Consistency and Our Daily Schedule

Last week, I was rather frustrated by the amount of fighting my kids were doing and things just generally not seeming to "flow" very well with school and home life. I wasn't sure what exactly the problem was or what to do about it, so I prayed about it. The answer to my prayer was that I need to be more consistent. We've been having school every day, but I haven't been as consistent with the daily schedule I devised as I need to be. I've noticed a big difference since I recommitted myself to being consistent and sticking to our daily schedule.

The most wonderful part is that when I stick to the schedule, school is more fun. In addition to all the school stuff, I also have an agenda and to do list of things I'd personally like to do (i.e. blogging). When I'm consistent with school, school is more fun, and I also have time to get the things on my agenda completed. If I set out to complete things on my agenda when I should be doing other things in the morning, it can be very disruptive to everyone's sense of order.

This is our daily schedule:
5:30/6—Mom up, see Dave off, read scriptures, exercise—toning, housework
7—Everyone up, Get Dressed
7:15—Eat Breakfast, clean-up from breakfast
7:45—P.E. or reading time or group cleaning
8:30—Mom gets showered and ready, Kids do household chores & practice the piano
9:15—Snack
9:30-11:30—School starts, scriptures, group time, work on own
11:30—Lunch, clean up, Jr. down for nap
12:15—Individual Instruction for Derek & Shayla, Piano Lessons, etc.
2—Errands or Fun/project/free time (no TV/PlayStation, only educational computer time)
3—Free time where TV, etc. allowed (if home)