We fall into the eclectic category of home schooling, so we mix and match what works for us. My dd is a morning bird and rises early to complete her school and chores. My ds is a later riser, but if he isn't up by 8 I wake him.

The kids are old enough to math (Math U See), Rosetta Stone German, reading, and Bible devotion on their own. I usually teach science and history together. They are required to get their alone stuff done before lunch (it is usually only 2 hours of alone work if they stay focused and the rest of the morning time is theirs to play) and then we do the together subjects after lunch.

It usually takes us about an hour to do our unit work (Konos for history and science).

Then the kids do their music practice. We take breaks to work on housework. I try to start a load of laundry when I wake up. Right now (these change depending on what I want each child to work on learning for chores) my son takes the clothes out of the washer when it beeps and either puts them in the dryer or hangs up the more delicate clothes. My daughter takes the clothes out of the dryer when it sounds and then we fold and put them away.

This gets the work done and gives the kids breaks every 30-45 minutes. Dishes get done right before I cook dinner. We do both breakfast and lunch dishes then. I try to do them after dinner, but some days that just doesn't happen.

We have family time in the evening. On Mondays, my ds has guitar lessons and my husband and dd have alone time for that hour and share an ice cream and just enjoy each other. That is my alone time. Sometimes I use it to play on the computer, or talk on the phone or read, but I try to avoid doing chores during this time.

A wise hs mom once told me that if Mom is the only one tired at the end of the day, then the kids aren't pulling their weight and need more responsibility.

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