"Stay Ready...So You Don't Have to Get Ready!"

Story Time!

So it was field trip day at our home school, and I couldn't have been more excited! I had been stalking the internet for learning adventures for my kids and I for December because, well, November was less than adventerously intriguing. "Great", I thought when I stumbled upon the perfect outdoor activity- a science lesson in the park! "This sounds like fun, and will get us out of the house to participate in a long overdue field trip."

I had been talking about this day, and planning up to the night before to get us ready to go. My kids, however, seemed less than enthused to actually get up, and get moving on execution day. It wasn't until I gave them their alternate assignment, which was also less than adventerously intriguing, did they get some fire under their butts to get going. Think of it as a change of hearts if you will. By then, however, it was too late. We were going to be late and I wasn't happy about it at. all! Trip cancelled!

Of course there were tears, as well as frustrations, and disappointment from both sides. I took the opportunity with our newly found time from cancelled plans to sit down and talk about some important life lessons that I don't think that particular science lesson in the park would have taught us: How to stay committed to your commitments.

"Son, grab your notebook and a pencil", I told my oldest. "We're going to brainstorm some ways to avoid a morning like this again. Title the page, "How to Stay Committed to Your Commitments."" What we came up with follows below:

Step 1: DECIDE what you're going to do

Step 2: DECIDE that you're going to do it

Step 3: Plan how you're going to execute your commitment; involve the who, what, when, where, and why of your decision.

3a. Who?

Ask yourself, who is involved, or will need to be involved, in your plan to follow through on your commitment?

3b. What?

What is the plan?

3c. Where?

Where will the commitment take place? Where do you need to be to execute said commitment.

3d. Why?

Decide why you have committed to this activity.

Step 4: Get READY!!

4a. Go to bed!

Early or earlier

4b. Wake up and GET UP early

Save time for breakfast or to gather your favorite morning beverage. (In our case, we also needed to account for travel time.)

4c. Pack a lunch

(we discussed that this should be done before going to bed early if possible; if not, see 4b.).

4d. Get clothes

(we discussed that you should decide the night before what you're going to wear the next day if possible; if not, see 4b.).

Step 5: FOCUS!!

Minimize/eliminate "squirrel moments"- the actions or thoughts that take you away from what you're supposed to be doing RIGHT NOW!

Step 6: Stick to the plan and follow through!

Once you have laid the foundations of preparing for your commitment in Steps 1-5, the last step is to follow through with it! Whatever it is.

After reviewing our list, my sons now understand the phrase I use most often with them: "Stay ready so you don't have to get ready." Although our field trip- the one I was so excited about going on, and happened to be the first cancelled field trip of the year didn't take place, it yielded a very important lesson outside of the science lesson we were going for. We actually conducted our own science day at home and had a lot of fun doing it! Statements from them like, "I'm glad we stayed home; this is the BEST home school day", made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. We still got it right!

"This experience has shown us more about the science behind the lesson than the actual science lesson." ~Me

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