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MommyD
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I've tried everything. Motivated Moms, Flylady, my own printed out laminated schedules, everything. If I could just do what is on the list, my home would be clean, school done and I might even have time to scrapbook once in awhile. So, why can't I just follow the schedule???
Melissa 
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lapazfarm
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You and me both, Melissa.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mary Chris
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I am right there with you!
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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hylabrook1
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Is your schedule realistic? I've found that when I make a schedule with no *padding* it never works. If things are packed on that paper so tightly that I don't have space to handle interruptions, then the whole thing gets thrown off and I just get discouraged and *go on strike*.
Otherwise, just do it! I fall down on this one every time! I have scheduled "dust my room". Well, I hate dusting, feel like "so what if I don't dust; the world won't end" (it's very easy for me to talk myself out of dusting). Then, even if I do have time to dust when it is scheduled, I just won't do it anyway. That really is totally a question of self-discipline. I wind up doing something else that truly isn't necessary or could wait, or I say "I'll dust after I read my novel and have a cup of tea." After I've done that *can you imagine* there isn't any time left to dust, so, of course, how can I do it? (Does this sound remarkably like the way our children procastinate their chores?) I know I ought to be ashamed of myself, and I am. But those feelings never got the job done either.
So. I'm right back to telling myself: JUST DO IT!
Maybe this doesn't sound like you, but if it does I'm sure you and I both have plenty of company. I just need to get off my duff ....
Peace,
Nancy
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Angie Mc
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Because if it was easy we wouldn't need God? That's my big answer. If I could actually tie all this stuff up that I do daily into a neat little package...I would think I was pretty darn cool. But no. I can't think that because things don't go according to my plan. Because my plan is either too loose or too tight...or it is ignored. It would be down right discouraging if it wasn't for the fact that I need God. I need His help to identify true sloth in me and my family members and deal with it directly. I need His help to be realistic and show mercy. I need His help to develop new habits while not letting other good habits slide. I need His help to tighten up here while I loosen up there. This "how do I organize all this" dance is one that I will dance my whole life so the better I get at the habits of "admitting defeat" to God and "faking it 'til I make it" and being grateful for all that I/we do well, the better off my whole family will be. Baby steps...two steps forward, one step back...with an eye on heaven. That was a very long way of saying...I empathize, Melissa  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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JodieLyn
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and sometimes the way we plan out what to do isn't a good fit.. whether there's really enough time to do it or not.
for instance.. say.. "everyone" cleans the kitchen after dinner so that it's all clean to start the next morning.. so of course you schedule it. But by the time you get dinner on the table after a full day.. the LAST thing you want to do after dinner is clean the kitchen. So.... while it might be nice.. it's unrealistic for you at this time.. and maybe having the kitchen totally clean after breakfast or after lunch would work better.. it's still completely cleaned up at least once a day.. just different from everyone else.
I find it easier to do 5 loads of laundry twice a week than 1-2 loads every day.. things like that
So... perhaps instead of writing a schedule to follow.. if you write down when you do things on a day you're not following any schedule.. maybe for several days.. And just see what sort of pattern you might have. Then you might have a better idea of just what you're inclined to do at different times of the day.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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stefoodie
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Melissa, I could have written your post 
Thanks, Angie -- yup, that's it. If I were the supermom who REALLY got it all done, AND stayed cheerful every moment of the process, I wouldn't need God. If I'm so together that everything went "according to plan" (MY plan), I wouldn't even pay attention to what God's plan is. And I do need humbling every single day. I do need to sit and ask, Ok, God, this isn't going right, what do YOU want me to do/focus on? Often I voice the same sentiment to dh, and he sets me right... so it's very much a submission thing too.
Melissa, what helps me right now (and I change often) is to have the stuff I'd like to accomplish today on a list -- have a time scheduled for each one BUT leave 2-3 hours leeway -- IOW, my schedule that goes all the way to 11:30 pm with every single 1-hour unit filled isn't going to cut it. Trust me. I tried it just last Saturday. I was off by about 4 hours. My planner is full of arrows/forwards.
