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Home Β» Blog Β» Ordinary Days

Ordinary Days

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Ordinary Days

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An apron with her sister high heeled boots that we have forbidden her to wear because they are so loud.

My work the other day-the brush pile!  It felt so good to get outside and work even if I am paying for it in wrist pain today.

He is such a good speller.

Bursting with excitement. 

Yes I know nothing is ordinary now but I am trying to keep it as ordinary as possible.  We are having fun homeschooling-I LOVE IT.  That doesn’t mean it goes smoothly at all.  I keep thinking of the moms with colicky babies or any babies and then kids who need help learning and I’ve been there and know that this is hard!  It is so much easier now with only two kids that need supervision.  We are working out the glitches together-like kids bickering.

Here is the rough schedule that has worked for these three days.  (Matt is on spring break, Andrew (16) is on his own with school and is always willing to help me.)

We get up when we get up.  Usually 8 (heck not the older kids).  Showers and bed making and slow breakfast.  Patrick usually creeps down earlier and watches a little TV and then I send him up to do his bedroom chores.

We have tackled a family job each morning.  I want to incorporate real life practical learning.  Today we washed the inside and outside of the car.  Yesterday we picked up some sticks in the yard and I gave the kids a few quick inside jobs.  I am going to make a list and see if it could be something the youngest two and I do together.  Cooking, cleaning, organizing, how to fix things.  Pumping gas is up next! 

I have in mind doing school work from 10-2ish, with lunch while we work.  Today I sent Patrick on a race around the block when he was hitting maximum overload.  He timed himself.

On rainy days we are going to watch a documentary together in the afternoon. 

We decided for the week to have a movie night every night.  We’ve watched The Greatest Showman and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  (If you have any suggestions of really good movies-no cartoons, let me know!)

Janey was jumping up and down when I told her we are going to do a project for her habitat study in Social Studies.  I LOVE PROJECTS.  (The project will consist of a poster board and construction paper and lists about the ocean and dolphins.)  I have to think of one for Patrick that interests him. 

I love being home.  I love the kids being home.  Attitude is everything-remember.  Simple expectations so there is little to no stress and lots of play.  Simple meals, simple jobs.

I am still working on 40 Bags in 40 Days.  I had a bag full from the boys closet that is going to Goodwill.  I am not doing the hard spring cleaning with the kids home as much. 

Abbey and I are tackling her room and closet today.  More photos soon on Instagram and I will post here this weekend.  The garage is a big one and I am excited to get to that this weekend if the weather is decent.

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March 18, 2020 Β· 23 Comments

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Comments

  1. jen says

    March 18, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    Cool Runnings, Princess Bride, Singing in the Rain

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:01 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. sarah g. says

    March 18, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    I am loving the kids being home all day, but I have to be honest… school is tanking hard. I am no teacher πŸ™ Having the schooling of these 5 kiddos just handed to me was one heck of a life lesson. I have MUCH to learn!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:02 am

      I know we all do! It is going to be a learning process and remember you can only do the best you can do. Running the house efficiently and doing basics like reading books is the starting point.

      Reply
  3. Ericka says

    March 18, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    Secondhand Lions, Holes, Pollyanna

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:02 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Ana of the Nine+ Kids says

    March 18, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    What family projects do you have planned?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 19, 2020 at 12:05 am

      Do you mean work projects? Cleaning the garage and the shed and the basement. Learning to cook a simple meal for each of them.
      For school Janey had to do a habitat worksheet this week so we are going to do a poster board with photos and simple lists of facts about oceans and dolphins.
      I am going to let Patrick chose one if he wants to do a project-he has a lot of school work and a research paper.

      Reply
  5. Billie Jo says

    March 19, 2020 at 1:20 am

    I knew you would rock the homeschooling gig!
    We do the same. Home is home. Not school.
    A rigid schedule did not work for us, so we homeschool by getting up when we get up, have a slow breakfast, and spend some time doing school with a walk and lunch in the middle.
    Anyway, enjoy your time. Stay safe. Stay cozy.
    Movies? Hmmm. We love Maleficent. The original. Not the second one.
    We are going to start Little House on the Prairie next.
    Hugs…Virtual…from Pa!

