Rhythm is one of those things that many parents talk about, wonder about, and can have such trouble implementing. Here are my top five secrets to garnering a rhythm that supports a peaceful home life.
Visualize your home and walk through a day in your head. Where was it smooth and flowing and joyous? Where was it sticky and difficult and everyone fell apart? I don’t think a rhythm is about throwing out who you are, who your family is, what your family culture is in order to replace it with something that someone else does, but rather to build upon the successes in your own home. Every family does something really well, so what is your thing that you do really well that you could build upon?
Write it down. Going into a game plan with a written down plan will help keep you on track and then you can easily make notes and adjust as needed.
Give it space and margin. Don’t pack too much into your day or your week or your month. Breathing room is really important for things to breathe and to flow. Rhythm is not a schedule.
Pay attention to the cycle of the year. Some of us do this through a religious cycle of the year, others through a nature focus – but however you do it, allow time to savor the things that go with each season of the year. People always ask about how to homeschool multiple children, and the rhythm of the year is the absolute answer that provides the glue to hold things together.
Finally, relax and have fun. Enjoy each other. Cuddling, snuggling, laughing together are all the most important parts of being together as a family. Enjoy!
Many blessings,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Hey there I commented on your twelve year old post and I never heard back from you. Could you please read my question and answer me back. I really was wanting your advice. Thank you
Dear Kate,
Thank you for reminding me. Most eight year olds are active and their play reflects this. Classifying, collecting, arranging are also big parts of an eight year old’s play. Doll play, dress up, paper dolls, equipment to do different “sports” – ice skating in the winter or skiing, baseball, kickball is needed, cards, table games like checkers and cards, art supplies, supplies to knit and crochet are all usually hits.
Hope that helps. You could also ask Sarah Baldwin over at Bella Luna Toys what she would recommend for an eight year old and that could give you more ideas as well.
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks so much Carrie!
I have been struggling with our rhythm for a while now. My husband works from home and is in-in-out of our lives and everything gets thrown off. I’m always able to keep it going for a day or so and then it’s rushing to someplace or another and I can’t keep up. Then I have to start all over again. Also what is the difference if any between a schedule and rhythm? Thank you in advance.
Dear Amber,
A schedule has tight times to it, a rhythm is more like a flow to your day, an inbreathing and an outbreathing. It is a system that instead of accounting of perhaps half hour time slots or something, it works on a flow to the day with space and time. I think your sentence in your comment was telling, “then it’s rushing to someplace or another”. Where are you rushing to, and how could you change that to have whole days at home with no place to be or go? It takes planning, but it can be done. Start small, and build from there. I am wishing you peace in your life as you slow down and enjoy all that being a parent and a family has to offer when we can sink into those small moments.
Blessings,
Carrie
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