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Angel
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
You CAN create a *rule* with room for contingencies - just plan in very BIG blocks of time. Each day's rule may be different and that's just fine if it works for you!
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I'm quoting Jen from another thread here -- Leann's thread about needing help with her days. I didn't want to hijack Leann's thread, but I wondered...
Have any of you made a "rule" (schedule, routine, whatever you want to call it) for various contigencies -- such as Mom being sick, all the kids being sick, getting ready to move, moving, have to be out of the house a lot, pregnancy, etc., etc.?
Just curious. It seems like most of the past 5 years could be filed under the label "contigency" around here, and I'm just wondering if maybe I need to make myself some guidelines for different situations... like, to actually write it down or something... if that would give me some peace of mind or if it would be more trouble than it's worth.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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Well, it would be a good idea, especially if you and your dh discussed and agreed to the rules. Then everyone would know what to expect when Situation X arises.
For example, we don't take snow days. The county schools do, of course, but this gives us the freedom to take off for feast days (Dec. 8, Nov. 1) without Mom feeling guilty. (Notice I didn't say the kids!)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 12:43pm | IP Logged
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And we're the opposite of Nancy, the schools here rarely if ever take snow days but *WE* will take a partial day.. basically I'll let the kids get out to play in the snow while it's fresh in the morning, they also shovel for us and our neighbors.. our snow often becomes ice within a few days (or less) so it's not like I can say.. the snow will be there this weekend. And it gets dark so early..
hmm yes actually thinking about it.. I do change the rule when I had it written out.. swim team in the summer, lacrosse in the spring etc.. changes when we can do things.. if we have a garden etc.. that changes things.
But what I do is shift things around more.. like for instance.. if I have blocks in the morning that are for school.. and then I have something come up that must happen during that same time.. I can split the blocks of school.. or move something from later in the day forward to fill the space and do school later in the day.
So it's not so much a whole new rule.. the priorities only shift a bit..
As far as actual school work.. if you had a list of priorities.. then when you need to reduce the amounts.. you can simply only do those things on the top of the list.. and get to the others as you can.
And each day may be different.. I have a daughter that needs some speech therapy and we go to that 2 days a week.. Monday and Thursday. It's just weird.. and the routine for those days has to be different.
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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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ekbell
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 7:27pm | IP Logged
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I do have 'miserable day' routines.
Get up and make coffee
Assess situation
a)Can I make it through the normal beginning-the-day routine of Prayer, Breakfast, exercise
No: then say quick prayers, ask hubby for help and go back to bed with the nursling [He'll make breakfast and make sure the children are taken care of until he has to go to work at 2:30pm-after he leaves for work it will be convenience foods and educational videos]
Yes: follow morning routine and assess if we should do our normal lessons.
If one or more children isn't up to staying out of bed then they are excused from their lessons for the day [suitably modified for the child who *will* drag himself downstairs to sleep on the couch].
If they (or I) are under the weather but reasonably active then we start lessons with the understanding that we will quit at our regular time regardless of how much work was done (We always start with the highest priority work first ). [this doesn't include the week I couldn't talk- we took that week off  ]
Daddy cares for sick preschoolers during lesson time, if the nursling is ill then daddy helps with the most essential lessons and I assign some independent work for the rest.
After our dinner at one pm (my husband normally cooks on lesson days) I assess the chore situation.
On miserable days I try to clear the table, get to the dishwasher, get a load of laundry clean and sweep the Kitchen/dining room before bed (listed in order of priority). Anything more is gravy on a miserable day.
Now if we have more miserable days then 'normal' days without external reasons (colds, flu, morning sickness) I know it's time to try something different in our regular routine.
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KauaiCatholic
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 2:14am | IP Logged
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ekbell wrote:
I do have 'miserable day' routines.
Get up and make coffee
Assess situation
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I know this is a serious topic, but this just made me laugh! 
thanks for such an honest post.
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 Viviane
Grateful mama of Jonah Augustine ('01), Sophia Marie ('05) and Luke Dominic ('10)
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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ekbell
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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KauaiCatholic wrote:
ekbell wrote:
I do have 'miserable day' routines.
Get up and make coffee
Assess situation
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I know this is a serious topic, but this just made me laugh!
thanks for such an honest post. |
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You're welcome 
The first thing that goes for me when I'm under the weather and/or short of sleep is my ability to make decisions in anything resembling a reasonable time. A routine (and caffeine!) is essential.
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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Just linking the thread Angela refereenced above: Lookiing for Help
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Topic: rules for contingencies
