Clean Island

When I thought over the previous homeschooling year and wrote out some thoughts in my journal, what became clear is that the biggest problem I had last year was simply finding a clean spot in which to do school. It doesn't take long for our apartment to get cluttered and messy. I mean it's a matter of hours, if not minutes.

I found myself in a bad pattern where I would wake up late because I was up with the baby at night, and so then I wouldn't get dressed and ready for the day till around 10 or 11. Then by the time I got the table cleared so the kids could have a place to get out their books, it would be time to make lunch. Then after lunch the table would be messy again.

It was depressing to think back on it, honestly. But I guess it was a helpful exercise, because this year I knew what to prioritize.

1. Get myself ready for the day before the kids get up.

2. Make a clean place to do school.

To get ready before the kids get up, I simply have to get in the shower by 6:30. I like how Leila Lawson says "You just have to get up early enough." Early enough for what? That depends. In order for our day to go well, I have to get showered and dressed before the kids get up.

All we have in our little dining room is a table and six chairs, with a narrow space to the left of the table that we use to get into the kitchen. I decided that no matter what chaos is going on in the rest of the place, the dining room was going to be an island of clean so the kids could do their school. So after each meal I clear everything off the table. I spray the table with a nice-smelling all purpose cleaner and wipe it clean, then polish it dry. I spray the chairs with cleaner and wipe them clean. They are vinyl covered parson chairs, so they can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth. I spray the baby's booster seat and clean it. Then I sweep all the crumbs off the floor. Finally, I run the Swiffer mop over the floor for all the sticky spots. Sticky spots are inevitable when you have four children 7 and under. Spot clean the walls as needed. Applesauce splatters are much easier to get off while they are still wet.

I have to do this three times a day, at least. This may or may not be less shocking to you than it was to me. But I've decided I'm willing to fight for the clean island in the midst of the big mess. From there I can branch out and try to clean up the rest of the apartment a little bit at a time.

Personally, I can't think clearly if there's not a clear place to work. I figure it's the same for the kids. School is pleasant if you have a pleasant place to work.

Now all this is only possible because -- unlike last year -- I am no longer spending the vast majority of the day caring for and nursing a new baby. I don't claim to have all the answers here.

The clean island