He was quite old, but had no intention of retiring from his small croft. Although he felt the occasional twinge, he had this to say - and it has stayed with me! : "It's a day's work getting started."
In other words every day he had to gather up his strength and resolve, get out there and get going.
This doesn't apply only to farming.
The same principle applies to our kids when they have to get down to serious home study or 'homework': "It's a day's work getting started!"
So how can we help our kids when their teachers aren't there to 'motivate' them?
There are lots of ways, but here we'll consider only a few of the practical details that are well within our control - and which can radically affect the quality of study sessions.
Top of the list comes an appropriate location for home study.
Many kids are happy to do their homework in the living area of the home, but that brings its own problems: visitors coming and going, the TV and music are just a few...
Why not go out of your way to organize the home so that the kids have a designated study area, even if it's one they have to share? You may have to give up something like your 'parlor' or 'best room', but if the kids make good use of it, it will be worth it. An online computer would help.
Try to provide a table or a desk which is used for study sessions only, so that books and equipment can be left as they were.
It's so much easier when all you have to do is sit down and pick up from where you left off!
It's also important to have all the necessary tools and materials for the job close at hand. It's hard to keep up your motivation when you have to stop every second minute to ask: "Anyone got a pencil?" or "What's happened to my calculator?"
It's much easier for kids to feel organized and 'on top' when they've got all the required items for their study session:
Ring binders, notepaper, blank and/or lined sheets, items for geometry and science, a calculator, pencils, erasers, pens and so forth.
These items can make a dent in a student's allowance, so as caring, interested parents willing to invest in our kids' future, it's usually appreciated when we make these available.
The study room, of course, needs to be kept at a comfortable temperature and should be well-aired. There are no bigger barriers to the study habit than a lack of fresh air and an atmosphere that's either too stuffy or too chilly!
But what if you have a large family and there's just no free space for a study area?
Cue the relatives, especially the grandparents! Most often they have room to spare, and think how pleased they'd be to see junior drop in to do his homework.
Or perhaps there's room at a friend's house and the two could meet up there. You'd have to monitor this, however, as it's amazing how easily study sessions can turn in to discussions about football, music or the latest gossip!
In that case, check whether the school runs a Homework Club. Many schools are now doing this and it's proving a highly popular option. Sessions are held after school and supervised by teachers - so the work gets done!
This could be a 'Win - Win - Win' situation: Parents supply the study materials, the school supplies the place and the right atmosphere, and the students make the effort.
Helping your kids in the crucial area of home study will benefit them greatly in the long term.
