It is important to be consistent whether it is with rules, boundaries, structure, praise, rewards, consequences, & so on... As I have said in previous blogs our kids thrive on predictability whether it is a bedtime routine, when you eat meals & having homework time. Consistency can be challenging because let's face things come up that we don't expect to. It is when our lives are in upheaval that consistency becomes key. It is something we can depend as parents in helping our kids during tough times.
I was 8 years old when my father left & my parents ultimately divorce. What in most cases becomes a chaotic time in someone's life, it wasn't for me. Yes we were sad & grieved with my mom about our new reality as a family 3 but I still knew I had to clean my room, I had to make my bed, dinner was at 5pm, bedtime was at 8pm. With my parent's divorce came moving & changing schools, 4 times that 1st year but again my home life was predictable & my mom was our rock. Even though change is hard, my mom was consistent with her expectations of us which helped me adjust to my new life.
As I became more involved in my step-kids life, I helped with homework. One of the things I did was to ask them what their homework was for the weekend so we could plan our weekends accordingly. We usually let them have Friday evenings off & had the expectation that the start their homework 1st thing Saturday morning. We had the complete their homework in the kitchen where we were available to help as needed. We also did not let them watch TV or play on laptops until they were. Because my husband & i were consistent with our expectations for their homework, it helped teach the important life lessons including organizing & managing your time, prioritizing your responsibility & even communication skills.