Managers of Their Homes: A Practical Guide to Daily Scheduling for Christian Home-School Families: A Review

This is my second in-depth exposure to this book. It was lent to me a couple years ago, at which time it was read and partially implemented. When I pulled it out again, I was going to review it with the intent of giving it a negative review. I felt that it was unrealistic and extremely rigid. As I began to go through it fairly, the Maxwell’s changed my mind.

There are chapters covering the organization of children’s days, school, chores, kitchen, and summer. Chapter 5 concerns scheduling babies, which, regardless of your theory of baby-rearing, still helps you realize that time must be set apart in your day to take care of your precious bundle.

Because the Maxwell’s are coming from a Biblical worldview, her opinions on many matters are encouraging. When she answers a question concerning the stress of regularly disciplining the younger children she includes “I truly believe that my continued perseverance in not growing weary in these child training issues will be blessed by our faithful God.” (p.106)

One detail I appreciated was the time she gives each item. Most tasks are limited to half hour increments, which keep the day moving, and interesting for everyone. If anything, it helped me to sit and evaluate what children can be doing which tasks at the same time.

Another very helpful part of the book is Chapter 11, where she clarifies some of concerns I had. She continually stresses that “…the schedule is a tool to help you accomplish what you believe God has called you to.” (p. 71)

This book also contains multiple examples of Schedules from different families. It comes with a kit to implement your own schedule, complete with step by step directions.

This is the definitive book on Scheduling. It covers EVERYTHING. In detail. Even if you never use any of the principles or ideas presented in it, you should read it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What's Going on Inside?

Last Tuesday was my 20 week ultrasound. There are a couple concerns. First, there is an echogenic left ventricular intracardiac focus. Second, the head circumference is in the 34th percentile, while the Biparietal Diameter is below the 5th percentile. What does this mean? First, the EIF thing is a spot of mineralization on the baby's left ventricular chamber. This occurs often enough, and with the absence of other anomalies that would associate with trisomies 13, 18 and 21, can disappear by the third trimester. It doesn't seem to usually cause heart problems with the Baby after birth. Oddly enough, this doesn't stress me out until I say it out loud.  Second, The BPD is more concerning to me. It IS often associated with those trisomies, yet I have no other risk factors. This is the measurement across the baby's head from temple to temple. This being small is sometimes associated with placental issues, so I have some questions in my mind about that. In one study...
Read more

In which, we observe the experience of the walk in clinic...

Friday night...after five days of being ill, I became desperate enough to call a nurse's hot line (at the urging of my sweet and loving husband). After a description of my symptoms, she urged me to see a physician within 24 hours. Thus Saturday morning was planned out. I left the children with said loving husband, and decided to wear jeans (instead of my ultra cute pajama pants- understanding that I may be there for some time, at which point cuteness would not belay the embarrassment of 12:00), but to fore go the makeup....it was 9:30 at a WALK IN CLINIC, for crying out loud. There was a line all the way to the door when I arrived, thirty minutes after opening. Attempting to be unobtrusive, I considerately stood on the opposite side of the door from the lady with the seven-month old. I suppose it proves my mental and physical state that I didn't even notice the lights go out, much less that I supported myself against the light switch. Nor was I discountenanced when the nurse up...
Read more

Huffing...

Wow. I can't believe it. There was a perfectly amazing blog entry almost complete. It detailed about my perfect Latte spilling onto everything by my perfect son. Apparently this blogger thing doesn't automatically save drafts like wordpress did. Hmm. Recently I have been noticing the eternal things around me. It seems that things are becoming so black and white around me, and sometimes the fallout is heartbreaking. Other times it is so victorious. God has been answering prayers in amazing ways. Devotions have been difficult. I would like to be able to pray and read at the same time...right now they are being compartmentalized. I end up praying when I am nursing her, and reading Scripture during breakfast. Hopefully I will begin blogging in earnest. I think that I put too much pressure on myself. I need to remember that my blog is an outlet for me to encourage as best as I can. Since God has blessed me so much, anything about my life is an encouragement in a way! Also just to ...
Read more