Our daily rhythm page, clipped to the bottom of our calendar.
Rhythm for children is crucial. They thrive when they know what to expect. Every morning when Nykki crawls into our bed his first question is, "What are we doing today?" He usually follows this up with, "and tomorrow? and the next day? and the after? and the day after?"
I can literally see the relaxation and calm envelope his six-year-old body when he knows what to expect. Humans are naturally anxious. Modern technology protects many of us from the lions, tigers and jaguars of the world however spiritually and genetically our inner-self still quivers at the unknown - the dark closet, the spooky woods, the breath on the back of your neck.
Children's senses are even more attuned to danger. Their minds are still transitioning back and forth from dream to spirit to reality. Their instinct is to stay close to adults and learn how our world works. Rituals and rhythms of the season, holidays, their week and their day free their mind from wondering, "How will this happen? What can expect? Will it be frighting?"
Worrying about their own survival and comfort can take a back seat to expressing themselves in artist and musical ways - developing their soul, crafting their spirit and fully unfolding in a nourishing way.
Our rhythms are simple. Over the year we celebrate the ancient, seasonal holidays such as the first day of summer and May day. We also celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc. The boys wait all year for their favorite, and mine, Halloween.
Our birthday tradition with Papa. A simple gathering and some banana bread cake.
Weekly I recommend having a few important commitments to give a "backbone" to your week, to help hold it up - hold it together. The trick is to give some substance but not to over do it. You don't want to "have" to do something everyday.
I recommend a grocery day, an activity such as dance or karate class or a sport like soccer, and a day for worship - however you choose to do that. Anymore then that might weight you down too much.
Having consistent meal times is an easy way to keep your rhythm together.
Daily our rhythm currently looks something like this;
Morning Verse
Breakfast
Brush Teeth, put on clothes
Morning chores, cleaning up
Homeschool lesson and blogging
Lunch
Outside play
Story time or errands
Dinner
Craft time
Bed
Again, I feel giving your day "good posture" is what your looking for - not filling it to the brim, stiff and unbreakable. You want to feel like it flows, breaths, and bends where needed which is why I like the term "rhythm" as opposed to "schedule".
The boys get ready for bed, the same time each night, all year long. Here they are in jammies at 7 PM. This helps them tune into earth's rhythm as they see the sun stay out longer in spring and summer.
Go forth and feel out your flow...
