Early in my career, I worked on the weekends as a professional musician.  One thing musicians love most is when everyone in a band locks in together and finds "the groove.  It's a sweet spot where everyone is in sync and the music flows.  At the beginning of the school year, settling into routines in our home can feels like a chaotic music rehearsal as we work to find the rhythm.  Four kids, two adults, and a dog all adjusting to school wakeups and bedtimes, sports schedules, and homework.  

I pray you are beginning to find the peace that consistency in schedule brings, finding the school groove.  

Here are a few reminders that may help your home "get in the groove." 

1.  Take a break first.  After a long day of focus, allow everyone a quick pause for a healthy snack, outdoor play or downtime before diving into homework and family chores.  

2. Set up a homework zone.  This can be as easy as a bin that has essential supplies such as pencils and papers that can be moved room to room or an actual focused area.  This allows work to continue without the unnecessary interruption of hunting for a sharpened pencil.  

3. Set aside time to plan for the week.  On Sunday afternoons in our home, we reset.  We reset our calendar, our clothes for the week, our menu of meals to "try" to be ready for the week. 

4. Keep connection at the forefront.  The goal is never frustration, tears, or harsh words.  As parents, our goal is to model the Fruit of the Spirit and glorify God in how we speak to our children as we teach them.