Morning Devotionals

We're still taking things a bit slow around here. We're mostly over the flu (if that is what it was), but have lingering coughs and tiredness. And of course crankiness. I suspect our English word cranky shares its origins with the German krank, meaning sick. Certainly being sick makes us all rather emotionally fragile. And of course my job is to try to keep all these cranky people happy, without having an emotional meltdown myself. Honestly, there are days when I feel exhausted from the energy expended throughout the day in the effort to remain calm!
On the plus side, we've started out our new year with at least one new habit that is so far proving quite successful. I have introduced a morning devotional during our breakfast hour. We use this time to memorize scriptures and spiritual songs, to read the scriptures, and to pray together. Sometimes we also read a poem. So far the children have participated cheerfully, and it really helps to get our day off to a good start. I made a chart to put up on the wall to remind us. Every morning after breakfast one of the children gets to put a sticker on the chart. I have also introduced sticker charts for music practice, foreign language study, and recess, which my children will tell you is the most important part of homeschool! Recess means outdoor time, playing at the playground, riding bikes, or anything else as long as we are outdoors and active. I really do believe Charlotte Mason's observation that children really need time outdoors, especially in a natural environment. The sticker chart is really for me--to remind me to take them out! They certainly don't need any extra urging.