by Holly Garza
Read part 1 HERE
When you plan out your day or schedule or week for that matter it really helps things run along a lot more smoothly. Planning and organizing time is VERY important as a Homeschooling, married, part time outside the home working, class every now and then taking, muslimah wife I have learned FIRST HAND, many times (sadly I'm hardheaded and take long to learn) the importance of cleaning up a little at a time and avoiding laziness and debt.
Many a times, due to neglect, forgetfulness or wastefulness I've forgotten to pay something only to have it cost me more later. Many a times due to laziness I've neglected to clean, or clean properly only to have extra work later. My grandmother used to tell me "El flojo trabaja doble". Spanish for "The lazy one works double"...oh how true it is!! It's far easier to pay a bill with no late fee, to do one load of laundry versus 3, to wipe up the stove then to scrub it off.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to supplicate: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from sorrow and distress, and I seek refuge in You from disability and laziness.” I've adopted this as one of my supplications in addition to better planning of my time InshaAllah.
Fulfillment of time commitments working and being at work on time, homeschooling at a good time my online Islamic class in the morning. It's VERY important to do these and not slack and these, and they go hand in hand with the aforementioned. Make sure you don’t overplan!
Write down EVERYTHING! You can either buy a schedule or use the computer to make one or use a notebook/day planner and write a simple schedule. It’s as easy as writing:
salat at 5:50
prepare materials for the day
quiet time
food prep- wake up younger children
eat at 8
read at 8: 30
Quran at 9
Math at 10
break at 10:30, and so on and so forth...
Remember to keep the salah times and your families in mind when planning. This is just an example for you.
The trick is not to overwhelm yourself or the child.
Here are some tips from another homeschooling mom Ameerah R of habeebee homeschooling.
All that said there will be days, maybe even weeks for some of us-where things just don’t go as planned. Parenting, life or homeschooling no matter what gets this way sometimes. You can plan, you can try but some times it just doesn’t always work out. When this happens stop, take a break, make dua and re evaluate. Make sure you follow your instincts and your heart. You know yourself, your life and your children far better than any book, web site, plan or curriculum. You know how you feel, they feel, your lifestyle and values.
Talk to other homeschoolers, ask other sisters for tips and advice, do an internet search, read their blogs, read some parenting, Islamic, and homeschooling books, and ask questions to those who do or have done it. Do your research but try not to let others influence you negatively or too positively. I mean, positive is good, but don’t let someone make you feel like you are not doing enough, because they are over the top awesome. Evaluate why you want to do this. As I said take what you need and chuck the rest. Everything someone else does may not be the perfect fit for your lifestyle and family take what does work though. Write down what you love, enjoy, and how you all manage the day better. Take advantage of the Library and other homeschooling parents blogs!! Free resources and tips are THE BEST!! I look up what other people love and look for it as a free download online or at the library. Don’t let yourself get too down about others either. I’ve met many awesome parents, mashaa ‘Allaah, many awesome homeschoolers. They just seem so great, they’re all around awesome at it all!! They’re clean, their religion looks on point, their teaching, their children, their house, everything alhamdulillaah, seems perfect on the outside. But, not everyone is perfect, and Allaah knows best.
Last but not least enjoy the ride! These are the best years of your child's life. Have fun together. Learn together, grow together. Put your trust in Allah and yourself to work. Make plans, set goals, smile, pray, and do your best. Live like you want your child to remember you by and live. Be grateful, grateful for having a child or children some people never get the chance or are trying hard to right now. Make a prayer for them. Teach your child kindness, to think, to be giving, to help those less fortunate and to be polite even when disagreeing. I end with this: What new thing did YOU learn today? We must remember to Teach our children everyday. Answer their questions, read a book, Learn Islam together! When you teach a topic you end up learning more about it than you thought you knew in the beginning! When you start using life, books, examples, websites, the Qu’ran, language, and flashcards to teach your child(ren) you’ll be surprised at how much more you will learn again as well.