Hang in there -- you're not alone.
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stef
mom to five
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hylabrook1
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Angie -
I really appreciate your posting about relying on God. You are so right; I never thought about my real need being to see how much I need Him. Actually, thinking that I can or should be the one to make it work is prideful. Not that I should be lazy either, but just realize where the impetus really should come from.
You've given me inspiration to pray my way through the day....
Peace,
Nancy
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Elizabeth
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Angie Mc wrote:
Because if it was easy we wouldn't need God? That's my big answer. If I could actually tie all this stuff up that I do daily into a neat little package...I would think I was pretty darn cool. But no. I can't think that because things don't go according to my plan. Because my plan is either too loose or too tight...or it is ignored. It would be down right discouraging if it wasn't for the fact that I need God. I need His help to identify true sloth in me and my family members and deal with it directly. I need His help to be realistic and show mercy. I need His help to develop new habits while not letting other good habits slide. I need His help to tighten up here while I loosen up there. This "how do I organize all this" dance is one that I will dance my whole life so the better I get at the habits of "admitting defeat" to God and "faking it 'til I make it" and being grateful for all that I/we do well, the better off my whole family will be. Baby steps...two steps forward, one step back...with an eye on heaven. That was a very long way of saying...I empathize, Melissa .
Love, |
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Oh gosh, I'm printing this for today...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Diane
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I totally agree, Elizabeth. Thanks, Angie! 
My biggest heartache is that I am often so focused on my fumbled footwork in the dance that I miss out on appreciating the beautiful music and the ever-changing adorable partners that keep cutting in. I never realized that that ballroom dance class I failed would become a metaphor for my entire life. Maybe I should just accept the fact that I am more suited for a mosh pit.
Hang in there, Melissa! Looks like you've got lots of company. Now, if we could all just escape to Alice's for some tea...
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Peace,
Diane
Mom to five fair lasses and one bonny prince
The Journey of a Mother's Heart
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SeaStar
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I am in the same boat- I find myself at times being purely lazy, no other word for it. Then I become stressed because all the work has piled up into a seemingly overwhelming load. I have prayed a lot lately for God to give me a heart for keeping my house in better order, to overcome laziness.
Then a friend of mine who is a Greek orthodox reminded me that Advent is a time of sacrifice as well as preparation. I took that to heart and wondered what type of sacrifice I could make. Suddenly it hit me that instead plopping down in front of the computer each night while dh gives the kids their baths, I could use that time to "put my house in order". It's only maybe 15-20 minutes each day, but it has made a big difference. I am so tired at the end of the day, and all I want to do is sit down and rest, so it's been hard, but I've stuck with it each night. I think of it as my Christmas present for both my family and for Jesus. Having more order in the house has made me feel better, too. I hope to continue this small "sacrifice" even after Advent is over. Fifteen minutes a day really adds up.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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alicegunther
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Diane wrote:
| Hang in there, Melissa! Looks like you've got lots of company. Now, if we could all just escape to Alice's for some tea... |
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Oh, Diane, wouldn't I love that?
And while all you wise and wonderful women were visiting, you could tell me what to do with the clutter that keeps piling up in all directions, especially this time of year when strings of lights, ornaments, and and decorations of every description keep bubbling up from the basement! Melissa, dear, I know how you feel!
Angie, you said it all--beautiful.
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
    
Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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TracyQ
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Diane wrote:
Maybe I should just accept the fact that I am more suited for a mosh pit.
Hang in there, Melissa! Looks like you've got lots of company. Now, if we could all just escape to Alice's for some tea... |
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ROFLOL Diane! I almost spit my coffee out when reading this!
I'm with ya on the tea at Alice's!!! One can DREAM........ 
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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Topic: Why can't I do as I'm told??
