Thursday, August 28, 2014

This schooling thing.....and some homemaking!

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608044812492341304&pid=15.1&P=0

Oh my friends, I can't believe I didn't post anything yesterday.  I know you forgive me though, after all, we have just started school again and it's taking a little bit to get everyone back on a routine.

It's always like this, you have your 3 months of summer and then school comes around and no one is used to it, so it is like a shock to the system.

Let's just say that this year, all 4 kids will have a very heavy work curriculum with no time to spare or mess around.  Long gone are the days where the boys would be able to get all their schooling done in 2 hours and then get to play for the rest of the day.

Nowadays, they are working consistently for hours on end, and sometimes, even at night.

I think though it is just an adjustment, they are going from 5th Grade to 6th and are no longer little ones, so they are finding it a bit hard to adjust to harder work and longer hours.  We will conquer it though.

Nicholas is still doing really well on his own, he enjoys being in his room in the quiet working.  The other 3 are doing ok as well, though they do tend to get a little distracted at times, so I spend a lot of my time going "sshhhhhhh" and "come on guys, concentrate".  But again, I think it is just these first few days while they get back into school routine mode.

http://www.vintagefangirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/vintage-school-advertising.jpg

I am often asked why I do this, why don't I just send them to public school.  I have answered that question so many times.  I don't like public schools, my kids don't do well in that environment and if I am able to be a part of their daily learning and see how they do, then THAT is what I will be doing.

I wouldn't trade homeschooling for nothing in this world, and neither would the kids.

They have all been in public school, and they are well aware of what that environment is like compared to being at home.  Every single one of them has reiterated over and over how much they prefer learning at their own pace and not being forced to go at the same pace as everyone else.

So there may be hard days, there may be days where my head is not in it, or the kids are not feeling it, but that is normal.  We deal with it, we take it one day at a time and we come back the next day refreshed and ready to go again.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajPVgf4rAI467QISEYruqR5vWh7testVMSBuD1t8oU8MlbXmV9zcTii0do-BlerzEk5U85q28lUJVeZq-ZPuNOUtCScJg5iwOy01X9D4sQbnEkgKJ-sIZ_hLJmMv40TtKLum_tg/s1600/vintage+back+to+school+scrapbook+embellishment.png

Do you know how cool it is to be able to say that I know exactly what they are doing?

That I know what their strengths and weaknesses are?  That I know who is a visual learner and who is not, who can soak up the information just by reading and who needs to take notes?

It is a feeling like no other, to be able to be that involved in their education.  I absolutely love it.


Now, on the homemaking front,nothing major has been going on.  I'm kind of trying to find my place right  now too.  I have noticed that as I get back into this homeschooling routine, I am having to find ways of getting my housework done when I can.

Remember the laundry that I was so proud of not having on Monday?   Well it's back and with a vengeance, so I have to tackle that today.

I haven't had a chance to sit and knit or crochet either, but I do miss it so much.  I try to do it at night but it's not even worth trying because I nod off to sleep.

Last night I was watching The Great British Bake Off with Jasmine, and within 30 minutes I was asleep on the couch, so I just gave up.  Frustrating!

I am hoping and yearning for the next few weeks where I'll be able to get into some sort of rhythm and be able to juggle the school stuff and the homemaking stuff.  It's always quite the juggling act at first, but I do admit that after a while I am able to do both and not let my house suffer.

I will try my best not to let my blog suffer either, I've been so good about posting every single day and when I didn't yesterday it felt like I was missing something.  I can't have that, no sirree, something will be done about it.

Alrighty, so here is what is happening the rest of the day.........



Not sure what I'm having for lunch.  My husband son had some French Bread Pepperoni Pizzas but I don't feel like those.  I might just stick with a sandwich.  For dinner, I have chicken wings marinating with some Korean Spare Rib Sauce.  I have to get groceries tomorrow and didn't have anything I needed to make my wings, so I am using what I have on hand.  We'll see how they turn out.

I have started the Vikings, we'll see how I like that series.

I just finished The Borgias and really enjoyed those and I also have Rome to watch.  If you know of others along these lines, let me know.  Oh and Game of Thrones, I only watched Season 1 so I guess I could catch up on that one.

I'll also be watching The Great British Bake Off tonight with Jasmine.







Laundry
Clean bathrooms
Homeschooling
Menu planning and grocery list
Budget and paying bills

13 comments:

Felicia said...

This transitioning from 5th to 6th is so rough. I am on the fence about yanking my oldest out and teaching her at home. She has difficulty in learning and after being in a horrible school district for 5 years a she's a full year behind (but pushed forward because of her 504 status) a good school districts level.