When you plan out your day or schedule or week for that matter it really helps things run along a lot more smoothly. Planning and organizing time is VERY important as a Homeschooling, married, part time outside the home working, class every now and then taking, muslimah wife I have learned FIRST HAND, many times (sadly I'm hardheaded and take long to learn) the importance of cleaning up a little at a time and avoiding laziness and debt.
Many a times, due to neglect, forgetfulness or wastefulness I've forgotten to pay something only to have it cost me more later. Many a times due to laziness I've neglected to clean, or clean properly only to have extra work later. My grandmother used to tell me "El flojo trabaja doble". Spanish for "The lazy one works double"...oh how true it is!! It's far easier to pay a bill with no late fee, to do one load of laundry versus 3, to wipe up the stove then to scrub it off.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to supplicate: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from sorrow and distress, and I seek refuge in You from disability and laziness.” I've adopted this as one of my supplications in addition to better planning of my time InshaAllah.
Fulfillment of time commitments working and being at work on time, homeschooling at a good time my online Islamic class in the morning. It's VERY important to do these and not slack and these, and they go hand in hand with the aforementioned. Make sure you don’t overplan!
Write down EVERYTHING! You can either buy a schedule or use the computer to make one or use a notebook/day planner and write a simple schedule. It’s as easy as writing:
salat at 5:50
prepare materials for the day
quiet time
food prep- wake up younger children
eat at 8
read at 8: 30
Quran at 9
Math at 10
break at 10:30, and so on and so forth...
Remember to keep the salah times and your families in mind when planning. This is just an example for you.
The trick is not to overwhelm yourself or the child.
Here are some tips from another homeschooling mom Ameerah R of habeebee homeschooling.
All that said there will be days, maybe even weeks for some of us-where things just don’t go as planned. Parenting, life or homeschooling no matter what gets this way sometimes. You can plan, you can try but some times it just doesn’t always work out. When this happens stop, take a break, make dua and re evaluate. Make sure you follow your instincts and your heart. You know yourself, your life and your children far better than any book, web site, plan or curriculum. You know how you feel, they feel, your lifestyle and values.
Talk to other homeschoolers, ask other sisters for tips and advice, do an internet search, read their blogs, read some parenting, Islamic, and homeschooling books, and ask questions to those who do or have done it. Do your research but try not to let others influence you negatively or too positively. I mean, positive is good, but don’t let someone make you feel like you are not doing enough, because they are over the top awesome. Evaluate why you want to do this. As I said take what you need and chuck the rest. Everything someone else does may not be the perfect fit for your lifestyle and family take what does work though. Write down what you love, enjoy, and how you all manage the day better. Take advantage of the Library and other homeschooling parents blogs!! Free resources and tips are THE BEST!! I look up what other people love and look for it as a free download online or at the library. Don’t let yourself get too down about others either. I’ve met many awesome parents, mashaa ‘Allaah, many awesome homeschoolers. They just seem so great, they’re all around awesome at it all!! They’re clean, their religion looks on point, their teaching, their children, their house, everything alhamdulillaah, seems perfect on the outside. But, not everyone is perfect, and Allaah knows best.
Last but not least enjoy the ride! These are the best years of your child's life. Have fun together. Learn together, grow together. Put your trust in Allah and yourself to work. Make plans, set goals, smile, pray, and do your best. Live like you want your child to remember you by and live. Be grateful, grateful for having a child or children some people never get the chance or are trying hard to right now. Make a prayer for them. Teach your child kindness, to think, to be giving, to help those less fortunate and to be polite even when disagreeing. I end with this: What new thing did YOU learn today? We must remember to Teach our children everyday. Answer their questions, read a book, Learn Islam together! When you teach a topic you end up learning more about it than you thought you knew in the beginning! When you start using life, books, examples, websites, the Qu’ran, language, and flashcards to teach your child(ren) you’ll be surprised at how much more you will learn again as well.
1 comments:
Love ts mashaAllah... U should write a series on getting started with homeschooling sis, I know I would certainly appreciate it as I am overwhelmed by the amount of info out there...
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