around the farm with his father. He loves to go and work in the digger.
• As the children’s school work is my priority I set myself small blog goals for the day, which I know are achievable. My blog time needs to fit around all my other chores.
• Towards the end of the school day, I make sure that the children’s goals for the day have been finished, and I set the goals for the next day.

• 12.00pm to 2.00pm.
• Lunch time. We eat lunch together and then it’s quiet time. I like to read during this time and rest. It’s my peaceful time of the day.
• When we are in Harare, this time is often taken up with doing chores like grocery shopping so I treasure this free time when I am on the farm.

• 2.00pm to 6.00pm.
• Some days Paula Joy returns to school to finish her work.
• I often blog from 2.00pm till 3.30pm or pack up for trips to Harare .
• At 3.30pm to 5.30pm, we head off to the stables to ride the horses. On Mondays, I give the children a riding lesson and then ride my own horses.
• 5.30pm to 6.30pm is fee time.

• 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
• This is shower time, followed by supper, prayers and bedtime for the children.
• I can then spend some quiet time with my husband before we go to bed.

• 9.00pm.
• My day ends with prayers.
• I have learnt that I need to make sure I get a minimum of 8 hours of good sleep per day. I suffered a severe head injury whilst playing polo, some 14 years ago, which has resulting in me requiring extra sleep. As long as I keep to this schedule I am able to manage my headaches and tiredness.

Conclusion:

I spend a great deal of my life juggling balls in the air, whilst keeping in tune with my children.

It’s a constant challenge and I manage to get everything done by not putting too much pressure on myself.

It’s such a wonderful journey we are on and I love the variety of my life. I have mostly worked for myself in the past, so I’m used to having a flexible lifestyle. I am an organized, time orientated person, I find working to daily time schedule works well for me. I thrive in an organized environment.

I just love having a self-directed education program like ACE, which allows the children can get on with their studies, freeing me up to do other things. I am passionate about creating, growing and developing; whether it involves starting a business, educating a child, or training a horse.

Having to life with out ever-changing environment in Zimbabwe, has taught me to be very adaptable. Moving back and forth between two homes, whilst educating my children, I realize, is just a season in my life, which is worth the difficulties and stresses which comes with it.

‘With God I know all things are possible’.

‘May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.’ Psalms 20 vs 4. (NIV)

Prayer; Heavenly Father I thank you for each and every day I get to train my children in Your ways. I hand each and every day to You, for your continued guidance and grace. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

• Our Victoria Falls Celebration Trip.
• Our Homeschooling Adventures and Activities for May-June 2024.
• What is a Healthy Homeschooling Culture?
• Our Homeschooling Adventures and Activities for March-April 2024.
• Developing Life Skills through a Houseboat Adventure.

We would love to hear your comments below…..