Time Well Spent

As December gives way to January and the excitement of Christmas disperses, comes the long, often dreary, winter days. For me the focus usually becomes rest, family time, and simply time to slow down. Homeschooling gives us a beautiful opportunity to rest, recoup, and continue our studies in a slow paced environment. Oftentimes this means a lot of reading time, personal and out loud. There are times that my family longs and needs simplicity. We too can easily get sucked into the business of mainstream living. If you're needing some ideas to help reconnect as a family, to slow down, and to just enjoy each other, I hope to help by giving some ideas.

This year I decided to read Little house in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Of course the boys groaned out loud as I set down to begin our winter reading. But as I began to read through the pages we were transported back to a slower, simpler time when family was the focus, living together was considered a blessing, and life was lived together without the pressure of society's expectations … Quite honestly, sometimes my heart longs for that. By the time I finished the first chapter the kids wanted me to read more! It's a perfect book for the winter season, sure to captivate young and older children.

Another suggestion is to dive into your hobbies and involve your family. I have found that my children really enjoy coming alongside me whether it's painting, drawing, reading, cooking, homesteading projects, or trying something new. Our slow paced mindset and interest led schooling during the winter really encourages the kids to dive into projects, set goals, and inspires them to use their imagination (which I personally believe has been lost in recent generations). One of my children recently asked me, "How do I become an inventor?" I replied, " By using your imagination."

Put the screens down, including your phone. I could honestly dive into the scientific reasoning behind turning screens off but I'll save that for another time. As parents, we have discovered that the more screen time our kids get the worse their attitude and perception is. We have made some helpful rules for our household:

• If it's daylight, no screens

• No screen time before supper, only after.

• screen time ends at 8pm ( if you didn't get a turn with games you'll have to wait until the next time).

• Have you read your book? That comes first.

• For us adults: screen time before the kids get up and some after they go to bed. While I don't always stick to this one, this is a general rule. I've even given the kids permission to tell me to get off my phone if they think it's become a distraction.

With that being said, we have begun to implement family game night. I feel we really need that bonding time as a family. Laughing and smiling together are some of the best ways to shake off what's going on in the world and focus on what really matters!

Take a hike! Getting out in nature is simple and free! It causes us to slow down, and encourages the imagination. Include skills like plant identification, ecosystems, and nature sketching.

Last but of course not least Bible time. At 8pm we sit together on the couch and dive into scripture and theological discussions. Honestly this is when we have some of the deepest discussions and serious questions are answered. As a family we are reading through the book of John but there is material out there that can help facilitate this time with your family! If you need some suggestions don't hesitate to ask!

I believe winter is a time for rest, and a time simply to be still. To constantly remain busy and fast paced is hard on the body, mind, and family. Get out of the vicious cycle and focus on what is most important!