As I so often do when books move from place to place, I am pausing over old favorites lately.  While I was reminiscing over the Home Teacher's Process Manual, purchased years ago as gentle teacher training, it struck me the counsel is sound, both for those now tasked with helping their school aged children complete assignments at home and those who find themselves working from home offices. This particular bit is especially good:

Clear Your Time and Space…. if you intend to have any focus at all in the work you intend to do.  If you are constantly distracted by numerous interruptions, you will find it very difficult in the beginning stages, to remain focused upon the process at hand. 

Keep a daily schedule in which you provide time for everything that must be done.  This relieves your mind of the pressure of "all those things I must do." 

 Unplug your phone while you are engaged in your process. This is absolutely essential, especially in a busy household. You must be very clear that, for the duration of the process, you will not be available to anyone but the person with whom you choose to focus in this process. 

Resolve any uncertainty you may feel which keeps you from being very clear about the fact that you deserve a special uninterrupted time for your processes.

If you have younger children, explain to them that you have something you must do, and that you will give them something special to do, but you cannot be interrupted during this time.  Children are quite capable of adapting to a routine and will be more willing to give you the necessary time if you are consistent in your time. For example if your children expect they will eat breakfast and go for a walk most days, then return home to draw or play with certain toys, they will eagerly anticipate this special time.

Teaching children that parents need time for their own processes has to be done with loving attention. If you use anger, they will be unhappy and resentful the whole time, and may make it impossible for you to focus. It may take a week to get young children used to spending time totally alone without calling for attention, but the time spent cultivating this will be well worth it. 

Gather all the materials you will need for the process you are doing. Lay out all the materials very clearly so you are certain you haven't forgotten anything.  Make sure that the space you are using is clean and orderly. 

Take a minute to relax and center yourself on the work you will be doing. If necessary step outside a moment, listen to some relaxing music, or just sit quietly. When you are centered and poised, sit down together with your partner to begin the Learning Process for the current assignment. 

After the Learning process is finished, sit down and review the events that occurred. If you got into a mess during the process, just review in your mind the events that led up to the mess and try to see where you went wrong. Discuss how it might have happened differently. Above all don't blame anyone, especially yourself. Just learn from your experiences, let it go, and get ready for the next one. 

The most important aspect of any learning process is the relationship that you have with the other person. The quality of this relationship can either help or hinder the learning process.  

That last part is essential.  Home is a haven but it is not a panacea and simply being there will not automatically ensure that each day will be full of unending sunshine and success.  There are likely many imperfect humans now in closer proximity than ever before and possibly under a good deal of stress as well. Take steps to stay a bit ahead of them.  Look forward each evening to the next day's tasks and how you can prepare.  When each day is over we must let it go, good or bad.  We learn all we can from both and move forward with peace and resolve.  

Forward movement is good. Keep going.