Anyways.... I agree this going from summer to school is a drag.

Vikings looked pretty good but it was always on at a time I forgot about it. I'll always suggest Game of Thrones. Have you tried Spartacus from Sci-Fi. I'm not sure but you might be able to get it on their website, it was pretty good.

Hope the day is a better one.

Terri D said...

Homeschooling is wonderful, and if I had little ones, I would give it a try. We actually have quite a few friends who did this (or are still doing it). Definitely a good thing.

Dawn Marie said...

I am so envious of you and all the other mothers who homeschool. I have thought and prayed since I was pregnant with my son about whether to homeschool or send my kids off the public school. As of now my son, in 1st grade, goes to public school. We decided it would be the best decision for us as of now but like you I am not a fan of public school. For one, I am not happy with this Common Core Standards. Ugh. Don't even get me started. So far my son is doing well and I decided that what he doesn't learn in school I can teach him at home (like cursive writing ... they stopped that). I want to see how this year goes and then revisit my idea of homeschooling in the future. You just never know. You are wonderful for what you do.

Amy at love made my home said...

Don't pressure yourself that you have to post on your blog, especially while you are busy getting back into the swing of things with the start of school. Your readers will wait for you and be there. I have had periods where I didn't want to or wasn't able to post and everyone just waited and I came back. Life goes like that sometimes. I hope that you can settle into the right routine for you all in time, it sounds as though you really enjoy your home schooling. xx

Sweet Tea said...

I was very late to come to "homeschooling". Our oldest 3 kids went to public school, as did our youngest, until she was in high school. When began homeschooling when she was in the 9th gr and continued throughout high school. She thrived. It's a great option for so many families.

Sweet Tea said...

I was very late to come to "homeschooling". Our oldest 3 kids went to public school, as did our youngest, until she was in high school. When began homeschooling when she was in the 9th gr and continued throughout high school. She thrived. It's a great option for so many families.

Jen said...

You know all about our experience last year with Andrew in public school. I know exactly what you mean about homeschooling. We had to allow Andrew to experience public school last year. He now loves homeschooling. He knows what he has to do and does it. Best of all we know exactly what hes learning.

Mary said...

I wish I had homeschooled, now it's too late of course. I've had battles w/school dept over changes they've made that are wrong, and have been successful at getting exemptions made but you get nervous things will slip by. I didn't care for Rome or Game of Thrones.

While my back has improved, I'm experiencing pinched nerves due to stenocis (sp?) lots of tension & twinges in my right leg... for every improvement, I feel as though I take two steps back.. I've been able to keep up with laundry, butI'm getting behind on things that require me to stand for extended periods. My eldest has been a real peach, driving down to pitch in and help, especially vacuuming. This has been a truly rough summer for me.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

I homeschooled two of my kiddos. I can't imagine what is would be involved at their ages now. Math is taught so differently anymore. I have to say we really enjoyed it though.

Linds said...

You will get there - it just takes time. Did you see the GBBO drama? The papers are full of it here. Tonight will be interesting

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

I applaud your wonderful passion towards homeschooling. And I can see how the insight you gain into each child's abilities is priceless. Keep up the great work Mum! ;)

Btw - great tv right now is Outlander on Starz. I'm obsessed!! I have to read all the books now. It's a departure from the history you've been interested in but still kind of historical & kind of sci-fi too in that it's about a nurse from the 1940's that gets stuck back in time in the Scottish highlands in the 18th century. It's SO good!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and God Bless.

Mary said...

Carrie B, Outlander sounds a bit like Connie Willis's Oxford time travel series that started with a novel called Blackout.

Faith Morgan said...

I was diagnosed of HERPES in 2015, i have tried everything possible in life from one doctor to another, one hospital to another, series of tests different kinds of medication i had already lost hope until i meet Great DR OBUDU online testimonies, a specialist in herbal medication from Africa, i contacted him true his email OBUDU.MIRACLEHERBALHOME@GMAIL.COM and he prepared HERPES herbal medication for me which i took for 14days and now i am completely cured i want to use this medium to express my gratitude to him for saving my life and curing me from HERPES VIRUS for taking away all my pains and sorrows, I''m indeed grateful and i am so happy I''m now cured totally, I will continue to tell the good news of your great works to everyone, if you have HERPES or other disease contact him true his Email: OBUDU.MIRACLEHERBALHOME@GMAIL.COM Or whatsApp him via +2347035974895 thank you my great DR OBUDU for curing me keep up your great work