What is your best time?

I had big plans for today. A thorough cleaning of the living room, organizing my lessons plans, mopping the kitchen floor, and a few other little tasks, were all on my list. But, this is one of those rare days, that my oldest daughter and I are both free of other people's schedules, so we decided to begin the day with breakfast at a local "mornings only" café.

On the way to the café, we stopped to meet friends, who were on their way to a wonderful campground, where my younger daughter was already enjoying herself. I had found a couple things that she had forgotten to pack, and our friends were kind enough to make a quick stop to pick up the forgotten items. A quick chat, and then on to the local gas station that offered the valuable liquid for a few pennies less per gallon, than others in the area.

By 10:00 am, we were seated at the café and ready to enjoy a leisurely breakfast of delicious omelettes. Several cups of coffee and a lot of conversation later, we were headed toward home. After a quick stop at the bank, we arrived home a few minutes after noon.

These days seem so few and far between, why not take the time for a game of Carcassonne. It's one of our favorite games, and there never seems to be time to play it.

OK, time to get to work on those "to do" items. Unfortunately, by this time, my get up and go, got up and went. Although I still have the desire to do the things, I seem to be moving in a very low gear.

I know from experience that morning is my best time for accomplishing things. After noon, it is often a struggle to get motivated, and to really get things done. I have to force myself to do it, and everything seems to be more difficult, and take more time to complete.

Most of us have a time of day, or night, that is our peak performance time. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, there are times that things are easier for you, and when you have more energy.

This is an important thing to keep in mind when doling out tasks or reviewing lessons or planning field trips with your children. Sometimes, when your child seems less cooperative, or unable to grasp concepts you think they should understand, it may be a time of day when they are low in energy, or reasoning ability. If it's possible to try again at a different time, one that you know is usually good for them, think about rescheduling. It will probably make everyone's life easier.