HSHSP Ep 125: Healthily Handling Homeschool Co-op Lunchtime Chaos

This week on HSHSP Ep 125: Helpfully Handling Homeschool Co-op Lunchtime Chaos. HSHSP Ep 125: Helpfully Handling Homeschool Co-op Lunchtime Chaos Want some guiding principles for healthily handling homeschool co-op lunchtime chaos. First off, we need to acknowledge what we expect (whether it is realistic or not): * We expect teenagers to bring their lunches, eat them and clean up without making disasters. * We expect teenagers to handle themselves well. * We expect all the co-op moms to pull their weight. It doesn't always work out that way. Here's help: Acknowledge that we homeschool moms have SO much to do during homeschool lunchtime! We'd love to simply have downtime and visit together. However, we often have to stomp a lunch fire (hopefully not literally), chase a younger, monitor some cleaning. By our experience, these principles help: * Have clear expectations, clearly expressed * Plan during the summer so you start off well (one cool idea is having group meals at least on special occasions) * Have a person in charge to oversee lunchtime setup and/or cleanup, a *buck stops here* mom or teen * Also, there needs to be support people who back him/her up or switch off * Make sure expectations and authority limits are clear for all in charge * Communicate with the young people well * For young drivers, may they leave co-op to go get lunch? * Where can people have food? * Are there any off-limits foods? * Chore lists for each homeschooler (and each mom) If everyone is going to bring their own lunches (rather than a group lunch), at home these principles will help: * Have clear expectations, clearly expressed * Plan during the summer so you start off well * Communicate with the young people well * Chore lists for each homeschooler (and each mom) for lunch preparation and after-co-op cleanup Enjoy this advice on homeschool co-op lunchtime. Also, you'll love these posts. Co-op advice: * Starting a co-op teens like * Organizational help for co-op startups * Nuts and Bolts of starting co-ops * Why and how to start co-ops https://7sistershomeschool.com/hshsp-ep-85-healthily-handling-homeschool-mean-moms-dr-melanie-wilson/ https://7sistershomeschool.com/homeschool-highschool-podcast-ep-84-finding-mom-friends/   HSHSP Ep 125: Helpfully Handling Homeschool Co-op Lunchtime Chaos