Busy-ness and Busy Work

The Trap of Homeschool Busy-Work

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I’ve found this year that my family is quite busy. With school commitments like swim class, piano class, co-op and field trips, and church commitments like teaching Bible Class, ladies classes and service projects, as well as family commitments like doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and day to day cleaning, I find that we have been overwhelmed with busy-ness.

It is during times like these when I find that I catch myself falling into the trap of giving Jonathan busy work. Now any teacher regardless of school setting will find themselves giving their pupils busy work. We don’t want to do it. However it sometimes is just more convenient.  This is work that we give which keeps them occupied in a somewhat structural way so that we can work to accomplish another task. 

Since my little guy loves math I will give him extra math to do in a workbook for gifted students. Since he loves it and requires very little if any instruction from me, he happily hums to himself as he goes about his task. I then can peacefully go about mine. 

Trouble is, when I find myself as busy as we have been lately I tend to give him more busy work than structured work. The trouble with busy work is that it does not feed the mind, it simply gives continued review of material already processed. 

I need to find a balance, something has got to give. I just can’t seem to figure out what that is… Ah, I think I need to commit this problem to prayer and trust that God will guide my steps over the next few weeks. I know He will lead me where I need to be, I just have to follow Him.

Update: These e-books are helping me to learn how to prioritize better, but it is a work in progress. 

This is my current read. Dear Mom Letters are written directly to a mom’s heart helping her to realize where her priorities should lie and help her to see her true blessings in life. 

28 Days to Timeliness shows how we waste time, by failing to plan ahead.