Weeknights lately

Georgia studying at the library

In this season we are leaning into evening quiet time and aided homework with both children. Typically this is for a minimum of 1 hour but usually more like 2 hours, every night. We find that for Peter it allows us to work with him through the advanced math or concepts he’s learning in social studies and English. For Georgia it’s critical to reinforce what she’s learned earlier at school, and coach her through whatever lessons just haven’t “stuck” yet. Personally, I also look forward to the quality time with the children, watching them learn, hearing about their day, with a little instrumental worship music playing peacefully in the background.

Of course, fitting in the quiet time depends on the night. Mondays include piano lessons and swim club; Tuesdays basketball; Wednesdays swim club and sometimes church group; Thursdays piano and soccer practice. Whatever that night holds, we do everything we can to have dinner together and then to protect that homework time, also together. If both children are working on homework assignments that I can manage solo, Colin can step out for garage time. Other times, we need to tag team to get through everything.

This week Georgia and I spent one of our weeknight homework sessions at Romeo’s Kezar Library. We walked there about any hour before they closed and she practiced borrowing a book using her library card, completed her nightly 20 minutes of reading, even wrote out each of her spelling words before we walked home. The same night, Peter was resting his foot, propping it up on the couch with a heating pad, which is why we took the opportunity to do something different and leave the house. I could see us doing this more often in the spring and summer when the weather is even more compelling.

I never want to forget the way it feels to make it to the end of a workday, then mustering up every ounce of energy to lead the kids through these productive quiet times and homework sessions. Somewhere in these weeknights they also set the table while I prepare dinner. Sometimes we manage to squeeze in a kitchen dance party too while we’re at it.

Treasured moments, for sure. <3

Quiet time and homework