Happenings and Changes and Encouragement
Happenings
I mentioned that some outside classes were on the schedule for this year. Yikes!! Think long and hard before you go there if you are one of those "homebody" homeschooling types (and I am:)).
That being said, we are three weeks in and I think it's a good thing.
Paul is taking Biology and Art at his Friday co-op. He also takes an Algebra class taught by his older sister, who works with many homeschool families in our area. All of this is a huge stretch!
With reading being a challenge for Paul, it is taken us this long to come up with a format for him to accomplish his work as independently as possible. The great thing about homeschooling with learning challenges is that you can work at your own pace and help is just a hollar to mom (or dad or sisters...) away. That being said, I can see how working this muscle to "keep up" with class is going to be a healthy thing. It helps that there are friends in his class and that he has very understanding instructors!!
And Mark! Mark is a homebody too. But he loves science and when he heard about the "hands-on science" class being offered at the Friday co-op every other week for younger grades, he begged to go. Then he went... and his homebody self kicked in. But having two weeks to recover, he was ready to go again!!
Mark and James also still take Spanish- I think we are on our 6th (7th?) year of this co-op.
Changes
We have my little grandson with us 4 days a week for a few hours each of those days. If you are schooling with newborns- give yourself a break. It is as hard as you think it is. I know. It has been more than 9 years since I have had a child under the age of 1 in the house while homeschooling. Let me tell you, homeschool with no littles is easy!! Okay, so that is a lie, but is not as physically exhausting.
But we love it. I savor those moments when he snuggles in and naps on my shoulder- I am trying to make myself put him down when he sleeps, but I really don't want to!
Encouragement
You know how you go from a post on F*B that leads to a blog post that has a link... I tend to give a short nod to electronics these days so that happens less often, but it happened this week and it was just the message I needed.
First, I went to this link via Blog, She Wrote on Face*Book.
http://simplehomeschool.net/an-open-letter/
It was a good reminder for me. Not so much in the sense that my non-homeschooling friends don't understand my lack of availability, but some days it is tough for me to see my "homeschooling mom friends" have moved on. The ones I started with... they do things like hold down outside jobs, do lunch, and have dinner parties. I miss them. But this is my job- my focus.
After reading the above link, I headed over to the author's lovely blog and read this-
http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2013/09/everyday-crossroads.html
I love this line from that post-
"I'm embracing what I accomplished and forgiving the rest."
At this point, some days feel like nothing got accomplished. After reading this, I'm going to try to keep the focus on what did get done. Focusing on the undone just takes away all of my peace!! And there is a lot of undone around here so a lot of peace is getting lost! :)
Now, if I had put up 25 pints of homemade applesauce like this blogging mamma did, I have to say, I'd feel like superwomen!
But that is okay- I am not going to compare. That would be a whole 'nother post.
I mentioned that some outside classes were on the schedule for this year. Yikes!! Think long and hard before you go there if you are one of those "homebody" homeschooling types (and I am:)).
That being said, we are three weeks in and I think it's a good thing.
Paul is taking Biology and Art at his Friday co-op. He also takes an Algebra class taught by his older sister, who works with many homeschool families in our area. All of this is a huge stretch!
With reading being a challenge for Paul, it is taken us this long to come up with a format for him to accomplish his work as independently as possible. The great thing about homeschooling with learning challenges is that you can work at your own pace and help is just a hollar to mom (or dad or sisters...) away. That being said, I can see how working this muscle to "keep up" with class is going to be a healthy thing. It helps that there are friends in his class and that he has very understanding instructors!!
And Mark! Mark is a homebody too. But he loves science and when he heard about the "hands-on science" class being offered at the Friday co-op every other week for younger grades, he begged to go. Then he went... and his homebody self kicked in. But having two weeks to recover, he was ready to go again!!
Mark and James also still take Spanish- I think we are on our 6th (7th?) year of this co-op.
Changes
We have my little grandson with us 4 days a week for a few hours each of those days. If you are schooling with newborns- give yourself a break. It is as hard as you think it is. I know. It has been more than 9 years since I have had a child under the age of 1 in the house while homeschooling. Let me tell you, homeschool with no littles is easy!! Okay, so that is a lie, but is not as physically exhausting.
But we love it. I savor those moments when he snuggles in and naps on my shoulder- I am trying to make myself put him down when he sleeps, but I really don't want to!
You know how you go from a post on F*B that leads to a blog post that has a link... I tend to give a short nod to electronics these days so that happens less often, but it happened this week and it was just the message I needed.
First, I went to this link via Blog, She Wrote on Face*Book.
http://simplehomeschool.net/an-open-letter/
It was a good reminder for me. Not so much in the sense that my non-homeschooling friends don't understand my lack of availability, but some days it is tough for me to see my "homeschooling mom friends" have moved on. The ones I started with... they do things like hold down outside jobs, do lunch, and have dinner parties. I miss them. But this is my job- my focus.
After reading the above link, I headed over to the author's lovely blog and read this-
http://lusaorganics.typepad.com/clean/2013/09/everyday-crossroads.html
I love this line from that post-
"I'm embracing what I accomplished and forgiving the rest."
At this point, some days feel like nothing got accomplished. After reading this, I'm going to try to keep the focus on what did get done. Focusing on the undone just takes away all of my peace!! And there is a lot of undone around here so a lot of peace is getting lost! :)
Now, if I had put up 25 pints of homemade applesauce like this blogging mamma did, I have to say, I'd feel like superwomen!
But that is okay- I am not going to compare. That would be a whole 'nother post.
I have to admit, I didn't have to take the curve ball of changing friendships through homeschooling. We moved a couple of times prior to kids so the first friends I made (post college) were home schoolers. But I still totally "get it". And the other changes as well. And focusing on what DID get accomplished. Oh boy! I do not do that enough!!! I truly beat myself way too often.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way you do about co-op classes. It is hard on home-body me, but the boys need it. Yes, I agree that sometimes it is hard when you feel like you haven't accomplished much. I am feeling exactly that same way.
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie~ Just popping in to say hello and hope you are doing well:) You are doing the best work ever and that sweet little grandson is blessed to have you! I enjoyed reading those articles that inspired you…I know what you mean! Sometimes I'm lonely as I'm struggling through the trenches of mid-life and then other times God graces me with the understanding of my most important mission here at home. I'm on a roller coaster half the time but it sure is a fantastic ride:)
ReplyDelete