I just had to have a little break there and do some catch up work.  There is no new little sully on the way here.  Or at least 3 home tests say that there isn’t.  I have been having my glass of wine every evening with religious regularity.

I think that this recent housework meltdown is great evidence of  the need for a rule of life around here.  A few years ago I read “A Mothers Rule of Life” by Holly Pierlot.  I have to say I was rather underwhelmed with the work.  I remember thinking repeatedly during the reading that it was obvious that she did not have a large pile of children and that she had unrealistic expectations.  I don’t really need a day off to “do my own thing” every week.  I do need the freedom to go do things that need to get done as they come up.  And that has not really been a problem around here.

My problem with a rule of life is my innate hatred of rules.  I am sort of a rule breaker.  (Fortunately for me, I discovered as an adult that I am far more counter-cultural when I follow the Catholic Church than when I don’t.)  I really like the freedom to chuck it all and play all day, but then who doesn’t?  The day AFTER the chucking day always really stinks, too.

In a home rule of life there is also little to no accountability.  When one lives in community you are accoutable to all the other members, as they are accountable to you.  Children, not so much.  The person ultimately responsible for the way our day goes is me.  So I thought I might use you as my accountability!   :)   So for the month of June I am going to live according to a rule, and I will let you know how it goes.  Since we are in “light summer schooling” my daily schedule reflects that, along with time to go to the pool.  I am also giving myself the freedom to have one “chuck it all” day every week.  So here is my proposed schedule for the day:

Rise at 7 A.M., Make bed, make coffee, do laundry #1, shower and start breakfast.
Say morning prayers and eat breakfast, do chores (we already have a well established chore rotation following all meals).
Older children start school independently, mom do laundry #2 and get on computer (1 hour limit).
Mom work with younger children on school work until lunch. Older child on lunch duty for the day should start lunch prep at 11:30 A.M.
Eat lunch and do chores.
Get ready and head for the pool until 4:00 or 4:30 (depends a lot on the heat – the hotter the day, the longer we want to stay).
Home from the pool: cleanup and prepare tomorrow’s snack and pool bag, laundry #3, begin dinner prep while children tidy bedrooms and any remaining messes in school room/rec room.
Eat dinner and do chores.
Reading time – read aloud or silently until 7:00 P.M.
Get ready for bed, say family rosary and night prayers.
Children to bed at 8:00 and 8:30.
Mom and Dad recreation until 9:30.

Any suggestions or obvious omissions? Here’s to the experiment!