    Reply
  6. Rach says

    March 19, 2020 at 7:38 am

    Have you seen TOGO yet? We loved it at our house, all ages. It’s on Disney+ right now.

    Reply
  7. Jackie says

    March 19, 2020 at 10:18 am

    Hi Sarah! The Biggest Little Farm is such a beautifully done documentary about a couple that start a natural farm… my husband and I as well as our 7,4,2 year olds were all captivated by the film!

    Reply
  8. Sarah says

    March 19, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    Thanks for sharing your slow, family oriented day. I like the reminder that home is home, not school, so the completion of school work has to be fitted into family rhythms not the other way around. Priorities!
    I’m pregnant with our fifth and in the throes of first trimester HG while the shutdowns have happened. Terrible timing! This too shall pass, for all of us.

    Reply
  9. Beverly Noland Ozburn says

    March 19, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    Movies I would suggest are My Fair Lady, Temple Grandin, and The Sandlot. You might also encourage your students to create how-to videos. A good, free screencast tool for a laptop or Chromebook is cast Screencastify. My grands love making how-tos!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      March 20, 2020 at 4:17 pm

      Loved Temple Grandin. Very inspirational

      Reply
  10. joy says

    March 19, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    We just read "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" and then watched the awesome film- "Hugo"–hit with multiple ages and parents. Thanks for the positivity πŸ™‚

    Reply
  11. Theresa says

    March 20, 2020 at 12:39 am

    I homeschooled my girls from when they were in 3rd and 5th grade. I loved it! It was the best!! Now my youngest is a high school senior and taking community college classes. We still do a few things together but it's not the same was when she was younger!! I loved the practical skills and the projects and the documentaries!!

    Reply
  12. Ruth says

    March 20, 2020 at 1:11 am

    Signed, Sealed, Delivered: 'The Impossible Dream' is the best episode of the Postables series!
    Corinna, Corinna (early Whoopi Goldberg)
    Heaven is For Real
    Miss Potter (Renee Zellweger)
    Sleepless in Seattle (Tom Hanks)
    October Sky
    84 Charing Cross Road
    Mr. Rogers "Won't You be MY NEIGHBOR?" (the real Mr. Rogers)
    For the older kids:
    In the Heart of the Sea (Moby Dick)
    Freedom Writers
    Stardust (Fantasy)
    Just Like Heaven (Reese Witherspoon)

    Reply
  13. Unknown says

    March 20, 2020 at 1:16 pm

    Hidden Figures

    Reply
  14. Kathy says

    March 20, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    I'm binge watching Anne With An E (Anne of Green Gables). It's so good!

    Reply
  15. ubermom says

    March 24, 2020 at 5:00 am

    The great race is a classic and so funny! What a great idea. I’ve homeschooled my kids for many years so our lives have not changed that much. It’s fun to see how other families work it into their lives.

    Reply
  16. Kathy says

    March 24, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    FYI there's adult content in episode 7 of season 2. It is apparently not part of the original story.

    Reply
  17. Emily B says

    March 31, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    Love the movie night idea! We love…
    Swiss Family Robinson
    Old Yeller
    Mary Poppins
    Homeward Bound the incredible journey
    Parent Trap

    Reply
  18. The Szeles Family says

    April 1, 2020 at 7:10 am

    A little princess, chitty chitty bang bang, Swiss family Robinson, Homeward Bound, Cinderella live action, Nanny Mcphee Returns, Mary Poppins Returns, New Charlottes web, the Karate Kid, The Blind Side, Coach Carter (older), Goal (older), The pursuit of Happyness, Babe, Charlie and the chocolate factory.

    Great movies for entertainment and teaching morals and values.

    Love following you for all these years πŸ™‚

    Reply

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Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular.  Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school.  Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special. 
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude.  There is a certain peace about the ordinary.  It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand.  It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything.  Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. πŸƒ
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! 🏑
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
πŸƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
πŸƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
πŸƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! β˜€οΈ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
πŸƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
πŸƒ
Clip on bed lights save space. 
πŸƒ
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
πŸƒ
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
πŸƒ
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. β˜€οΈπŸŒ·πŸŒ±
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
β˜€οΈ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
β˜€οΈ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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