Home Economics Lessons on SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Homeschooling During Times of Transition

Malia Russell — Spring 2013

Please link below, or here, to Malia’s latest lesson on simplifying during transitions: laundry.

Malia’s lessons will continue on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, but at a slower pace, as her family continues to adjust to a new child and new grandchild. Malia hopes to rejoin us with new lessons this summer and fall; please check back. In the meantime, enjoy her many archived lessons, below. — Ed.

Life is full of changes, transitions, disruptions—some good and some bad. We are in another time of transition—we just added (to our delight) baby number six into our family, as well as our first granddaughter. We also had my mother move into town, and she promptly had a heart attack. In the next couple of weeks she will be getting a port put in to start dialysis.

We are obviously in another one of life’s transition times. Yet, schoolwork must get completed (even if it is modified), people must get fed, loved, disciplined, and things must be cleaned, purchased, and organized. There are some unavoidable things that must be done to have a home that is pleasant to all the inhabitants.

During this transition time, I have had a hard time finding time to write lessons, and then realized that most years we have had some sort of transition happening since we started homeschooling. We have had four additional children since our beginning homeschool days. We have added three businesses; my husband has changed jobs. I have homeschooled when healthy, when sick, and through all the other things that are a normal part of life. Making transitions smooth is just part of what seasoned homeschoolers have to learn how to do with grace and effectiveness.

Rather than coming up with brand new topics to write about for Home Economics lessons, I thought it would be best if I shared our transitional journey with you. Perhaps along the way you will learn new tips and ways of thinking that will make your next transition a little easier. Just simplifying my lessons to match what we are doing in real life should be a hint to you—change your expectations. If something is important to you, pray about it and brainstorm how to be able to get it done given your current constraints.

Here are some of the things we will be covering:

• Making goals during transition times

 

• Determining what is important—what should be done and what can be left undone

 

• Guilt-free homeschooling adjustments

 

• Housework simplified

 

• Shopping simplified

 

• Meal planning simplified

 

• Multiplying your time

 

• Utilizing help

 

• Spiritual disciplines during busy times

I may add additional topics as I am living through them here, as I am led. If you have specific questions and things you would like to see covered, please write and tell me so. If I can work it into the lesson plans, I will. You can also use the new Ask-A-Question feature on SchoolhouseTeachers.com

If you and your family are in a transition year, please know I am praying for you (and all the families sharing in these lessons) that these will be an encouragement to you. Please pray for our family as well, that this transition will be smooth and we will enjoy learning these lessons together!

Talk to you next time!

Malia Russell

Go to the March and April lessons.

Go to the Home Economics Lesson Archives.

Don’t miss the article Home Ec: It’s Not Just for Girls Anymore! in the Library.

As you complete tasks, if you want to share your efforts with me, feel free to contact me at letters@homemaking911.com. You can send me pictures along the way and ask questions if you need to do so. Please feel free to check our website, www.homemaking911.com, and visit us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Happy Homemaking! Malia Russell www.homemaking911.com

Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to five children, ages one to 21, and an author, conference speaker, and director of www.homemaking911.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement, and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker, or home educator.