Don’t hate me, but I love Mondays around here. They might be my most stress-free day of the week. Really. The house is calm, the kids are productive, and I am happy. That is success.
I really like to start my week off with a great day. It sets the tone for the rest of the week.
How do I manage to take the stress out of Monday?
Sunday Evening Planning Session
It all starts Sunday evening. That is my planning time. My husband and my kids leave me alone for a couple hours each Sunday evening and I sit down with the kids’ planners.
I look back at the previous week and see what we accomplished. Then, I plan the coming week based on that, the goals I have for the kids, and our activities calendar.
Having this time to plan is absolutely essential to a successful Monday morning. When you wake up with a plan, there is no guess work as to what will be happening that day.
Give Each Child Their Own Planner
Planners keep the peace. My kids like to know what is expected of them from the get go, and they don’t like things sprung on them last minute. If they think they are done after a certain point and I give them more to do that they were not expecting, cue the whining.
Each having a planner of their own keeps them in the loop and lets them know what they need to accomplish each day. For some reason, when our kids see their assignments in writing, they whine and argue about them less. Plus, there is no more “I didn’t know I was supposed to do that!”
We start our Monday going over their planners so there are no surprises.
(For my 4th grade son, we use the student planner from A Plan In Place. My 8th grade daughter likes planners like this Daily Planner.)
UPDATE: With my daughter in high school, we now use Homeschool Manager to keep track of her lessons, grades, and volunteer hours.
Take It Slow
It is Monday. The day after the busy weekend. Everyone is moving a bit slow. That’s the beauty of homeschooling. We can move at our own speed.
For us, that means sleeping in 30 minutes later than usual, and the kids usually keep their pajamas on until lunch.
When I plan lessons for Mondays, I usually plan some fun, slow-down activities like art or a game to go with what they are studying. That way they can ease into their subjects for the week and I can have some time to actually sit down and finish a cup of coffee and catch up on some reading or blogging or social media or….
Keep The Schedule Clear
Being rushed stresses me out. Hurrying through lessons because we have somewhere to go stresses everyone out.
If I am striving for a stress-free day, I try not to schedule any appointments. I allow plenty of time for lessons or whatever else I want to accomplish with the kids at home. If I have to schedule something, I try to make it late in the afternoon.
Be Flexible
We all know that a new week can bring new challenges. It just happens that way. It’s life. Don’t over-schedule Mondays. Build in some time for the unexpected.
In fact, expect the unexpected. The way to get through a Monday (or the homeschool life in general) is to be flexible. Remember – “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not break.”
What About You?
Are your Monday’s stressful? Can you use any of these tips to make your Monday’s better?
Do your Monday’s go off without a hitch? Have any tips to share?
Thanks for posting it. I’ve been thinking about getting my 3rd and 5th graders a planner, but haven’t done it yet. Do you fill in their school assignments for them?
I do fill in their assignments and make the kids check them off when completed. It keeps us all organized and accountable. My kids really need the planners. The day goes much smoother since we started using them.
Thanks so much for your input! I think my kids would really like it too. I’m convinced:)
I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that likes to have a quiet Monday morning. I just resigned from our homeschool co-op that met on Monday morning. It was always a stressful start to our week and we accomplished little at home. I am looking forward to getting our weeks off to a good start this fall!