Monday, August 16, 2010

Efficiency

I had some big beautiful plans that once August 1 rolled around we would be able to end our "Annual Break" (TJED recipe) and start right back into our schedule.  And then life happened.  We ended up having my brother and his family, who are wonderful, stay with us for almost two weeks.  They had some complications with their life and their 36 hour visit lasted a bit longer.  Now, we had a grand time but we didn't have a schedule.  Towards the end of last week we did at least start having breakfast at 8:30 again and I started getting up early again.  I have high hopes for this week

So last night we had a family council to go over the schedule again and our family work schedule.  Maybe one of these mornings I'll post about that.  So today we should be "back in the saddle again" as so many say around here.

As I was discussing things with our children and while we were trying to get them into bed earlier than they are use to going at the present I noticed my children have a lack of
Efficiency!
When it takes us an hour to get an 8, 9, 10 and 12 year old to bed I think their may be a problem.  Water breaks, teeth brushing, potty breaks, kisses and hugs, prayers, fighting, more kisses and hugs, in and out of bed.  It doesn't end. When I say it's time for breakfast chores they scatter like the wind and what should take 5 minutes somehow ends up taking 30 minutes.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Of course I realize I shouldn't say they have a problem with efficiency I should say I haven't taught them to be efficient.

New plan.  Teach my children how to be efficient.  I decided that we would start doing vocabulary words. The purpose not being to teach them random words, but to teach them new words and have them apply them to their life.  I'm not sure how long it will last but at least until we get the word efficiency down. So I pulled out my handy dandy 1828 Websters Dictionary and read: "Causing effects; producing; that causes any thing to be what it is...."  My own definition would be, "making good use of your time especially with your stewardships."  

So my first plan was to teach them the meaning. (check) Now to encourage them to make goals and recognize situations in their life times when they can be more efficient.  I plan to review the word daily for a while.  Perhaps if they know the word then they can become the word right?

6 comments:

buzy bee said...

Mabey efficiency is an August problem. :) Our jobs and family work have been taking much longer the past few weeks. Hope your new schedule works out well...can't wait to hear it

Christy said...

Thanks for being so honest. :)
It's nice to know that we are not the only ones dealing with these same challenges right now.
I think maybe it is an August problem. Fun summer things happen, along with long days and late bedtimes, and now it is time to try to follow a schedule once again and we are not used to it.
Teaching the word "efficiency" sounds like a great way to accomplish this goal.
I like to point out to my kids when we have been successful at being efficient, such as this morning when they all worked together and got the kitchen cleaned up in record time. They look around and realize, "Hey this is great! Now I can get on with what I really want to do!" and it motivates them to be efficient more often.

crazy4boys said...

Mine don't scatter like the wind, they scatter like a tornado. They can move very quickly to avoid work, but not to actually do the work! It drives me crazy that it will take them over an hour to clean a room that should take 5 minutes.

We need to work on this. Good thoughts.

St Harris said...

good luck. without the honking of the school bus, or REAL life situations it is hard to get them to feel the pressure without turning into the whip cracker.

sometimes the need to have things done before you are allowed to eat is helpful

aren't i positive today?

My Heart Squared said...

If you can figure out bedtime . . . I'd LOVE to hear!!

Deanna Householder said...

Oh, I am soooo glad that I am not alone! For me, it isn't an "August" problem, but a constant problem. Can a 4 year old and 6 year old (both boys) learn what that word even means yet? I have to up the prayers for patience!