December 2023 Nature Calendar
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Winter Rhythms, Mother Culture, and Nature Calendar
As we close November 2023, I have a profound sense of renewal and gratitude. Just like many women, my days seem full of life.
My December routine is different from my fall routine. When harvest season ends, I spend more time reading, updating blog posts/links, and working on content for the upcoming year.
“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.” Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Daytime Routine for December: (times are approximate)
Currently, my eldest children have their own independent lives. In so many ways, I feel as though I’ve raised my older children, and now I am starting over with my youngest three.
Wake up at 5:30 am-5:45 am. I seem to wake up at this time naturally. However, it is much harder in the winter. I still love mornings-cold or not. Pray/devotions right away.
5:45 am-6:30 am Exercise (listen to music/podcasts)
6:30 am- Sit at my desk for a few minutes. Many of my social media posts are scheduled in advance (some are spur-of-the-moment messages). Briefly look at emails. Get dressed and ready for the day by 7ish.
7:00 am-Start laundry/breakfast/dinner preparations. Wake up younger children.
7:30 am- Get the young children dressed/brush their teeth/hair. Quickly clean their bedrooms, and put dirty clothes in the hamper.
8:00 am- Breakfast. I make a rotation of mostly fruit, yogurt, cream of buckwheat, eggs, homemade granola, pancakes, french toast, cornbread, smoothies, and waffles. I try to add healthy fat to whatever the children are eating to stay full longer. Unless the morning is very hectic, I read aloud while they eat. I try to find moments throughout the day to accomplish all the reading. The labour isn’t in vain. Eliza-Jane (2) has the vocabulary of a 4-year-old from listening to so many stories, so keep reading mamas!
8:30 am- 9:30 am- Assigned chores. If the children finish early, they can play outside for a few minutes while the teen boys do chores outside. It is good motivation to finish chores.
9:30 am-12:00 pm- Homeschool lessons. We can finish most of our lessons by lunchtime. It is my goal, but if we work until 1, it’s okay… it depends on how often we are interrupted.
Lunch and cleanup are between 12:00 and 1:00. Eliza-Jane(2) takes a nap around 1:00.
Between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, unless I have looming work projects to finish, I listen to podcasts quietly while I clean or do something productive with my hands.
2:30 pm and on…The house gets lively again. I work in my office and am back and forth between dinner preparations, managing household duties, and responding to messages. Younger children can play outside and help with kitchen chores.
We will take two weeks off academic work in December, and I will bake with the children and listen to old radio shows.
Mother Culture
This month, I am reading multiple books and listening to interesting podcasts. I feel satisfied when I’m learning and don’t like much passive entertainment…. well, mostly.
During the year, I don’t watch television. Truthfully, most shows bore me quickly. The only worthwhile television shows, in my opinion, are… All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, and history documentaries. Otherwise, I’d rather go to the dentist than watch television. However, I will watch a few classics with the children at Christmas and enjoy it.
🌲 I have a nature journal, so for a few days this month, I will paint or draw something that reflects the season in my journal. ❤
Nature Calendar
This month’s nature calendar has new ideas to explore the outdoors. As I have in the past, I’ve included ways to study nature indoors on cold days.
There are many references to The Handbook of Nature Study. The lesson on cardinals (day 23) points to a detailed reading about the everyday lives of cardinals. Interestingly, female cardinals are inundated with prospective male mates until they choose the one that sings the loudest and has the most brilliant red colors. Once chosen, female cardinals are devoted to their partner, and they will mate for life. Male cardinals are exemplary husbands. He feeds his mate and sings gloriously to her while she is in the nest. ♥
I hope you all enjoy learning more about winter birds this month!
